China to Open a Gay Bar for World AIDS Day

Via Towleroad -




The bar for gays will open tomorrow, World AIDS Day, financed by public funds to the tune of 120,000 yuan ($17, 576), the Beijing News said, offered by Dali Prefecture government, and is to be run by The Good Friend Center, a non-governmental organization for gay men. Yunnan has the highest number of HIV/AIDS cases in the country, official data indicates.

Zhang Jianbo, the bar's manager, told the Global Times that the bar will not be operated for merely commercial purposes but rather serve as a platform to raise awareness of its gay clients about safe sex practice among them. "We might not even sell beverages in the bar. We will turn the bar into a tribune to offer lectures and training to gay people in order to reduce AIDS infections among them," he said.

Read the rest....

Monday Morning Perk Up

Brought to you by Pistol Pete

Acclaimed new video game Dragon Age: Origins features a ‘secret’ gay sex scene involving a man and an elf.

Read more from Geeks.co.uk.


Watch below.

The 70's are the futue - gay hanky code comes to iPhone

via GayNZ.com 

The hanky code - a phenomenon popular in the 70s whereby men seeking men would display different coloured hankies in their back pockets according to their tastes - is getting a second life as an application for the iPhone.

"Suppose you were at a bar and you saw someone with a real hanky in their back pocket, you could just pull up the app real quick, click on the colour and it would give you the meaning," explains Jonathan Leach, the co-creator of the Hanky Code application. "The app also will light up your screen with a picture of whatever hanky you are so the iPhone actually becomes the hanky.

"If you're at acoffee shop or a restaurant somewhere and you're working on your computer you can have your iPhone to the left or to the right of your computer or your coffee and guys walk by and the notice it and they're like 'hmm'."

Traditional hanky colours and their meanings include light blue for oral sex, navy blue for anal sex, grey for bondage, gold for threesomes, and pick for sex using dildos.




Watch above for a handy hanky primer

Click hankycode.net for even more, and for the link to the iPhone app.

Walmart is Americana baby, Enjoy!

People of Walmart (real)

More.

Feel the Love... Sister Glo channels Barbara De Angelis

Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives
them, and they bless you, the giver.

~Barbara De Angelis

Sister Glo shares her glittery gems of love with LifeLube each Friday.

Friday is for Faeries

Create the Change You Want to See

The 22nd National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change is being held in Dallas, Texas, Feb. 3-7, 2010. Go to http://www.creatingchange.org for more information and to register!

The "Work-In" - Who are you thankful for?

Ed Negron, a former drug user, turned gangbanger, turned drug dealer, turned own best customer, turned addict, turned recovering addict (still there), turned activist, turned business manager, turned student, turned Substance Abuse Counselor, turned better and happier person, turned someone who can love and be loved (Love you Patrick), turned blogger. Check out Ed's own blog here.

Featured Every Thursday on LifeLube --- check out all of Ed's "Work-In's" here.


It’s Thanksgiving today so of course I’m going to blog out being thankful. Although, instead of material things, even though I am thankful for my scooter and BlackBerry, I want to focus on the people who have had an influence in my life again. I want to repost some parts of an entry I made back on February 19, 2009.

"This past Monday I had an appointment to see my therapist. Yup, that’s right I said therapist. I can’t figure some things out on my own either and I have no shame in that. Neither should you. As I was saying, I arrived early. Since his office is literally right off the lake I took a walk to the lake. As I stood there I watch a man playing catch with his dog. I saw flock of sea gulls (no not the band or the hair) flying by. There was a family of ducks in the water. As I looked out at the lake I heard the calmness of the waves. Just in that moment a sudden rush of gratitude came over me.

"I started thinking just how lucky I am for my life and everything about it. Throughout my life I have been given so many blessings. I have a loving family who accepts me for the man that I am, gay and all. I have been blessed with a wonderful man in my life. My partner Patrick is the yen to my yang. I love him for loving me for me. I’m sorry to break it to you put I have the best friend, partner, and soul mate in the world. I have two truly wonderful friends Mike Matt and Greg Harris. I talk to Mike about everything. Mike knows stuff about me that I probably don’t even know about myself, which he always calls me on, especially when he sees me acting out of shadow. Shadow is the part of ourselves that we hide, suppress, and deny. Greg is my mentor, my dearest friend. He’s another one who won’t cosign my bullshit. Just like Mike, Greg is always there when I need someone to talk to. I can talk to both of them without fear of any judgments. They are my support, my life lines, if you will. Both Greg and Mike are my brothers from another mother. I love them dearly and will do anything for them."

No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. - Alfred North Whitehead

Practicing Gratitude Can Increase Happiness by 25%

Psychological research finds that people's happiness levels are remarkably stable over the long-term. In his book 'thanks! ', Dr. Robert A. Emmons describes research he carried out with three experimental groups over 10 weeks (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). For the full article on gratitude, go to PsyBlog.

