New Zealand's gay and bisexual men of all shapes and sizes have until September 30 to step forward as potential models for a new team of safe sex poster boys for Gay Men's Health. Entries are now being accepted online at http://www.safesexposterboy.co.nz/ in the first phase of a three-month competition involving events around the country. Contestants can enter themselves in one of six categories: Party Boy, Bear/Cub/Leather, Boy Next Door/Regular Guy, Sportsman, Businessman/Professional, and Alternative (for those who don't like to be labelled!) “One gay or bisexual man is being diagnosed with HIV every five days, and we all need to work together to stop it,” says Matt Creamer, Team Co-ordinator for Gay Men's Health. “These infections could have been prevented by using condoms for anal sex, which most gay and bisexual men do. This competition is going to be a positive reinforcement of that.” There are a number of conditions for entry, says Douglas Jenkin, National Campaigns Co-ordinator. “You have to be over 18, you must self-identify as either gay or bisexual, and you must consistently use condoms for anal sex - this is what safe sex for gay and bisexual men is all about.” Preliminary events will take place in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch and Wellington throughout the month of October, with contestants from each of these regions appearing before a panel of community-based judges. Short-listed contestants from preliminary events then go onto semi-finals at venues in Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch and Wellington, with audience participation in the judging. Highlights will appear for viewing on http://www.safesexposterboy.co.nz/ . Winners from the semi-finals in venues will then appear online for the final voting stage during November, in which visitors to the website can participate. Six winners will be chosen (one from each category) and each will win prizes to the value of $1000. “We always conduct focus groups and consultations when putting together a campaign, to make sure that it's going to work for our target audience of gay and bisexual men,” Jenkin says. “This time we're throwing open the net much wider, and letting the community decide who will be our safe sex poster boys for 2008.” Ref: Gay Men's Health (m)