OUTtv is proud to announce the premiere of its latest original drama #STI. #STI features the stories of distraught patients recently diagnosed with an STI as they look back on how they contracted the disease and what they could have, and should have, done differently.

Every episode of #STI begins with a doctor or nurse informing an unseen patient that they have contracted an STI. The conversation is brief and one-sided, with our patient only hearing the most frightening of words and the physicians question: "Do you know how you could have contracted this?" The question triggers an immediate flashback for our mystery patient and that’s where our story begins...

Sexually Transmitted Infections (or STIs) affect everyone, regardless of age, gender or sexual orientation. If you are sexually active, you are at risk. OUTtv, in partnership with Options for Sexual Health and the TELUS Fund, whose mandate is to support exceptional content that promotes the health and well being of Canadians, have created a fun and important series that aims to educate on the facts and downplay the stigma around STIs.

STIs have been on the rise around the world for the past decade. In Canada, specifically, there are nearly 150% more recorded cases today than there were ten years ago. A portion of that has less to do with the spread of infection and more to do with people being correctly tested and diagnosed. Over 50% of sexually active individuals are likely to contract an STI in their lifetime, and less than half of those same people will get tested.

"It could be the stigma, or an abundance of misinformation," says OUTtv COO Brad Danks, "but no matter the reason, the solution is the same: improve awareness and education."

OUTtv hopes #STI will provide this to its audience but the effort doesn't stop there. The series and its companion mobile application will be a valuable tool for school districts across North America. "Nearly 45% of youth under 25 have never visited a health care provider about their sexual health," says Danks, "instead 60% list their most common source of information about sexual health as the media. We’re hoping to shed light on, and bring accuracy to, sexual health education in a medium that impacts those who need the facts the most."

Catch the premiere Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 8pm ET/9pm PT on OUTtv.

About OUTtv - OUTtv is Canada’s national LGBT television network with a compelling mix of drama, comedy, talk and award-winning movies. Original series include Sex & Violence with Olympia Dukakis, Don’t Quit Your Gay Job, and Fabulocity. OUTtv is the exclusive initial license holder for the Canadian broadcast of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Untucked. OUTtv's content can now be streamed on OUTtvGo, a subscription-based on-demand video streaming service with LGBT focused TV shows, movies and entertainment.