Local singer/songwriter Carly Binding is throwing her support behind a new campaign to encourage condom use for gay male couples. The “Love Is” campaign will be launched next Tuesday, and uses Binding's hit single “This is it”, along with a 90 second short film by Wellington gay director Andy Boreham. The campaign targets men in committed relationships who rarely or never use condoms for anal sex with each other. Most men that have casual sex use condoms, but the risk of HIV infection is just as high for those in relationships, says the New Zealand AIDS Foundation. “Our research shows that nearly 30 % of men with a regular partner say they don't know his HIV status, or say he has never been tested,” says Douglas Jenkins, Coordinator of the NZAF's Gay Men's Health Team. With almost 50 % of men in relationships rarely or never using condoms and over 55 % engaging in sex outside the relationship, the risk of contracting HIV is alarming, says the Foundation. “Love is always using a condom, even if you're in a loving, committed relationship.” This is the message the NZAF hope to get across, and Boreham's short film depicting three real-life male couples – one older, one thirty-something, and one retired, will be shown before all men's film screenings at the Out Takes gay and lesbian film festival. “It's set in summer, showing couples swimming on a beautiful lake, sailing on a harbour, and building a dream home, because this time of the year sums up everything about life that we think is great,” says Boreham. “Protecting your life and your love with safe sex is the central message.” Binding has lent her support to the NZAF as she considers the HIV prevention message is of life and death importance. “I want to give my ongoing support as, sadly, it seems as though unless we are talking about this all the time it is forgotten.” Binding wants to increase dialogue on HIV prevention and is donating her song, free of charge, to the cause. Safe sex packs in three different designs – one for each of the three couples, plus print material and greeting cards will accompany the film. The film with soundtrack can be downloaded at the campaign's website http://www.loveis.co.nz/. Ref: NZAF (d)