Body Issues at the 2010 Gay Men's Health Summit

via Mark King, of My Fabulous Disease

"In the heat of the moment, he allows me to have my way"

via TheBody.com, by Terron J. Cook

[Powerful, piercingly honest story regarding this man's struggle to use condoms, and the intense attraction and pleasure of sex without them. Many of us will relate.]

Excerpt:

Wearing condoms always has been extremely tough for me. First, I ask myself, "Why the fuck would I use a condom when I'm the top man?" But knowing that the majority of men who contract HIV play the bottom role is absolutely no excuse for my behavior. Second, I can't maintain an erection in a condom, or at least, that's what I've convinced myself of. I use this as an excuse to not use them.

When I partake in a sexual escapade with another man, I need it to be fulfilling in all aspects, and utilizing a condom simply does not afford me that pleasure. In my earnest opinion, safe sex is absolutely ridiculous, yet necessary. It creates rigidity, as well as a wall in the middle of what is designed to be so beautiful. There is something about barebacking that allows me to feel close to the man directly in front of me.

Read the whole thing.

A Day With HIV in America - Take a picture, it lasts longer

A nationwide photo essay sponsored by Positively Aware magazine

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE WITH HIV?

Positively Aware wants you to think about that question. Because, whether you’re positive or negative, we are all affected by HIV.

On Sept. 21, take a snapshot of a moment from your everday life. Use your digital camera or cell phone camera, and capture a scene: Getting ready for work. Hanging out with friends. Spending a quiet moment alone. Caring for someone with HIV. The idea is to come up with your own response to the question, What does it mean to live with HIV?

Make it happen.

Gay is Good for Kids!

Image of the idealized version of a lesbian couple with child

A new study published in the prestigious journal Pediatrics followed a group of children born to lesbian mothers for nearly 25 years to chart their psychological health and development. Previous studies have found no significant differences in psychological health between children reared by lesbian or heterosexual parents. This led the American Academy of Pediatrics to issue a report in support of same-sex parents raising children.

Read the rest at the Sexual Continuum.

Sex and the City - men, sex, love, and HIV [Chicago conference]

The FREE conference is a one day event that will explore how HIV/AIDS is impacting African American gay and bisexual men, as well as other men who have sex with men (MSM) in Chicago. Fueled in part by persistent silence and stigma, the health disparities impacting these men have created unacceptably high rates of HIV that rival those in sub-Saharan Africa.

What is already happening to address these disparities, and what's missing?  

Join us and be part of the answer.

Keynote speakers include Dr. David Malebranch of Emory University and Dr. Gary Harper of DePaul University

Thursday, September 16
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
University Center
525 S. State Street, Chicago 
Register online here. FREE.

If it aint holistic, it's crap!

Enhancing HIV Prevention Services to Young Gay Men
via Gay City News, by Perry Halkitis

[we LOVE this]

Snip - An HIV prevention program for gay men must be part of a holistic gay men’s health program. It is no longer sufficient — and in fact unconscionable — to provide HIV prevention services in the absence of drug and mental health counseling. Sexual health programs must address the realities of all sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to which gay men are susceptible.

Snip - First, most HIV prevention programs are based on deficit models — in other words, we focus on behaviors of risky gay men and build programs around reducing their risk. But for every two young gay men who engage in unsafe sex and use drugs there are likely eight who do not. We have as much (if not more) to learn from these young gay men who demonstrate healthy behaviors as we do by designing programs around risky men. For years, psychologists have understood that you study your success stories and try to emulate what is being “done right.” Those providing HIV prevention services have not fully understood the benefit of such an approach.

Second, HIV prevention programs that seek to understand the complexities of health issues for gay men must also celebrate the resilience of the gay community and our successes. As a population, we have been burdened and devastated by HIV — but we also have survived, and we continue to make viable and significant contributions to our society. We have supported each other throughout the first 15 years of the epidemic when death surrounded us, and somehow we have managed to maintain our place in the world. Thus, HIV prevention programs must acknowledge and celebrate this resilience.