Along with Patrick, Mike, Greg, I am grateful that I have a loving and accepting family. I am thankful for my community because I sent at a small request last week Tuesday morning asking for help in organizing a joint vigil with others happening in cities across the nation for Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado and every other victim of a hate crime. Thanks to a small group of passionate friends it was put together in less than a week. I am both honored and blessed to have each of them in my life. I would also like to send out a BIG Thank You to Scott Anthony Evan form New York for sending out the call to action for the nationwide vigils. 

I am thankful for Jim Pickett and Simone Koehlinger for always being so encouraging. These two are a great mentors and role models for me and the rest of the BLGT community. 

Lastly, I am thankful for all of you. Thank you for reading this blog and for some awesome comments. 

Who are you thankful for?

Happy Thankgiving!!!

To read daily motivations visit my blog at thework-in.blogspot.com or to receive daily motivations via email join our Google group Back To The Basics Please .

If you are not sure how to begin your work-in or need some guidance please feel free to post a comment or email me directly at thework-in@hotmail.com, I will response as soon as I can.

(Usual disclaimer applies: The suggestions on this blog are just that “SUGGESTIONS.” My words cannot heal your pain and or addictions. Nor can I change your life. Only you can.)

“Every time you don't follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness." -- Shakti Gawain

Who's That Queer

Brought to you by Pistol Pete

Even in 2008, the world of professional sports - especially the major men's team sports - is one of the final closets. David Kopay has achieved fame as a gay icon. Kopay was an overachieving player with five National Football League (NFL) teams from 1964 to 1972. During this time he wrestled with his sexuality and eventually decided to be honest with himself and the public.

Since Kopay, only two additional former NFL Players have come out as gay. Kopay has been credited with inspiring these athletes to be more open about their sexual orientation.

Kopay gave an interview in 1975 to the Washington Star in which he declared his homosexuality. He is believed to be the first professional athlete to have taken such a step. In 1977 he wrote his autobiography, The David Kopay Story: An Extraordinary Self-Revelation. His biography offers insights into the sexual proclivities of heterosexual football players and their homophobia. In 1986, Kopay also revealed his brief affair with Jerry Smith, who played for the Washington Redskins from 1965-1977 and who died of AIDS without ever having publicly come out of the closet.

After he retired from the NFL, he was considered a top contender for coaching positions, but was snubbed by professional and college teams because of his sexual orientation. He eventually took over the family business selling and installing floor coverings in the San Fernando Valley.

Kopay, who remains active as a speaker, is an important figure in that he exemplifies the fact that gay men can and do compete as athletes. He is a board member of the Gay and Lesbian Athletics Foundation.

Source: Gay for Today

Will Phillips isn't like other boys his age...

via Arkansas Times, by David Koon

For one thing, he's smart. Scary smart. A student in the West Fork School District in Washington County, he skipped a grade this year, going directly from the third to the fifth. When his family goes for a drive, discussions are much more apt to be about Teddy Roosevelt and terraforming Mars than they are about Spongebob Squarepants and what's playing on Radio Disney.

It was during one of those drives that the discussion turned to the pledge of allegiance and what it means. Laura Phillips is Will's mother. “Yes, my son is 10,” she said. “But he's probably more aware of the meaning of the pledge than a lot of adults. He's not just doing it rote recitation. We raised him to be aware of what's right, what's wrong, and what's fair.”

Will's family has a number of gay friends. In recent years, Laura Phillips said, they've been trying to be a straight ally to the gay community, going to the pride parades and standing up for the rights of their gay and lesbian neighbors. They've been especially dismayed by the effort to take away the rights of homosexuals – the right to marry, and the right to adopt. Given that, Will immediately saw a problem with the pledge of allegiance.

“I've always tried to analyze things because I want to be lawyer,” Will said. “I really don't feel that there's currently liberty and justice for all.”

Read the rest.

Homophobic Ugandan Bill Demonizes People with HIV

Remarks by Stephen Lewis, Co-Director of AIDS-Free World delivered at the Commonwealth People's Forum on the eve of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 10:00 a.m., Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago:

It’s one thing to talk about the promotion of the ‘traditional family’ as the author of the Bill does ad nauseam; it’s quite another thing to incite the promotion of disease and murder. Gays and lesbians don’t challenge traditional families; their private sexual practices don’t invade the sanctity of family life. The accusation is a vile canard. People who plead the supremacy of family values over other human values have one of two motives: either they’re biblical fundamentalists whose religiosity has gone haywire, or they’re so steeped in irrational fear of different sexual orientation that human rights have no meaning. 

This is a moment of truth for the Commonwealth. The anti-homosexuality Private Member’s Bill introduced into the parliament of Uganda, and now proceeding through the normal legislative process, puts the Commonwealth’s legitimacy and integrity to the test.

