On this World AIDS Day, let us also reflect on the lives lost to Ebola, on the countries and people affected by the outbreak in West Africa.
Reaching gay men: the next big test in HIV/AIDS prevention in China
In the last few decades medical advances have transformed AIDS from a death sentence into a chronic disease. It can be treated and controlled – provided, of course, that a person with the HIV virus is diagnosed. By far the fastest growing group of new cases in China is among male homosexuals, and it’s there that many health experts are concentrating their efforts to check the disease’s spread.
Government figures have revealed nearly half a million people are living with HIV and 25% of new infections are among gay men. For Wu Zunyou, director of the National Centre for Aids/STD Control and Prevention, the critical and most difficult task now to prevent or control the disease is reaching these men, in particular the students. Read More
Europe’s HIV response falls short in curbing the epidemic
Europe will miss its 2015 targets for curbing the spread of HIV, says the WHO, with an 80% increase in HIV transmission in 2013 compared with a decade earlier. “Europe has not managed to reach the 2015 Millennium Development Goal target to halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, and time is running out. While we are facing emerging health threats, this reminds us that we cannot afford to drop our guard on HIV/AIDS,” says Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
“Why we have not seen any significant progress in reducing HIV infections during the last decade? Looking at our data, we clearly see that across Europe the populations most at risk of HIV infection are not reached effectively enough, particularly men who have sex with men,” explains ECDC Director Marc Sprenger. In the EU/EEA, sex between men is still the predominant mode of HIV transmission, which accounted for 42% of newly diagnosed HIV infections in 2013. Read More
Gay dating app helps spread AIDS awareness in China
A gay dating app in China has received a $30m investment as it becomes increasingly popular among the homosexual community, with 15 million users to date.
In a country where homosexuality has been a taboo subject and authorities often restrict lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender (LGBT) groups, the Blued dating app has become hugely popularity without any restrictions.
In fact, some Chinese officials welcome the app because it is proving a useful tool in spreading information about AIDS prevention. Read More
The 15 shocking HIV and AIDS myths people still believe today
The myths about HIV and AIDS grow each year – making the fight against the virus even harder.
So here is the annual GSN myth buster, with help from our friends at National AIDS Trust.
It’s dedicated to breaking down the prejudices and rumors and giving you some surprises, however much you think you know about the virus. Read More
Google Play takes down homophobic game that had 10K downloads
Google is being criticized after hosting a homophobic app on their Google Play store.
The app, named "Ass Hunter," allowed players to shoot naked gay men that randomly appeared running across the phone's screen.
"This developer is despicable. I cannot comprehend how someone could create a 'game' so willfully ignorant, hateful, vile and violent," said Marcus Hamilton in a review left on the Google Play store. Read more
Transgender and transsexual policy launched by The FA Read
The FA has launched a first-of-its-kind policy on transgender and transsexual people playing football – as it continues its drive to make the game open to everyone.
On Tuesday Wembley Stadium connected by EE plays host to a LGB&T-focused workshop where the new guidelines will be discussed.
Any transsexual or transgender person wishing to play in their affirmed gender can seek to do so by contacting The FA to obtain clearance. Read more
Why 'The Gay Athlete' should be Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year
No story dominated the sports year from January to December like conversations of LGBT issues in sports, and no one embodies the year of 2014 in sports like gay athletes. No individual or group of people deserves to be named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year more than The Gay Athlete.
In January, Conner Mertens made headlines when he came out publicly, making him the first publicly out LGBT active college football player. He went on to finish second on the team in scoring and second in the conference in field goal percentage - all as a freshman.
February was a seminal month for the movement, with the coming out of Michael Sam, Jason Collins' first NBA game after coming out and the Winter Olympics that made LGBT issues a centerpiece of our national sports conversation. Ireen Wust, the out Dutch speedskater, led all athletes with five medals.
Holding Out for a Gay Hero: Are we bucking the cinematic miserable-queers trope at last?
As author Michael Musto says, "Cinema’s track record in handling gay issues has been splotchier than a twink on a high-gluten diet."
Good news arrives this week with the premiere of The Imitation Game. The film features Benedict Cumberbatch as a real-life gay hero: Alan Turing, the brilliant mathematician who famously broke the Enigma code and, in the process, helped bring about the end of World War II. Winston Churchill later said Turing made the single greatest contribution of anyone when it came to defeating the Nazis.
That’s pretty major, though this isn’t totally a feel-good story. The man who knew secrets had his own, since this wasn’t exactly a time for Pride parades and Drag Race reunions. In fact, Turing (who was socially awkward to an extreme) was prosecuted for homosexuality, suffered chemical castration as a punishment, and was found dead in 1954 in an apparent suicide. It wasn’t until last December that Queen Elizabeth II pardoned him for his transgressions. (Mighty white of her.) But still: He was gay! And a hero! And they made a movie about him! Read More
Parents of transgender kid post heartwarming births notice
Queensland mum Yolanda Bogert placed a heartwarming birth notice in the classifieds section of the Courier Mail newspaper on Tuesday, retracting her daughter’s birth and celebrating her transgender son’s “arrival”. Read More
AIDspan releases first-ever documentary, "I didn't want to bring shame on my family": growing up gay in Ghana
The documentary short is the story of a young HIV positive gay man in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, whose journey through the public health system -- which is largely supported by international donors led by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and malaria -- reflects the challenges inherent in reaching those who are most vulnerable to infection by the disease. Watch Now
Debate on sexual orientation should be mainstream: Hansal Mehta
Top Indian director Hansal Mehta is producing and directing a movie inspired by the true story of a gay professor as he feels the debate on sexual orientation should be a part of mainstream. His film is based on an Aligarh Muslim University professor, who was suspended for allegedly having gay sex, weeks before his retirement in 2010. S R Siras was later reinstated after Allahabad High Court revoked the suspension. He died the same year.
"The film is based on many such true incidents which are happening in our country for a long time. Marginalisation of people based on religion, caste, gender and sexual orientation is not new. Read More