Don't Delay HIV Prevention for Gay and Bi Men

via The Huffington Post, by David Ernesto Munar

Lives will be saved when the Food and Drug Administration puts its stamp of approval on a groundbreaking preventative approach called pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, recently found to reduce HIV infections.

With PrEP, people who are not infected with HIV take a daily pill, usually used to treat the disease, to help prevent infection -- as part of a broad HIV prevention approach that includes condoms and safer-sex counseling.

But the longer the FDA waits before beginning its review of the HIV medication Truvada for prevention, the more lives will be unnecessarily lost. This is particularly true for those at greatest risk: gay and bisexual men.

We urge the FDA to immediately begin its review for approval of Truvada for PrEP for gay and bisexual men.

Last year the iPrEX trial, touted as the scientific breakthrough of the year by TIME magazine, found that gay, bi and other men who have sex with men who took Truvada, along with counseling and condoms, had 42 percent fewer HIV infections than with counseling and condoms alone. Among those who used the prevention pill most consistently, the drop in infections was far greater.

And remember the sobering context: between 2006 and 2009, the number of young gay African-American men infected with HIV in the United States increased by 48 percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Read the rest.


[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Meet Gary Wolnitzek: The Last (But Not Least) of Our New Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocates!

“First and foremost, as a gay man, and one who works at an organization focused on the LGBT community, it is extremely important to me that we develop ways that gay and bisexual men can protect themselves from HIV (and other STIs). Secondly, as an HIV advocate I feel it is important to create a robust and full toolbox that helps to prevent HIV infection and helps those living with HIV. Rectal Microbicides need to be one of the tools at our disposal.”

Gary is an IRMA advocate from Baltimore, Maryland. He is currently the Director of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Baltimore (GLCCB). He loves conducting trainings in the community on a range of topics including advocacy planning, providing culturally competent care to the GLBT population and on topics related to new prevention technologies (NPT). He also enjoys spending time with friends at the pub, reading David Sedaris, watching “well-made” horror movies, and his cat, Aureliano.

Gary first became involved with IRMA while working at the Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM). At this time he was well versed in preventative vaccine research and the research and trials surrounding vaginal microbicides, but he wasn’t as familiar with rectal microbicides. Shortly after starting at GCM he was introduced to people like Anna Forbes and Jim Pickett. He remembers a GCM meeting being co-hosted by the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) where this man kept chiming in with “What about rectal microbicides?!” Of course it was Jim, and Gary became inspired from that point on to learn more about rectal microbicides and involve himself with IRMA.

Gary tries to include vaginal and rectal microbicides in any talks he gives about HIV to the community. He believes knowledge is key, and a well informed base is necessary to move any work forward. He advises others doing HIV work to include microbicides in their agenda and points them to the IRMA website and blog for more information about them if needed. He also encourages IRMA members to become more involved on the listserv. He says that “by becoming more engaged in the conversations happening in this space then the more opportunities we have to gain new perspectives, find common ground on diverse issues, and develop new ideas.”

His advice for IRMA advocates combating stigma for their beliefs and work is to approach the individuals or organizations perpetuating the stigma with an open mind, listen to their arguments and opinions, and be prepared to create an informed and fact-based response. He hopes that this will bring about “some sort of common ground.” If this doesn’t work and the individual or organization is not willing to listen, he suggests reaching out to others that may be able to influence them- a method he calls “taking it to the streets!”

Read more bios on the IRMA website.


[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Meet Michael Ighodaro: Our New Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate!

“I believe there should be other HIV prevention options for gay men all around the world and especially Africa and Nigeria where same sex is taboo, which has made it very difficult for most gay men and MSM to access HIV prevention services.”

Michael Ighodaro is an IRMA advocate from Abuja, Nigeria. He is a social worker and support officer for ICARE who loves football and being on the internet. At ICARE he is a Community Outreach Officer and works mainly providing care and counseling to HIV positive MSM. He is also involved with a new LGBTI organization in the Edo state of Nigeria called Mind Builders Initiative.