Finally, HIV prevention programs must recognize our success in other parts of our lives. We are highly educated. We often have successful careers as well as meaningful friendships, partnerships and marriages. These elements must be brought into discussions of HIV prevention.

Read it all.

 

Monday Morning Perk-Up [Busy Drag Queen]

Brought to you by Pistol Pete

"In my brief moments of clarity I knew my life was supposed to be better than this"

"But I believe in people's ability to change."

Gay City Health's Jordan Duran (Seattle) tells his story of leaving a serious meth addiction and turning his life around. In the Seattle Times. 
  
A must read.

One major annoyance - the headline - "Meth use among young gay men remains a pervasive problem." The article goes on to say that "studies show that about one out of 10 gay or bisexual men in King County uses crystal meth in any give year"- which means that a full NINETY PERCENT of gay and bi men in King County DON'T USE METH. The stories of our brothers brought down hard by this drug are important and real - and they need and deserve our love and support - but we don't need to make this problem bigger than it is - "pervasive" in our minds implies more than one in ten. Yes, ten percent is a big deal, it's a big deal for guys like Jordan and our friends who run into serious meth trouble, but 90% of us NOT using is a BFD too. Do we ever tell THAT story? Can't tell you how many times we have to argue with folks who say things like "the majority of gay men use meth" because of headlines like this,, their less than careful reading of the statistics that show "majority" is not at all accurate, and their sort of sick desire to see gay men only as damaged beings in need of fixin'.

Anyhow.

A highlight of this post is this from Jordan's father in the comments section (which unfortunately does have a fair amount of pure idiots posting.) Here it is:

So I sit here and read this article, and I smile. I just think of how very strong this young man is and was, in the midst of a destructive time in his life, how does a person have the ability to escape the hold that a dangerous drug like meth can have on them? It does'nt matter if a kid has a "good" childhood or comes from a "good' family, drugs don't discriminate! As far as homosexuality...meth does'nt know a gay man from a heterosexual one! What I do know is this; our life was'nt the easiest, the kid's were deprived of alot of things that all their friends had, and usually took for granted. But this makes me smile because Jordan Duran is my son, and my love for him is unconditional...I don't care what other people say because I know what he's been through, and I know that he was strong enough to fight his way out as far as the drugs go. Now the only thing I worry about is that I can't see him as much as I'd like to, but only because I live far away! So keep on educating people and telling your story son, You know I'm in your corner!! Love 'ya kid...Dad 

And we love you too Dad!

September 21 in Chicago - What's Love Got To Do With It?

RSVP for this FREE forum here.

Feel the Love... Sister Glo channels Ella Wheeler Wilcox

All love that 

has not friendship 

for its base, 

is like a mansion 

built upon the sand.

~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Love is all you need with Sister Glo each Friday on LifeLube.

Friday is for Faeries

Who's That Queer [Gladys Bentley]

Brought to you by Pistol Pete

Gladys Bentley was a blues singer during the Harlem Renaissance. She was a 250 pound woman dressed in men's clothes (including a signature tuxedo and top hat), who played piano and sang her own raunchy lyrics to popular tunes of the day in a deep, growling voice while flirting outrageously with women in the audience.

She appeared at Harry Hansberry's "Clam House" on 133rd Street, one of New York City's most notorious gay speakeasies in the 1920s, and headlined in the early thirties at Harlem's Ubangi Club, where she was backed up by a chorus line of drag queens. Bentley was openly lesbian during her early career, but during the McCarthy Era she started wearing dresses, married a man (who later denied that they ever married), and studied to be a minister, claiming to have been "cured" by taking female hormones.

Read the rest at Wikipedia

How is Craig Doss healthy?

Continue to believe in love.

  

 I know my idea of staying healthy may stray from others, but I believe the most important part of staying healthy is the absolute acceptance of a thing called love. And, yes I mean the love that can move mountains and the love that is a many splendid thing.

Now whether I am eating right and exercising to appeal to the sexes (my initial reasons) or to maintain my energy and waistline (vain reasoning) or to quell the onset of diabetes or high cholesterol (my current reason), falling in love speaks to all those conditions.

