A new Cape Town-based Web site has been launched to offer social and dating services to HIV-positive South Africans. The site, the Positive Connection, will offer dating services with free sign up and a paid monthly subscription for those who wish to contact people listed in the directory.
Founder Ben Sassman says he launched the site after hearing how difficult it was for his HIV-positive friends to date. Citing HIV infection statistics of anywhere between 4.2 million and 6.5 million, Sassman says on the home page that 10% of the site`s profits will be given to HIV/AIDS charities.
"I felt starting an online dating service for people living with HIV/AIDS would eliminate the stress...of disclosing your status to your partner. In this way should they meet someone on my site, they can be sure that individual is in the same boat as they are...there is no emotional pressure explaining your current health status."
Sassman says a previous version of the site had to be shut down when he changed partner companies. The new site, run in partnership with Q online, was launched last week.
Share