He first learned of IRMA at a training and meeting for MSM held by IRMA-Nigeria. He now creates trainings for MSM himself, where he educates others about rectal microbicides. He strongly believes that all African LGBTI need to stand up for IRMA because “we deserve a prevention option against HIV for us too.”

When asked how he combats the stigma associated with standing up for rectal microbicides in Nigeria, he says “It is a cross I have decided to carry, and no matter the stigma and discrimination I will still be an IRMA advocate. I am used to stigma, being an MSM and HIV positive person in a country where they see you as a cursed person because of your sexuality and see HIV as a curse.”

He believes IRMA should conduct more trainings around the world, as well as host a meeting every few years where advocates can meet to share experience, advice and challenges.

Read more Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate bios.



[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Methamphetamine use drives HIV infections among gay Thais

via BMJ group, by Bob Roehr

One in 10 gay and bisexual men aged 18 to 21 became infected with HIV during their first year of enrollment in a cohort study in Bangkok. The rate of new infections slows down a bit after that, in part because those most likely to become infected already are. Fully 1 in 3 of them carry the virus by the time they reach 30.

“From 18 to 21 it has been a slaughterhouse,” says Frits van Griensven, shaking his head in dismay. “They are getting the best prevention information possible, counselling every four months, condoms and lubricants. They know the facts of incidence of new infections.” And yet the infections continue to occur, “It is something that we cannot control with behavioural interventions.”

Van Griensven runs what is believed to be the only HIV prevention clinic in all of Asia that was created to serve men who have sex with men. This is despite the fact that in Asia, that group is 18.7 times more likely to become infected with HIV than the general population.

“It’s my opinion that the epidemic in young men is driven by methamphetamines – crystal ice. I don’t know what to do about it,” he says.

Read the rest.


[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

AIDS Health Foundation (AHF) Questions Truvada's Use as PrEP

via Business Wire News Releases, by AIDS Healthcare Foundation

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) unveiled a new print ad today that lays out data on the use of Gilead's blockbuster HIV treatment drug Truvada as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or HIV prevention pill raising questions about the wisdom of pursuing approval by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for this new use of the drug. The information detailed in the "Gilead's Truvada as Prevention - Just the Facts" ad illuminates the reasons why it is premature for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to consider approval of Truvada as PrEP. In the ad, AHF also calls on Gilead "to make certain that their drug when used for prevention does no harm to the individual or the overall public health."

The ad is scheduled to begin running this week in eight publications aimed at an LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) audience: Bay Area Reporter in San Francisco, California; GA Voice in Atlanta, Georgia: Gay City News in New York, New York; South Florida Gay News in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Washington Blade in Washington, D.C.; and Windy City Times in Chicago, Illinois. It will begin running next week in the following publications: Frontiers Magazine in Los Angeles, California and Out Front in Denver, Colorado.

The push for FDA approval of PrEP has increased since November 2010 when the results of the iPrEx study were released. The study of 2,499 high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM) found that the once-daily pill could decrease the likelihood of HIV infection by 42%. Since then many have raised concerns about the consequences of widespread use of PrEP and its possible affect on behavior. Letters signed by 618 doctors and advocates have been sent to the FDA and to drug-maker Gilead Sciences urging a halt to pursuit of FDA approval for use of Gilead's blockbuster AIDS treatment drug Truvada as PrEP. In the letter sent by doctors--spearheaded by AHF--the doctors expressed concern that widespread use of PrEP, based on the available data, will unwittingly lead to more risky behavior, and more HIV infections. Lack of real-world data has also been cited as a concern.

Read the rest.


[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Former Ex-Gay Ugandan Man Now Regrets Past Homophobic Comments

Via Behind the Mask.

A man who in 2009 renounced homosexuality at a public forum in Kampala has now told Behind the Mask that he regrets his previous actions and would like to be forgiven by the LGBTI community.

Saying that he felt “there is a fire in the belly saying gay is really who you are,” Mr George Oundo, known amongst Uganda’s LGBTI community as “Ms Georgina,” said that although he had renounced homosexuality on national media, at an opportune time he would ask the Kuchu community (Ugandan slang for LGBTI) to take him back.