How amazing is it to have an experience where the blood is engorging every vain from that intimate kiss in the car. Those countless calories being consumed and released from dinner and dancing the other night. How about the peace of mind you receive when you know that your mate has called just to see how your day is going.

And just think about the stress you release (in all facets), but primarily the stress released when you finally realize that this person loves you for you. When you finally love you for you, how peaceful you sleep, how active you become and how you can emotionally benefit from a shoulder to cry on and an affirmation of your ideals.

Undoubtedly these things really only occur when someone has tickled your fancy, but I see being in love and allowing yourself to fall in love as such a catalyst to your overall well being.

Your piece of mind is your ultimate goal for health. Having your mind right can alleviate a lot of issues, both physical and mental, but when you fall in love. Oh when you fall in love. Those feeling are heightened and the benefits can be amazing. So whether it been 2 years or 10 years, continue to believe in love, because love (despite being on its own terms) still believes in you.

-- Craig Doss

Chicago

 

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.

Chicago Men - Pls take this survey!

your answers will help make the services for gay/bi men in chicago better and more responsive - thanks in advance!

Study: Cream Helps Clear High-Grade Anal Lesions

via AIDSmeds

Long-term treatment with a topical immune-stimulating cream called Aldara (imiquimod), approved for the treatment of external genital warts, may also improve or clear high-grade lesions inside the anuses of men living with HIV and may potentially reduce the risk of cancer. This is the conclusion of a study published online August 19 in the journal AIDS.

Read the rest.

Woof Wednesday

Miss Philippines Drives the Gals WILD

Older Gay and Bisexual Men Needed for UIC Research Study

Are you 55 years of age or older and African American or Latino? We need your input!

We are recruiting men to participate in a focus group discussion or an individual interview.

Focus groups will last 90 min and you will receive $10 in compensation. Individual interviews will last 1 hr and you will receive $20 in compensation. Focus group and interviews will be conducted in either English and/or Spanish depending on participant’s preference, and audio tape-recorded.

If you are interested please call us at 312-996-6346 or e-mail: valles@uic.edu to see if you qualify.

________________________________________

La Salud de Hombres Gay y Bisexuales de Edad Mayor

Estamos buscando hombres gay y bisexuales de edad mayor para participar en un estudio sobre la salud, las relaciones sociales, y la discriminación.

¿Tienes 55 años de edad o más? ¿Eres Latino o Afro-Americano?

¡Necesitamos tu participación!

Estamos reclutando hombres para una discusión grupal o una entrevista individual. La discusión grupal durara 90 minutos y recibirás $10 por tu participación. Entrevistas individuales duraran 1 hr. y recibirás $20 por tu participación.

La discusión grupal y la entrevista individual se harán en Ingles o Español para acomodar tu preferencia y serán grabadas en audio.

Si estas interesado por favor contáctanos: 312-996-6346 o e-mail: valles@uic.edu para ver si calificas.

Anal-Sex Inspired Art Riles Some Danes

via Copenhagen Post

It’s hard to believe that something like this can offend people in today’s Denmark.

Employees at Roskilde Town Hall are in uproar over a controversial picture showing two ‘Duplo’ figures having gay sex and want the work removed from the building.

According to news website lokalavisen.dk, administrators at the town hall have received at least three internal complaints over the piece by artist Svend Ahnstrøm, which depicts the characters Kurt and Anders smiling as they enjoy themselves in a public park.

Read the rest.

Insert Discourse: Rectal Douching Among Young HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men in Vancouver, Canada

Via Sexulaity and Culture by Arn J. Schilder, Treena R. Orchard, Christopher S. Buchner, Steffanie A. Strathdee, Robert S. Hogg

Abstract:

 Douching is a common practice among certain groups of women and MSM, and it is conducted for the purpose of cleanliness as part of bodily hygiene maintenance. Although there has been considerable research about female vaginal douching, understandings of rectal douching (RD) for MSM are limited.

In the epidemiological and medical literature, RD is presented as a behaviour that removes beneficial bacteria and the surface epithelium layer of the colon, which can, potentially, increase the risk of HIV transmission in MSM. The paucity of research on male douching practices is curious given the primacy of anal sex in HIV prevention initiatives and the widespread nature of rectal douching among this population.

