June 7, 2016
Watch: WeHo and Todrick Hall's 'Hakuna Truvada' PSA
Winnie McCroy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
The City of West Hollywood and YouTube wunderkind Todrick Hall have come up with a catchy and campy public service announcement to promote the use of Pre-Exposure Phrophlaxis (PrEP) via Truvada, to prevent new HIV infections.
The Public Service Announcement comes in the form of a 3:52-minute video entitled "Hakuna Truvada," using the song from Disney's "The Lion King" with slight tweaks to Tim Rice's lyrics:
"Hakuna Truvada, what a wonderful phrase
Hukuna Truvada, ain't no passing craze
It means less worries for the rest of the gays
It's our HIV Prevention Key, Hakuna Truvada!"
The Pink News reported that West Hollywood teamed up with viral star Hall to promote Truvada use, which can drastically reduce people's chance of HIV infection by up to 99 percent, if taken daily.
The drug is endorsed by the World Health Organization and the CDC, and is routinely available the at-risk community in the U.S., Canada, Israel and France. The video was made in partnership with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
The video features Hall writing in his journal about his concerns that his new boyfriend, Lucius, is being faithful.
Mean Girl star Daniel Franzese and YouTuber�Kory DeSoto appear in the clip as�Timon and Pumba, singing:�"It means less worries for the rest of the gays! It's our HIV prevention key, Hakuna Truvada!" "RuPaul's Drag Race" alum Willam also appears in the clip, helping administer an HIV test.
Winnie McCroy is the Women on the EDGE Editor, HIV/Health Editor, and Assistant Entertainment Editor for EDGE Media Network, handling all women's news, HIV health stories and theater reviews throughout the U.S. She has contributed to other publications, including The Village Voice, Gay City News, Chelsea Now and The Advocate, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
