*rectal microbicides...
Seattle, Washington
Steve Wakefield’s personal mission in life is to serve his LGBT community as a health care advocate. His background in HIV prevention advocacy has helped him recognize the ways in which microbicides—both vaginal and rectal—could be used as tools to empower men and women, gay and straight.
He became interested in the International Rectal Microbicide Working Group because of a desire to connect with people “who were willing to recognize that unprotected anal intercourse may still be the norm for both women and gay men.” Steve believes that, while human behavior is hard to modify, developing a rectal microbicide and learning how to increase utilization of the few HIV prevention tools currently available could provide protection and enhance pleasure considerably.
In his professional work, he focuses on engaging African Americans and Hispanics in HIV vaccine research. His free time “is spent on any activity that allows my eyes to fall on the beautiful men of this universe from hunky rugby players to gym rats and beyond.”
Photo courtesy of Tracy Baim, Windy City Times
[*are products being researched that could provide protection against HIV and other STDs. they may enhance protection when used with condoms during anal sex, and provide some protection if condoms are not being used. rectal microbicides may be formulated as lubes or gels, or maybe even put into an enema. these products do not exist, yet, but the international rectal microbicide working group - www.IRMWG.org - is a global network of approximately 500 advocates, scientists and policy makers who are pressing for their development, and scientific trials are under way. many men and women around the world who have anal sex would benefit from safe and effective rectal microbicides.]
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