This paper provides preliminary data on RD and is intended to engender a dialogue about male douching and the need for additional research into the cultural construction of the body among MSM, namely with respect to the anus. Findings were derived from qualitative interviews with 12 young HIV-positive men who had recently become HIV-infected and 12 HIV-negative age-matched counterparts who were participating in a prospective cohort study. Beliefs about RD differed according to HIV serostatus; HIV-positive men discussed the practice much more openly than their counterparts did.

Pre-coital RD is an embedded behaviour about which very little is known. However, it is a critical issue to include in the development of effective HIV prevention strategies and warrants an acknowledgement of importance of the anus in the lives, sexual practices, and identities among MSM.

For the full study click here.

Condoms Aren’t Enough! Will Pills and Lubes Define the Future Of Sex?

More than 100 of the  world's top experts on  human rights and HIV among  sexual minorities led presentations and  workshops in Vienna  on July 17 at BE HEARD,  an all-day  conference event that addressed soaring global rates of HIV  among men who  have sex with men  (MSM). The event preceded  the launch of AIDS 2010, the XVIII International AIDS  Conference (IAC) and had nearly 600 participants.

Our friend IRMA (International Rectal Microbicide Advocates) and led the very interesting session called "Condoms Aren’t Enough! Will Pills and Lubes Define the Future Of Sex? An Overview of New HIV Prevention Tools in Development."

Below are 5 of the presentations - which IRMA is lovingly sharing with LifeLube. The first - directly below - begins with Kenyan researcher Dr. Gaudensia Mutua's talk - "Basic Concepts about AIDS Vaccine Research."

 

Hosted by the Global  Forum on MSM  & HIV (MSMGF),   BE HEARD focused on challenges and  solutions to  achieving  universal  access to HIV-related prevention, care,  treatment,  and  support  services for sexual minority communities  worldwide.

HIV, transmitted drug resistance, and the paradox of PrEP

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
by Virginie Supervie, J. Gerardo García-Lermb, Walid Heneine, and Sally Blower

Excerpt:

If the results from the phase III trials ending in 2010 show moderate to high efficacy, then PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) interventions could be implemented in the near future in resource-rich countries. We have shown PrEP could significantly reduce transmission in the MSM community in San Francisco even if efficacy is only moderate, provided coverage is high and risk compensation does not occur. High coverage may be attainable: recent surveys indicate ~70% of MSM in California and in Massachusetts have stated they would be willing to take PrEP on a daily basis if it were proven safe and effective (41, 42); furthermore, MSM reporting risky behaviors were more likely to anticipate using PrEP (42). Although our quantitative results are specific to the MSM community in San Francisco, the qualitative insights we have gained are applicable to any high-risk community where treatment has been readily available for many years and current levels of transmitted resistance are already high.

Read the entire article.

Monday Morning Perk-Up [Cat Hates Justin Bieber]

Brought to you by Pistol Pete

Health Survey for Gay/Bi Men in Chicago - please participate

click here - your answers will help improve services for gay/bi men in chicago - thanks in advance

A third of HIV+ gay men show signs of PTSD

via PinkNews

A study has found that one third of gay and bisexual men diagnosed with HIV show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Researchers from the NHS Foundation Trust in London surveyed 100 gay and bisexual men who had been diagnosed with HIV. The study results were published in the latest edition of the journal AIDS Patient Care and STDs
They found that 33 per cent of the men met the criteria for having PTSD, which is a psychological disorder that can develop in people who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events.

Symptoms can include flashbacks, guilt, depression, addiction and physical complaints such as headaches.

The researchers were surprised to find that beginning antiretroviral therapy was marginally the strongest trigger for PTSD developing and theorised that this may be because the men feared how a medication regime could affect their lives.

Read the rest.

Feel the Love... Sister Glo channels Robert A. Heinlein

Love is that condition 
in which the happiness 
of another person 

is essential to your own.

~Robert A. Heinlein

Love is all you need with Sister Glo each Friday on LifeLube.

Friday is for Faeries