Speaking on Wednesday July 27, 2011 to Behind the Mask outside the magistrate’s court in Kampala where three Christian evangelist preachers have been charged with making homophobic smears against a rival preacher, the now former ex-gay Oundo said he once again believed, “being gay is natural and inborn.”

The accused preachers, their lawyers, Henry Ddungu and David Kaggwa, together with David Mukalazi and Deborah Kyomuhendo (agents of the accused) face charges of conspiring to injure Pastor Robert Kayanja’s reputation by claiming that Kayanja sodomised boys in his church. The two lawyers are charged with allegedly commissioning false affidavits.

In March 2009 Oundo spoke at a Christian seminar and said he previously supported homophobic preacher Martin Sempa and legislator Mr David Bahati in their claims that homosexuals recruit children in schools and deserve the death penalty.

Speaking on Wednesday however, the now former ex-gay man said that he regrets the comments.

Looking sad, Mr Oundo, who once helped to establish an LGBTI human rights advocacy group in Kampala, said that although the preachers had given him some money and built him a house in Muyenga-Bukasa, a posh suburb of Kampala, he still had gay feelings. “I have never even become born again. I just do not want to be born again.”

Read the rest here.

[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Cultural mainstreaming in Thailand leaves MSM at high HIV risk

Via PlusNews.

Gay rights activists in Thailand say a unique combination of muted discrimination and cultural mainstreaming of the gay and transgender community is to blame for a dangerous lack of knowledge about HIV among gay and transgender persons, especially the youth.

"There are no discrimination laws here against gay people, so a young gay Thai may feel like, 'My life is free, I can do anything I want,' when in reality, most gay people here live a double life, both with a straight male identity and with a gay identity," said Narupon Duangwises, a cultural anthropologist who works as a consultant with Bangkok Rainbow, an NGO that supports the gay community.

Teenagers who identify as gay and transgender seamlessly blend with Bangkok's mainstream youth culture, spending their days at the city's popular, glitzy malls. At home, however, many find entertainment on the video chat service CamFrog, which they use to meet other young gay Thais, and sometimes as a platform to sell or buy sexual services.

"Young people cannot go to bars, so they go on CamFrog. They don't know about HIV, because they don't learn [about it] in school," Nikorn Arthit, president of Bangkok Rainbow, which has begun an online HIV-educational campaign through CamFrog. "They are excited to be meeting people but they don't know how to protect themselves."

CamFrog says it has more than 30 million users, mainly in Asia.

Duangwises expressed concern that not enough was being done to address the HIV needs of young gay people. "The gay organizations don't know what has happened with this health situation. The community is not well organized," he said. "We think HIV infections may be much higher than we realize. We need to instil a sense of social responsibility among gay Thais. We can't just be passing out condoms."

Thai health workers say a similar lack of knowledge is also caused by the disparity between the levels of HIV programming for male and female sex workers. According to Noi Apisuk, director of the Empower Foundation, an NGO for sex workers, Bangkok's female sex workers know all about safe sex and can always find multiple sizes of condoms at Empower’s office.

Nicha Jitjang, programme officer for the male and transgender sex worker rights' group Service Workers In Group, or SWING, estimates that most seasoned male and transgender sex workers know to use a condom when engaging in sexual activity, but the same cannot be said for newbies.

Her colleague, Nanokporn Sukprasert, a transgender former sex worker, remembers first learning about HIV two or three years after she began working at a bar.

Read the rest here.

[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Pink community sees red over 'disease' comment

Via Mid-Day, by Rinkita Gurav.

"Men having sex with men (MSM) is not only a 'disease' but is also 'unnatural'," uttered by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has ruffled the feathers of many gay activists and members from the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community.

During the national convention of Zila Parishad chairpersons and mayors on HIV/AIDS, Azad said, "The disease of MSM is unnatural and not good for India. We are not able to identify where it is happening as cases of it being reported are very few."

However, these words have angered the LGBT community causing many to question Azad's knowledge on homosexuality. Ma Faiza, a famous lesbian found it utterly outrageous for a health minister to make such a comment.

