Huge Elton John funded gay sexual health campaign launched in Joburg
WeTheBrave, the largest ever sexual health campaign targeting gay men and MSM in South Africa, was launched at a glamorous event on Thursday night in downtown Johannesburg. The ceremony was attended by a who’s who of Gauteng’s gay community, and featured performances by Cape Town’s Odidi Mfenyana and a special message from Elton John. “Are you after a […]
Teens invent condoms that change colour because of STIs
Three British schoolchildren have come up with a remarkable invention: condoms that change colour when they come into contact with sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The boys from the Isaac Newton Academy in Illford – 14-year-old Daanyaal Ali, 13-year-old Muaz Nawaz and 14-year-old Chirag Shah – presented their concept at the 2015 TeenTech Awards. Called S.T.EYE, the condoms include […]
OUT launches free key populations clinic in Pretoria
In a groundbreaking move, OUT LGBT Well-being, in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Health, is launching South Africa’s very first government-funded HIV and TB health clinic specifically for key population groups. Located in Hatfield, Tshwane, the centre will provide free HIV, TB, sexual health and other services uniquely tailored to the needs of the […]
Study: Children of same-sex parents turn out same as other kids
A comprehensive new study has confirmed that children of same-sex parents turn out no worse than those raised by heterosexual parents. The research from the University of Colorado Denver concluded that scientists overwhelmingly agree that these children experience “no difference” on a range of social and behavioural outcomes compared to children of straight or single parents. […]
Homophobia and dating apps a dangerous combination
Researchers have warned that the effects of homophobia in Eastern European countries combined with the rise of dating apps could have a very concerning impact on the spread of HIV. An international team of researchers from Europe and the US looked at HIV-related service use, need and behaviours among 175,000 gay or bisexual men living […]
Health: Drinking coffee helps keep you erect
Another reason to enjoy that cup of coffee. Scientists have discovered that drinking the tasty, addictive brew can help men stay erect in the bedroom. According to researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), men who drink the equivalent caffeine level of two to three cups of coffee a day […]
SA psychology contributing towards a just society
As the world grapples with the issue of so-called reparative therapy (a widely discredited and potentially dangerous effort to alter sexual orientation or gender identity), few are aware that psychologists in South Africa have taken an important stand in support of LGBTI well-being. On 24 September 2013, the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) adopted a […]
Health: There is someone in our corner
I am a 48-year-old gay male who recently contracted the hepatitis B virus. This is my story. It all started late last year when out of the blue I felt very bloated; a feeling I was not accustomed to. This was replaced by on/off nausea and feeling tired. I thought it would pass but when […]
Changing lives for 21 years
OUT, the Pretoria-based health and well-being non-profit organisation serving the LGBT community, is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year. One of the longest-running LGBT groups in the country OUT was launched on the cusp of the new South Africa. Initially a loose network of individuals who wanted to make a difference, it’s become a respected […]
Revolutionary anti-HIV skin implant developed
Could ARV pills become a thing of the past? Scientists have developed a revolutionary implant that automatically administers anti-HIV medicine. Researchers from the Oak Crest Institute of Science in California have developed the matchstick size implant, similar to a contraceptive implant, placed under the skin to deliver a controlled, sustained release of ARV drugs for […]