Rachel's world is
thrown into a tailspin when she tests positive for HIV. In trying to
deal with this frightening news, the high school senior finds an
unlikely ally: a substitute teacher who has secretly lived with HIV
for years. But gossip, like disease, can spread quickly, and neither
woman will be immune to its effects.
Andrea Bowen ("Desperate
Housewives"),
Jennie Garth ("90210")
and Emmy®,
Golden Globe®, NAACP and SAG
Award winner S. Epatha Merkerson
(“Law & Order,” “Lakawanna Blues”) star in this eye-opening drama
parents and teens can't afford to miss. “Girl,
Positive” will premiere on Monday, June 25, at 9PM ET/PT on Lifetime
Television, coinciding with National AIDS Testing Day on June 27.
According to the
U.S. Office of National AIDS Policy, half of all new HIV infections
occur in people under age 25. One-fourth of these new infections
are contracted by people under the age of 21. During the film,
Lifetime will air two PSAs, the first featuring Andrea Bowen and
Jennie Garth encouraging viewers to learn more about this national
epidemic. A second PSA with S. Epatha Merkerson, will address how
HIV affects women of color. As part of Lifetime’s long-standing
commitment to raising awareness about the issues facing families and
teens, and in anticipation of National HIV Testing Day on June 27,
the Network will partner with leading nonprofit organizations, such
as Advocates for Youth, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Cable
Positive, to provide additional information and resources on
LifetimeTV.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2007
ANDREA BOWEN
(“DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES”)
AND JENNIE GARTH
(“BEVERLY HILLS, 90210”),
STAR IN THE LIFETIME
ORIGINAL MOVIE “GIRL, POSITIVE,” A POWERFUL STORY THAT RAISES THE STAKES
OF LOVE AND LIFE WHEN ONE TEEN FACES HIV/AIDS,
PREMIERING JUNE 25
Emmy®, Golden
Globe®, NAACP and SAG Award Winner
S. Epatha Merkerson (“Law & Order,” “Lakawana Blues”) Co-Stars
Lifetime Partners with the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Advocates for
Youth and Other Organizations to Raise AIDS Awareness in Advance of
National HIV Testing Day on June 27
 LOS ANGELES, CA – Lifetime explores the world of teen love,
sex and gossip in the Lifetime Original Movie “Girl, Positive”
(formerly “Consequences”), the story of Rachel, a high school senior who
fears she may be infected with HIV and must come to terms with the
life-altering news. The telefilm stars Andrea Bowen (“Desperate
Housewives”) as Rachel and Jennie Garth (“Beverly Hills 90210,” “What I
Like About You”) as a teacher in Rachel’s school who has been secretly
living with the virus for years. Emmy®,
Golden Globe®, NAACP and SAG Award
winner S. Epatha Merkerson (“Law & Order,” “Lakawanna Blues”) also stars
in the movie as an AIDS clinic worker. “Girl, Positive” will premiere
on Monday, June 25, at 9PM ET/PT on Lifetime Television, coinciding with
National AIDS Testing Day on June 27.
In “Girl, Positive,” seventeen-year-old Rachel
Sandler’s (Bowen) carefree world is jolted when word spreads through the
internet that her neighbor Jason (Eric Von Detton, “Dinotopia,”
“Complete Savages”), a handsome and popular athlete who died an untimely
death, was an intravenous drug user. After receiving a mysterious
computer message claiming Jason was HIV-positive, Rachel worries she may
be infected since they once had unprotected sex. Determined to secretly
learn more about the disease, Rachel is advised by her new substitute
teacher, Sarah Bennett (Garth), to visit the local AIDS clinic which her
friend, Ariel (Merkerson), oversees.
During Rachel’s visit, she takes a rapid AIDS test, but
panics and leaves before learning the results. When Sarah discovers
Rachel’s test is positive, she reveals to Rachel that she herself has
secretly been living with HIV for more than seven years. While both
wish to keep their privacy, they soon find out that with today’s
technology of instant messaging, cell phones and blogs, gossip - just
like disease - can spread fast and furiously.
According to the U.S. Office of National AIDS Policy, half
of all new HIV infections occur in people under age 25. One-fourth of
these new infections are contracted by people under the age of 21.
During the film, Lifetime will air two PSAs, the first featuring Andrea
Bowen and Jennie Garth encouraging viewers to learn more about this
national epidemic. A second PSA with S. Epatha Merkerson, will address
how HIV affects women of color. As part of Lifetime’s long-standing
commitment to raising awareness about the issues facing families and
teens, and in anticipation of National HIV Testing Day on June 27, the
Network will partner with leading nonprofit organizations, such as
Advocates for Youth, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Cable Positive,
to provide additional information and resources on LifetimeTV.com.
“Girl, Positive” is produced by Von
Zerneck-Sertner Films for Lifetime Television. Bob Sertner (“Haunting
Sarah”, “We Were the Mulvaneys”), Frank Von Zerneck (“For One Night”)
and Nancey Silvers (“Mom at Sixteen”), who also wrote the telefilm,
serve as executive producers. Peter Werner (“Why I Wore Lipstick to My
Mastectomy”) co-executive produced and directed the movie and Randy
Sutter (“Relative Chaos”) served as producer.
LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated
basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company,
LIFETIME is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and
information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting
women and their families. LIFETIME Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women
and Lifetime Digital (including LifetimeTV.com) are part of LIFETIME
Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation
and The Walt Disney Company.
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