She said, "When the country is growing economically, then why can't it grow spiritually and culturally? Why does such a mindset still exist?" Faiza asked, adding "Azad's comments are prehistoric. Homosexuality has existed in society for many centuries and it's sad that a man at such a high position has made this comment."

Vikram Phukan, former editor of Bombay Dost said, "All I can say to Azad is get well soon and get some education. Instead of trying to garner brownie points, he should display more empathy for the sexual minorities."

Phukan added that the remark made by Azad would undo all the good Dr Ramadoss, the previous health minister had made, adding that such comments were taking the country back to the dark ages.

Read the rest here.

[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

2011 LGBT Pride Month: Obama's Proclamation

Via The Bilerico Project.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release - May 31, 2011

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2011

-------

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

The story of America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union. It is a story about the struggle to realize the great American promise that all people can live with dignity and fairness under the law. Each June, we commemorate the courageous individuals who have fought to achieve this promise for LGBT Americans, and we rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Since taking office, my Administration has made significant progress towards achieving equality for LGBT Americans. Last December, I was proud to sign the repeal of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. With this repeal, gay and lesbian Americans will be able to serve openly in our Armed Forces for the first time in our Nation's history. Our national security will be strengthened and the heroic contributions these Americans make to our military, and have made throughout our history, will be fully recognized.

My Administration has also taken steps to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans in Federal housing programs and to give LGBT Americans the right to visit their loved ones in the hospital. We have made clear through executive branch nondiscrimination policies that discrimination on the basis of gender identity in the Federal workplace will not be tolerated. I have continued to nominate and appoint highly qualified, openly LGBT individuals to executive branch and judicial positions. Because we recognize that LGBT rights are human rights, my Administration stands with advocates of equality around the world in leading the fight against pernicious laws targeting LGBT persons and malicious attempts to exclude LGBT organizations from full participation in the international system. We led a global campaign to ensure "sexual orientation" was included in the United Nations resolution on extrajudicial execution -- the only United Nations resolution that specifically mentions LGBT people -- to send the unequivocal message that no matter where it occurs, state-sanctioned killing of gays and lesbians is indefensible. No one should be harmed because of who they are or who they love, and my Administration has mobilized unprecedented public commitments from countries around the world to join in the fight against hate and homophobia.

At home, we are working to address and eliminate violence against LGBT individuals through our enforcement and implementation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. We are also working to reduce the threat of bullying against young people, including LGBT youth. My Administration is actively engaged with educators and community leaders across America to reduce violence and discrimination in schools. To help dispel the myth that bullying is a harmless or inevitable part of growing up, the First Lady and I hosted the first White House Conference on Bullying Prevention in March. Many senior Administration officials have also joined me in reaching out to LGBT youth who have been bullied by recording "It Gets Better" video messages to assure them they are not alone.

This month also marks the 30th anniversary of the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has had a profound impact on the LGBT community. Though we have made strides in combating this devastating disease, more work remains to be done, and I am committed to expanding access to HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Last year, I announced the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States. This strategy focuses on combinations of evidence-based approaches to decrease new HIV infections in high risk communities, improve care for people living with HIV/AIDS, and reduce health disparities. My Administration also increased domestic HIV/AIDS funding to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and HIV prevention, and to invest in HIV/AIDS-related research. However, government cannot take on this disease alone. This landmark anniversary is an opportunity for the LGBT community and allies to recommit to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and continuing the fight against this deadly pandemic.

Every generation of Americans has brought our Nation closer to fulfilling its promise of equality. While progress has taken time, our achievements in advancing the rights of LGBT Americans remind us that history is on our side, and that the American people will never stop striving toward liberty and justice for all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

LGBT activist talks challenges in Kenya

via Yale Daily News, by Mohammad Salhut

In Kenya, even some health workers who provide services to men who have sex with men are homophobic, LGBT activist Rachel Mandel said.

Mandel, a former employee for the International Center for Reproductive Health, spoke to 12 professors and graduate students in Luce Hall Wednesday about the difficulties of advocating for gay rights in Kenya through public health organizations.

