this is a shout out to all my fellow ASSMASTERS/MISTRISSES,

edd lee makes a booty plea

if you have known me for a long time, then you know i never ask for money. but today i am asking you for money - so this should tell you that i feel like this is for an incredibly important reason.

here is the bottom line: if we want to really end AIDS, we must understand anal sex better. but there has been a lot of resistance/avoidance/reluctance to study anal sex and HIV transmission during anal sex. i believe this is for two reasons - homophobia and sexphobia.

i have become aware of a way to fund research into anal sex and HIV - something that has been largely ignored in the HIV prevention research world.

i have checked out where the money will go and i feel like this is a great opportunity to put my money where my mouth is, er, would like to be!

so here is the deal:

1. a pal is raising money - if she can raise $5,000 before May 20 - the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) will match it - totaling $10,000 specifically for research into anal HIV transmission.

2. i pledge $100 bucks (remember, i work in non-profit) and hope that inspires each of you to give as well - no amount is too small! you can give by going to the International Rectal Microbicides Working Group website at www.irmwg.org

3. if you trust me, THEN JUST DECIDE HOW MUCH YOU CAN GIVE AND DO IT!

4. if you need to know more about what your money will go exactly (don't worry you control queens, i ain't mad at you!) please read more below.

also, feel free to call or write with any questions

AND please pass this on to others.

************************************************************* HOW THE MONEY IS BEING RAISED:

rowena johnston is a collegue who will be participate in "Trek amfAR in Africa" - which basically means she's going to cross a desert to raise money for AIDS research. for more on the event, click here

she brokered a deal in which if she can raise $5,000 by May 20th amfAR will match the $5,000 for a total of $10,000 that will specifically go into the "Rectal HIV Transmission" initiative. This initiative seeks to better understand:

•the mechanisms by which HIV is transmitted during anal sex (i.e. which cells and receptors are most susceptible, what role do they play in the establishment and systemic spread of HIV in the body)

•new HIV prevention methods that focus on anal sex like rectal microbicides (lube that would help prevention HIV transmission specifically for anal sex)

•some epidemiological questions like who has anal sex, under what circumstances and why, attitudes towards anal sex, and how decision making around anal sex happens

•how public policy around anal sex impacts HIV prevention

amfAR has funded 8 project through this initiative so far - you can read more about these projects and what they hope to discover by clicking here

*** for the non-HIV Science folks ***

WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

the reality is there is a lot of resistance to spend money on research to better understand anal sex and how HIV gets transmitted during anal sex. i say this is because homophobia and sexphobia are alive and well today. you know as well as i do, that while many of us LOVE ASS, few are willing to admit just how much and how often.

by giving money to this, you are making research happen that will give us a DEEPER understanding of anal sex and HIV/AIDS. this is critical in my mind because of three reasons:

1. this is a way to fight HIV and homophobia. i believe the reluctance to fund research into anal sex on the part of the US government and others is due to institutionalize homophobia. gay men were the first and continue to still bear the greatest burden of disease in this country and yet no new hiv prevention tools have been developed specifically for gay men. while not adequate, the amount of research into developing HIV prevention tools specifically for women and vaginal sex is robust compared to that for gay men and anal sex. this is one way you can put your MONEY where your MOUTH is - help fund research into anal sex and HIV.

2. this is also a way to fight for women - there is so little known about anal sex and people assume that women don't have it. if we really are concerned about the safety of women who don't have control over their sexual practices - then we must be committed to understanding anal sex as well. this is also a way to fight sexphobia - part of what drives HIV around the world.

3. this is a way the create change - by funding research to help develop new HIV prevention tools for gay men and women; by showing the world that there is indeed a demand, not to mention a desperate need, for new tools to prevent HIV transmission especially made for the BUTT; by putting science before morality - life before ideology - and social justice before cost-analysis.

-- edd

[edd is an amazing advocate and activist for HIV prevention. he works for the aids vaccine advocacy coalition]