In a fashion unmistakable in both clarity and intent, the putative legislation declares war on homosexuality. There are deeply offensive sodomy laws and homophobic statutes on the books of many other Commonwealth countries, particularly here in the Caribbean. But nothing is as stark, punitive and redolent of hate as the Bill in Uganda; nothing comes close to such an omnibus violation of the human rights of sexual minorities. For some time now, Uganda has had offensive anti-homosexual legislation on the books, but this variant, this inflammatory redesign makes of the law a veritable charter of malice.

What is truly staggering about all of this is that not a peep of skepticism or incredulity has come from President Museveni (pictured). And President Museveni is chairing the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit. In so doing, he makes a mockery of Commonwealth principles.

One must remember that the last meeting of CHOGM was held in Uganda in 2007, and issued what is called the “Munyonyo Statement of Respect and Understanding”. It asserted that the Commonwealth “is a body well-placed to affirm the fundamental truth that diversity is one of humanity’s greatest strengths”. It went on to say that “accepting diversity, respecting the dignity of all human beings, and understanding the richness of our multiple identities have always been fundamental to the Commonwealth’s principles and approach …”. President Museveni signed the document. How in the world does he reconcile the affirmation then with the defamation now?

It is noteworthy that much of the strongest opposition to the Bill is coming from the courageous Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender activists on the ground. LGBT activism always commands admiration, but in this instance especially so, because their very lives hang in the balance.\

Read the rest on AIDS-Free World.

Woof Wednesday

We Took Pleasure Back - and Now it's Available on Podcast!

Click for the Feast of Fun podcast of the LifeLube forum - Taking Pleasure Back

 
When talking about sex and gay men, the fear of danger, diseases and risk usually become the focus. Why does it have to be this way? Why not talk about the fantastic sex we do have? After all, being gay is not just good, it's fabulous.

Join us (recorded live) from the Center on Halsted on November 11 with a panel of experts as we explore desire and ways we can be intimate, sensual and loving with each other, sponsored by LifeLube and Project CRYSP.

Please give it a listen, and leave your comments. Let's keep up the great conversation we started at the Center. Did you want to say something and didn't get a chance? Did we neglect something? Agree, disagree? Spill it.

And click here for photos and links to podcasts from previous LifeLube forums from 2008 and 2009.

Please stay tuned for our 2010 series of forums.

How is H. Boden Gregory healthy?

As imperfect as I am, I am perfectly able to better myself.

 

I have been HIV+ since the early nineties.  I must admit that after living in survival mode for so long, I have found the transition to just plain living to be somewhat difficult.

There is an underlying fear that the other shoe will drop.  As someone who witnessed the shoe drop on so many people, it is often hard to not feel like running and hiding.   I know I am not alone.

When I mention this transition, I feel that for me it is mostly filled with acceptance.  Acceptance that there is a future.  Acceptance that I can be seen as lovable and sexable, not a pariah.  Acceptance that though the extreme in the worst of ways can happen to people, extreme in the best of ways need not be the goal.  And finally, acceptance that I am in fact the one responsible for making this transition. 

While I am being healthy, I first do the things that are necessary to keep me healthy.  These are rudimentary, but important parts of my life.  I take my pills, every day.  I see the doctor regularly, and I even subject myself to some of those necessary, yet nasty procedures that sometimes I would rather forget.

I have found that one aspect of relieving the worry that the other shoe will drop is to take those steps in order to make sure that the shoe doesn’t drop unnecessarily.  I am surrounded by intelligent people, both behind the prescription pad and behind the scenes advocating for little old me.  So when I am told that I need to have regular anal pap smears, I do it (begrudgingly), not only because it is the right thing to do, but because, as I said, I am responsible for this transition into living.

And when my responsibility sometimes tips into irresponsibility, or I feel guilt for those times when I may not have done what was best for my health, be it drugs or worrisome sex, I try to keep in mind that this transition has no clean cut start or finish.  I am here to improve upon something, constantly.  As imperfect as I am, I am perfectly able to better myself.

So, with that, I must say I do not intend to lay a heavy hand here.  I only intend to point out that for me, health is so much more than how often I take myself to the gym (enough) or how many miles I hike (a lot), or how much fun sex I have (almost enough).  It is often about how much I am willing to allow myself to enjoy living this plain ol’ life.

-- H. Boden Gregory
San Francisco

How are you healthy?
Join in the conversation.
Tell us HERE. Send a pic to the same place.
And we'll blog it, right here.
Read past posts.
Learn more about the campaign.

