Report warns of dangers of “chemsex”
A new UK report has highlighted the impact of “chemsex”, in which gay men in particular have sex under the influence of sex-enhancing drugs. The phenomenon has been growing in the gay community in recent years and often sees men have unprotected and risky sex with multiple partners while using drugs such as mephedrone or […]
12 tips for safer online hook-ups
Cruising and hooking up online, especially with someone you’ve never met before, could place you in a very vulnerable space. This is a time to be alert and vigilant; taking care of a few basics before you agree to meet a potential partner will ensure a more relaxed and pleasurable session, and help to reduce […]
Global doctors group says trans rights trump religion, cultural beliefs
The World Medical Association (WMA) has adopted new guidelines for doctors to improve their approach towards transgender people and their unique health needs. Delegates from almost 60 national medical associations agreed at the organisation’s General Assembly in Moscow that every effort should be made to make individualised, multi-professional, interdisciplinary and affordable transgender healthcare available to all […]
Gay and lesbian parents spend more time with their kids
A major study has found that gay and lesbian parents tend to spend much more time interacting with their children than heterosexual parents. According to study author Kate C. Prickett, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Population Research Centre at the University of Texas, female same-sex parents in particular “spend 40 percent more time engaged in child-focused activities […]
Straight to bed!
I’m on the Gautrain. A ridiculously snacky homie in tracksuit pants (nicely filled by his legs and ass) hops on. I totally miss the goose climbing on with him – he’s that dishy. Against my better judgement, I rummage in my bag for my phone so as to capture a prize snap… except said goose is […]
SA Gov urged to embrace groundbreaking new global HIV strategies
In a major change in policy, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that people who test positive for HIV should start taking antiretroviral (ARV) medication immediately. “Anyone infected with HIV should begin antiretroviral treatment as soon after diagnosis as possible” no matter their age or populations groups, WHO said on Wednesday. It’s new “treat-all” […]
MSM community project leaves a legacy of love
When it started, volunteers named it “Boithato,” or “love” in Sesotho. Almost five years later, one of Mpumalanga’s few projects aimed at preventing HIV among men who have sex with men (MSM) has shuttered its doors but for many men, it may have left a legacy of love. Launched in 2011 by the Johannesburg-based Anova […]
Gauteng Health MEC opens LGBTI clinic in Tshwane
Gauteng’s MEC for Health, Qedani Mahlangu, has opened a groundbreaking new clinic in Tshwane, catering to the needs of groups at high risk of HIV infection. On Thursday 3 September, MEC Mahlangu cut the ribbon to officially inaugurate the TEN81 Centre, located at the offices of OUT LGBT Well-being in Hatfield. She was accompanied by […]
“Gaydar” doesn’t exist, say scientists, it’s dangerous stereotyping
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have challenged “the gaydar myth” – the purported ability to infer whether people are gay or straight based on their appearance. The latest research follows a 2008 study that concluded people could accurately guess someone’s sexual orientation based on photographs of their faces. William Cox, an assistant scientist in […]
Almost a third of SA’s MSM haven’t tested for HIV in a year
Despite South Africa being a country where one in 10 people are living with HIV, stereotypes around the disease still exist. As a result, HIV is being spread due to this being a deterrent to testing. According to Glenn de Swardt of the Anova Health Institute, “Most HIV infections occur from someone who doesn’t know […]