We’re taught to fear HIV and AIDS like plagues — inevitable death sentences upon diagnosis.
But that’s simply not true, and it’s taken an unexpected source to point out the gaps and inaccuracies surrounding how we talk about HIV — actor and all-around controversial figure Charlie Shee
There will be some parents who will reject their offspring and continue to feel repulsed; some will insist that their child remain in the closet than to come out and face the external world with its varying shades of homophobia. But some will, with time and habituation, and by dint of parental love, come to tolerate and accept this part of their child.
“In an effort to stay as authentic as possible, we worked to create images that were an accurate depiction of the community,” Jackson says in a release. “To connect the mobile message with the L.A. LGBT Center’s new West Hollywood location, we shot all of the images at popular West Hollywood LGBT hotspots. We also used models who were a part of the LGBT community and represented the demographics that use these dating apps.”
Homophobia, stigma, and discrimination can be especially hard for young men who are gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. These negative attitudes increase their chance of experiencing violence, especially compared with other students in their schools. Violence can include behaviours such as bullying, teasing, harassment, physical assault, and suicide-related behaviours.
Singapore is estimated to have about 350,000 LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) individuals, in a new study – information enough to build a business case for employers to create environments inclusive for all employees and customers of all types.
A team of students from Singapore Management University studied current business and HR practices of LGBT-inclusive workplaces, and identified steps to create diverse and inclusive workplaces.
Ever noticed that your sexual appetite and behavior change when you’re stressed? When you’re depressed? When you’re happy? Your state of mind affects how horny you get, how often you want sex, and what kind of sex you might have. It’s why some people make use of male pheromones to help get them into the right mood for what they want to do.
We live in a society where gay and bi guys are told from a young age that we are sick, immoral and even criminal. Some gay and bi guys are rejected by their family or friends. Discrimination against us is commonplace, especially those of us who are HIV-positive. It only makes sense that this would have a negative impact on our mental health.
Often, gay and bi men live with depression, anxiety and feelings of low self worth. For many guys it’s just the reality of surviving homophobia, racism, transphobia, and many other forms of discrimination. Some of us have also survived traumatic events in our lifetime, such as childhood abuse, sexual assault, or we are living with post-traumatic stress.
Being in this state of mental health, whether temporary or more long-lasting, can make us devalue ourselves and take more risks with our health. We might also take risks in an attempt to satisfy some other need, such as:
Maybe you notice these issues when you are hooking up? Maybe you notice them after a pattern of behaviour. Maybe you don’t notice them at all. These are bigger issues that can put us at greater risk, but require more than just knowledge about HIV transmission to overcome.
Before you go to have sex, think about how you’re feeling. Notice patterns of behaviour, or triggers that make you take risks. Acknowledge realities in your life that you might need to change, or you might need to accept.
Decide on some boundaries about what you will be comfortable with before you go ahead, and make a contract with yourself to stick to them.
Sometimes, your mood or low sexual desire may just be a one-off thing, or it may be something that happens regularly. Try and evaluate why it’s happening to you, and whether the problem lies elsewhere. You might be facing problems getting an erection when you are feeling stressed or down, and if this happens often, you might have to consult a doctor and buy vardenafil online to ensure that you can combat this issue.
If you find that your state of mind is making it difficult for you to make decisions you’re comfortable with, in the moment or later on, you can try one of these or other options that have worked for other guys:
AFA MSM Programme
Daniel Le
Address: 9 Kelantan Lane #03-01
Singapore 208628
Tel: (65) 6254 0212
Fax: (65) 6256 5903
Email: daniel.le@afa.org.sg
Hotline 6226 2002
Tuesdays – Thursdays: 7pm – 10pm and,
Saturdays: 2pm – 5pm
WhatsApp 8592 0609
If you prefer to chat, you can get in touch through WhatsApp during our hotline operating hours. Please note that this is NOT an SMS service.
Click here for more info or to access e-mail counselling.
31 Kelantan Lane #1-16 S200031
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 6.30pm to 8.15pm
Saturday 1.30pm to 3.15pm
When we see a couple who doesn’t fit into our “normal” standard of a couple, we seem to questions about their power dynamic and how often the younger men are being taking advantage of by the more matured men. Some men do seek out other that are not the same age as them for many reasons i.e. financial assistance, companionship, knowledge and advice on life/career, etc. Whatever the age gap, there needs to be a discussion about age of consent, sexual dynamic when negotiating safer sex for both men and proving the validity of the relationship itself.
When: Saturday Oct.11
Where: AFA office 9 Kelantan Lane #05-01 S208628
Time: 6pm-9pm
Light refreshment will be provided
Please register as soon as you can due to limited space. Thanks.
Sure, we know that condoms significantly reduce the risk of HIV transmission, but it isn’t always as easy as it sounds to have safer sex, even if you want to! Sometimes we don’t ask or insist on what we want because we’re afraid of rejection, or we might have other reasons.
Every relationship has power imbalances, which can change from time to time. Maybe one partner feels less attractive or smart than the other, or one has less money or education. One partner might experience more privilege in society as a result of his race, ethnic background, age or gender identity. One partner might have more power in one area and less in another.
These imbalances can make it more difficult for you or your partner to express what both of you want, including condom use and other risk reduction strategies. If the imbalance is preventing you from saying what kind of sex you want, consider talking to a professional about it.
You deserve the kind of sex you want, and there are ways for you to get it.
Source: The Sex You Want