Unmasking subtle heterosexism: Microaggressions and microvalidations in everyday life

via The Sexual Continuum, by Dr. Brian Mustanski

Excerpt:

After reading this article on microaggressions in the APA Monitor I have been spending a lot of time thinking about this topic. I have been particularly curious about how gay and lesbian people may experience these kinds of microaggressions and how we might go about studying their occurrence and effects. I turns out almost no research has been done on LGBT people and microaggressions. So I started paying attention and making a note of various kinds of experiences I have in my daily life and recent travels. Here are a few examples of things I have recently experienced:

A customs agent pointedly agent asking my partner and I if we are "friends." While I thought about correcting him and saying in fact we are partners, I eventually decided it wasn't worth it. I wasn't entirely sure why he said it the way he did and didn't want to raise an issue that may not have existed, but it did feel like it invalidated my relationship and made me frustrated that I wasn't sure how to respond.

Read the entire item.


Glossary:

• A microassault is an explicit verbal or nonverbal attack meant to hurt the intended victim through name-calling, avoidant behavior, or purposeful discriminatory actions.
• A microinsult is characterized by communications that convey rudeness and insensitivity and demean a person's racial heritage or identity. Microinsults represent subtle snubs, frequently unknown to the perpetrator, but clearly convey a hidden insulting message to the recipient of color.
• Microinvalidations are characterized by communications that exclude, negate, or nullify the psychological thoughts, feelings, or experiential reality of a minority person.

Circumcision may protect HIV-negative gay men from syphilis

via Aidsmap, by Michael Carter

Circumcision protects HIV-negative gay men from infection with syphilis, Australian investigators report in the December 15th edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. However, circumcision did not affect the risk of acquiring any other sexually transmitted infection.

The study was conducted by investigators from the Health in Men (HIM) study. This is the same group of investigators who recently reported that circumcision may protect gay men with a “preference” for insertive anal sex from HIV.

Gay men are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections and new methods of preventing them are required.

Observational studies conducted in heterosexuals have suggested that circumcision is protective against ulcerative sexually transmitted infections, including genital herpes and syphilis. In addition, the Rakai randomised controlled trial showed that circumcision protected against genital herpes, but not syphilis.

Read the rest.

Test It, Check It, and Do the Terry Twist

Play Hard and Play Safe is the M.O. at Steamworks - a bathhouse chain with a branch right here in Sweeeeet Home Chicago. Playing Hard is a given - and as for Safe...

You can interact with outreach workers from 5 different local organizations AND get that HIV status updated with a rapid HIV test - or get screened for sexually transmitted diseases - 6 sexy nights of the week. See the schedule below.

You might also want to check out Mr. Sexx on Fridays - who sets up shop and offers one-on-one completely confidential counseling - for whatever you want/need to talk about, from 7p - 10p.


Tuesdays 4p-7p 
HIV/STD Screening and treatment open to the public and members provided by Howard Brown

Tuesdays 7p-10p 
Oraquick HIV Rapid Testing, STD and Hep C screening from BEHIV for members

Wednesdays and Sundays 3:30-6:30p
Outreach and Oraquick HIV Rapid Testing from CALOR for members

Thursdays 8p-11pm 
Outreach and Oraquick HIV Rapid Testing from Howard Brown for members

Fridays 7p-10p 
Mr. Sexx offers one-on-one confidential counseling for members PLUS Outreach and HIV Rapid Testing provided by TPAN

Fridays 10p-1a 
Outreach and Oraquick HIV Rapid Testing from CALOR for members

Saturdays 10p-2a
Outreach and Oraquick HIV Rapid Testing provided by Chicago House for members

Monday Morning Perk-Up

Brought to you by Pistol Pete

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Gaywatch - Peter Vadala & William Phillips
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Chuckles Bites the Dust - a Mary Tyler Moore Classic

Transgender Day of Remembrance - More than 100 Murdered in 2009

Today is International Transgender Day of Remembrance. Check out the official website to see if any vigils are taking place near you.

Got Five Dollars?

Nice little video by Covalent Immunology encouraging people to pony up for vaccine research. The Cast includes Lady Bunny, Justin Bond, Ben Andrews, Angie Pontani, Kristen Renton, Thea Gill, Wilson Cruz, The Pixie Harlots, and Hydeia Broadbent.

Semenya to Keep Gold Metal, No Matter What!

Even if South African track star Caster Semenya does have both boy and girl parts, she's still a gold medal winner: The International Association of Athletics Federations ruled she can keep the gold medal she won in August in Berlin. But the bigger news? The results of the investigation into Semenya's gender (!) will be kept private. Read the rest at Queerty.

Feel the Love... Sister Glo channels Gandhi

Whether humanity will consciously follow the law of love, I do not know. But that need not disturb me.
The law will work just as the law of gravitation works, whether we accept it or not. The person who
discovered the law of love was a far greater scientist than any of our modern scientists. Only our
explorations have not gone far enough and so it is not possible for everyone to see all its workings.

~ Mohandas K. Gandhi

Sister Glo shares her glittery gems of love with LifeLube each Friday.

Friday is for Faeries