After losing close friends to HIV and AIDS in the 1980s and ’90s, Mario Forte made it his life’s mission to help eradicate the virus, a fight he takes to dating apps under the persona “PrEP Daddy” to spread awareness and education.
Forte said his father was an inspiration to him in finding his purpose by pushing him to be passionate about something outside of work.
“He advised that it was so important to have something that you can volunteer your time to, that is completely separate from your work, that gives you personal reward, and I found this to be my cause,” Forte said in an interview over Zoom. “If I could stop or prevent one more HIV transmission, that is my lifelong cause.”
Forte serves as the biomedical HIV prevention specialist with Cempa Community Care, a Chattanooga nonprofit focusing on social service advocacy, care and assistance for those affected by HIV, according to its website. His role with the Cempa PrEP program focuses on outreach, education and testing, in addition to presenting seminars nationwide.
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