An Australian politician is turning heads — and raising eyebrows — with a bold new move to promote HIV prevention. Stephen Bates, a Greens MP from Brisbane, has launched an OnlyFans account to campaign for free access to PrEP, the medication that prevents HIV. Bates, who once credited his Grindr ads with helping him win office, is now using adult platforms to reach audiences with a powerful message.
Talking to Q News, Bates said, “Ending HIV is too important to fly under the radar. I campaign on OnlyFans and Grindr because it gets attention. Sometimes you have to make a splash to make people pay attention to the things that matter.”
In his debut OnlyFans video, Bates highlighted the out-of-pocket costs people still pay despite PrEP being on Australia’s PBS drug program. But behind this unique action is a serious push: the Greens are pledging to make both PrEP and PEP prescriptions free, as well as all contraceptives. With the possibility of a hung parliament looming, Bates believes Greens MPs can tip the balance.
