Gay Men Being Trafficked in Kenya

via Advocate, by Diane Anderson-Minshall

Gay and bisexual men in Kenya are being lured into sex trafficking rings in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, according to a new report in African LGBT magazine, Identity.

Identity magazine says that the men attending Kenyatta University are particularly targeted, offered jobs as airline attendants or office workers,and given visas and passports (thanks to officials who've been bribed to help facilitate the travel arrangements).

Some of the men have reported violent sadistic sexual abuse at the hands of their captors.

Many countries, including Qatar, have no anti-trafficking legislation and remain on the U.S. Department of State watch lists for showing no progress in identifying victims of trafficking and prosecuting the perpetrators.

While Kenya did pass anti-trafficking legislation last year, homosexuality is still illegal in both the Arab states as well as Kenya, so the men are unable to report abuse to police.


Read the rest

Data Dump - research of interest to gay men's health advocates

The minions behind LifeLube (your gay, sexy, healthy field guide to gay men's health) read a LOT of literature of interest to our community - and we'd just like to clue you in on some important/interesting articles we have recently checked out - abstracts below. If you are interested in getting the full paper of any one of these - please send an e-mail to lifelube@gmail.com and we will try to hook you up.


Accounts of HIV Seroconversion Among Substance-Using Gay and Bisexual Men   

Childhood Sexual Abuse and the Sociocultural Context of Sexual Risk Among Adult Latino Gay and Bisexual Men 

Factors associated with unprotected anal intercourse between HIV-positive men and regular male partners in a Sydney cohort

HIV Prevalence and Unrecognized HIV Infection Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Chicago HIV Behavioral Surveillance, 2008 (this links to the full paper)

Social Support Moderates the Relationship Between Gay Community Integration and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Gay Male Couples

Gay men sexually abused in childhood more likely to have risky sex, get HIV

via Aidsmap, by Michael Carter

An experience of sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence is associated with an increased risk of gay men becoming HIV-positive in adult life, American researchers report in the July 1^st edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. The research also showed that men with a history of sexual abuse in early life had higher levels of depression and problematic drug and alcohol use, as well as being less receptive to HIV prevention interventions.

“This is the first study…to demonstrate a predictive relationship between a history of childhood sexual abuse among HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men,” comment the investigators.

Earlier research has shown that gay and other men who have sex with men are more likely to report a history of childhood sexual abuse than heterosexual men. Other studies have also shown that a history of childhood sexual abuse is associated with sexual risk-taking by adult gay men. There are also data demonstrating a relationship between the experience of sexual abuse as a child and depression and other mental health problems in adult life, as well as poor social skills and drug and alcohol use.

Studies have also demonstrated that that gay men with a history of abuse have higher rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. But this research has been limited in its generalisability by its cross-sectional design.

Read the rest.

Childhood Sexual Abuse Highly Associated With HIV Risk-Taking Behavior and Infection Among MSM

Childhood Sexual Abuse Is Highly Associated With HIV Risk-Taking Behavior and Infection Among MSM in the EXPLORE Study.

ABSTRACT

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, 2009 Apr 13. [Epub ahead of print]

Mimiaga MJ, Noonan E, Donnell D, Safren SA, Koenen KC, Gortmaker S, Oʼcleirigh C, Chesney MA, Coates TJ, Koblin BA, Mayer KH.

From the *Departments of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; daggerEpidemiology Unit, The Fenway Institute, Fenway Community Health, Boston, MA; double daggerStatistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research and Prevention (SCHARP), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA; section signDepartments of Society, Human Development and Health, and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA; ||Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, The University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; paragraph signThe University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA; #New York Blood Center, New York, NY; and **Departments of Infectious Diseases and Community Health, Miriam Hospital, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI.

BACKGROUND:

Previous studies have found high rates of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) among US men who have sex with men (MSM). CSA history has been associated with a variety of negative effects later in life including behaviors that place MSM at greater risk for HIV acquisition and transmission. The present analysis is the first to examine the longitudinal association between CSA and HIV infection, unprotected anal sex, and serodiscordant unprotected anal sex, as well as mediators of these relationships among a large sample of HIV-uninfected MSM.

METHODS:

The EXPLORE Study was a behavioral intervention trial conducted in 6 US cities over 48 months with HIV infection as the primary efficacy outcome. Behavioral assessments were done every 6 months via confidential computerized assessments. Longitudinal regression models were constructed, adjusting for randomization arm, geographical location of study site, age at enrollment, education, and race/ethnicity.

RESULTS:

Of the 4295 participants enrolled, 39.7% had a history of CSA. Participants with a history of CSA [adjusted hazards ratio = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02 to 1.69] were at increased risk for HIV infection over study follow-up. A significant association was seen between history of CSA and unprotected anal sex (adjusted odds ratio = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.36) and serodiscordant unprotected anal sex (adjusted odds ratio = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.18 to 1.43). Among participants reporting CSA, the EXPLORE intervention had no effect in reducing HIV infection rates. Participants reporting CSA were significantly more likely to have symptoms of depression and use nonprescription drugs.

CONCLUSIONS:

A predictive relationship between a history of CSA and subsequent HIV infection was observed among this large sample of HIV-uninfected MSM. Findings indicate that HIV-uninfected MSM with CSA histories are at greater risk for HIV infection, report higher rates of HIV sexual risk behavior, and may derive less benefit from prevention programs. Future HIV prevention interventions should address the specific mental health concerns of MSM with a history of CSA.

SFAF Podcast: Gay men, abuse and trauma: breaking the links to HIV and drug abuse

In this episode, Dr. Michael Siever, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation's Director of Behavioral Health Sciences and the founder of the Stonewall Project, discusses the effects of abuse and trauma among gay men. Studies have shown that links exists between abuse and trauma and a greater potential for drug abuse and increased HIV risk behaviors.

Listen to SFAF.org Podcast #41 - Gay men, abuse and trauma: breaking the links to HIV and drug abuse. (8 minutes, .mp3, 4 MB)

Dr. Michael Siever is a licensed psychologist with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. He has a long history of community activism as a gay man living with HIV and as an advocate for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities with the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

The SFAF.org podcast gives you concise biweekly updates on current HIV/AIDS topics from our experts in policy, treatment and prevention. If you need podcast help or would like to subscribe to the podcast through iTunes or another program, please visit the SFAF Podcast web site.

Relief, Recovery and Restoration: Helping Men Heal from Sexual Abuse

[this looks like a great conference... register by July 30 and save $50]

October 24-28, 2007

MaleSurvivor
&
John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Present the...

Male Survivor 2007 International Conference

"Relief, Recovery and Restoration:
Helping Men Heal from Sexual Abuse"

This international conference provides a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth, networking, and the dissemination of new knowledge in the area of sexually traumatized boys and men. This four-day event will feature numerous workshops for male survivors of sexual abuse, their loved ones/partners, and professionals who work with them.

To learn more about the organizations who are providing sponsorship and support for this conference, click here.

LOCATION: John Jay College of Criminal Justice 899 Tenth Avenue New York, New York

CONFERENCE PROGRAM:
For a complete outline, including institute, workshop, plenary and featured speaker information, we invite you to review our detailed program here

REGISTRATION: Click Here to Register Online for the 2007 Conference