While employees of these organizations aim to improve health standards for local communities, Mandel said often the employees do not support their patients’ sexual orientations and act in homophobic ways.
 
“The whole gay rights thing has a whole different place there than it does here,” she said.

Part of the problem, Mandel said, is the large chasm between what the administrators of non-profit organizations think is happening on the ground, and what is actually taking place.

Despite the organizations’ policies on equal treatment for patients, many employees at the two organizations Mandel worked for were “incredibly” homophobic, she said.

“The first time that I went I had tour of city of Mombasa by a staff member of ICRH,” she said. “At one point during the car ride he talked about homosexuality and referred to it as a psychological distortion. This same employee later became the head of the [Men who have sex with men] project.”

Read the rest.

[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

2011 National LGBTI Health Summit Calls for Abstracts

Indiana University Health Bloomington and the Local Steering committee of the National LGBTI Health Summit are proud to announce our call for abstracts. The call for abstracts ends April 15th, 2011. Abstracts may be submitted at www.nationallgbtihealthsummit.com

We invite you to spend a few days in Bloomington working intensively with colleagues from all over the nation and world who are grappling with similar challenges, and engage in deep thinking and extended discussion about innovative programming related to the theme of "LGBTI Health: At the Crossroads." We welcome presentations from diverse health care disciplines, community members, and anyone with a vested interest in addressing LGBTI health discrepancies. Based on the content of the abstracts accepted for workshop presentations, the workshop will be organized into tracks.

Workshop tracks/themes may include:

• Mental health care
• Health disparities by age
• Health disparities by race or ethnicity
• Health disparities by sex or gender
• Health disparities by sexual orientation
• Substance abuse
• Policy/Health care reform
• HIV/AIDS
• And more.

The 2011 National LGBTI Health Summit will be held in Bloomington, Indiana on July 16-19, 2011 at the Indiana Memorial Union on the campus of Indiana University. We would like to invite all members of the LGBTI Community and their allies to join us in beautiful, Bloomington, Indiana.


[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

 

Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate: Jim Maynard

via IRMA

“I quickly discovered what a powerful tool a microbicide would be in the battle against HIV transmission. I’m involved in IRMA because of their wholehearted advocacy of safe, effective, and affordable rectal microbicides as a way to protect our community.” –Jim Maynard

Jim Maynard is the Associate Director for Community Engagement at Fenway Health, an organization serving the LGBT community in Boston. Through Fenway Health’s association with the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), an NIH-funded network committed to the development and testing of vaginal and rectal microbicides, Maynard learned about IRMA and microbicide development.

Maynard is anxious to add microbicides to the “prevention tool belt,” recognizing that while condoms have been a powerful tool in preventing the spread of HIV, in many cases they aren’t being used. He realizes that some people see condoms as keeping them from the sex they want, and that human behavior, especially when it comes to something so powerful and enjoyable as sex, is difficult to change.

Maynard advocates for microbicides both at work and outside, talking to friends, family, coworkers and neighbors in the hopes of creating a “booty buzz” around rectal microbicides. Maynard also plays tennis and reads, and spends time with his husband and two sons.

Read about other friendly rectal microbicides advocates

Learn more about IRMA membership

[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Islam, homophobia and the contested Muslim cultural center

via LGBT Asylum News, by Edna Nelson

"As you know, the Muslim faith doesn’t look kindly upon homosexuality, which is why I’m building this bar. It is an effort to break down barriers and reduce deadly homophobia in the Islamic world. In fact, [their] accusations of Islamophobia are meant to hide [their] cowardice concerning gay rights. Think about it – I’m putting gay rights front and center, before an ideology that condemns homosexuality. No one on the left has the balls to do that…Why would you side with those who would kill you – instead of a guy who just wants to open a gay bar?” -Greg Gutefield of Fox News

A Fox News reporter's announcement of his plans for a gay bar next door to the proposed Islamic cultural center is spurring discussion of Islam and the LGBT community as well as debate over who's taking whose side. The author of this piece examines the complexities of the Islam-LGBT relationship, and the challenges of both homophobia and Islamophobia.

Read more