Pink Triangle Foundation is a community-based organization in Kuala Lumpur that provides education and support groups related to HIV/AIDS and sexuality. Founded in 1987, PT Foundation has grown to serve 5 communities: drug users, sex workers, transgenders, men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM), and a positive living program for people who have HIV.
With 5 drop-in centers providing food, temporary shelter, showers, counseling and other important HIV/AIDS information, PT Foundation provides services to over 40,000 people each year. Trained counselors tailor their services to suit the individual’s needs and concerns.
The Foundation strives to create awareness on safer sex, provide a safe place for individuals to share their concerns and ask questions, empower community members with information on their legal rights, disseminate healthcare information, reduce the stigmas felt by their clients, and educate the public on the issues related to sexuality to help put an end to discrimination.
Jeremy, PT’s In House Program Manager, has been with the Foundation for four years. Among his many responsibilities, he helps organize a coffee talk series where gay men can talk openly about issues in their daily lives and seek advice from others.
Jeremy
PT takes a proactive approach to spreading the word about their care services. Outreach workers are sent to seek out men who might be interested in the Foundation’s resources but are unaware that they exist.
“There are similarities between the disenfranchised groups we help like stigmas and a lack of information. We go where the men like to hangout and we educate them on different issues, like HIV and AIDS.”
Jeremy Showing me PT Safe Sex Kits
Working with the media is another one of PT’s most challenging tasks.
“We try to change media perceptions and portrayals. We educate them on ‘what a sex worker is’ and other terms they may confuse, like transsexual and transvestite.”
Through educating the public and the media, every day Jeremy and the staff at PT Foundation are paving the way towards a more tolerant and accepting society.
PT Aids Campaign
PT Foundation is one of the community organizations collaborating with eHomemakers on a new communications system. The system will enable organizations to reach out to their clients, volunteers, members, and employees with free and discounted rates on mass text messages sent online.
Tags: eHomemakers, empowerment, Pink Triangle Foundation, Portraits of Perseveranc, transgender
