QUEENSLAND GAY PERIODIC SURVEY RESEARCHER CALLS FOR PREP AS ALTERNATIVE TO SEROSORTING

The latest findings from the Queensland Gay Community Periodic Survey show gay and bisexual men continue to report high levels of HIV testing, but 15 per cent still say they have never been tested for HIV.

Conducted by the Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW, over 1,500 gay and bisexual men took part in the 2014 survey, recruited from gay venues and events in Brisbane and Cairns, as well as through online networks.

Men in Queensland continue to report quite high levels of casual sex without condoms – over 40 per cent of men who have casual sex say they have had sex without condoms at least once (or one in five of all men in the survey).

Men who have sex without condoms generally try to reduce the chance of transmission by discussing HIV status. HIV-negative men in particular are increasingly likely to report serosorting – limiting sex without condoms to men who they believe are HIV-negative.

Associate Professor Martin Holt, lead investigator of the surveys comments, “Unfortunately, some of these men may have HIV and not know it, increasing the chance of new infections. Before they consider relying on serosorting, HIV-negative men should start to test for HIV three or four times a year.

“I’d also like to see them have some other options available, like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).”

Scott Brown of the Community HIV Education and Prevention Program (CHEP), based at Queensland Positive People said the HIV Foundation Queensland is about to begin the QPrEP trial, recruiting men who have sex with men who do not consistently use condoms.

A community forum, ‘Let’s Talk About PrEP’, will be hosted in Brisbane by the HIV Foundation Queensland at 6pm on March16.

Michael Scott, executive director of the Queensland AIDS Council has also said that his organisation supports PrEP and is in the process of formulating an awareness campaign around the issue.

“With so much money spent on rapid HIV testing, it shows that this expenditure has not been targeted appropriately," he said.

“The recruitment for the periodic survey is at Pride or venues, and yet 15 per cent have never been tested for HIV. For me that shows the previous targeting of rapid testing has failed. That’s why we need to be fully refunded.

“We need a return to a peer-based approach to HIV prevention, that’s what’s been missing for the past three years in Queensland.”

CREATED ON // SUNDAY, 15 MARCH 2015

A fundraiser at Sydney’s pop up Bear Bar during Mardi Gras has raised $4000 for Australia’s oldest HIV charity, the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation.

Proceeds from a raffle and bids at the ‘Bear Slave Auction’, plus 10 per cent from the sale of artworks by local bear artists will go to support BGF’s work providing practical, emotional and financial support for people living with HIV.

The Bear Slave Auction event at Bear Bar on March 1 was hosted by auctioneer Romany Brooks and MC Barry Taylor and saw five bears paraded before a raucous audience, before being auctioned off to the highest bidder.

BGF CEO David Riddell thanked all those who made a contribution.

“Bobby Goldsmith Foundation wants to say thank you to all at Honey Productions, all the guys who sold and bought on the evening and of course to all the guys who came on the night,” Riddell said.

“You have all made a huge difference to the lives of so many people living with HIV.”

Bear Bar event producer Jonny Bastin said he was thrilled to have raised so much for BGF.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who came along to Bear Bar and made a bid, bought a raffle ticket or purchased some artwork.

“Romany and Barry did a fab job with the auction and all our slaves, Phil, J-Dolla, Kevin, John and Kam were such good sports.

“Thanks too to everyone who was kind enough to donate prizes including Cellarmasters, Fitness First, Queer Screen, Billyward Accounting, Steve at WoofClub, Maggies Potts Point, Alan Bright, Monopole Potts Point, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Gleebooks, SX, DJ Josh Kirkby, Swag & Valor underwear and Bear World Magazine.

“All money raised will benefit BGF who are a great community organisation.”

Out and About is a volunteer based home visiting program for older people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer (LGBTIQ), who may be lonely or socially isolated and whose quality of life may be improved by receiving a like-minded visitor.

The program has been funded through the Department of Social Service’s Community Visitors Scheme, and will provide support to 65 people.

Switchboard’s volunteers will visit older LGBTIQ people on a regular basis to undertake activities such as talking and sharing their life stories, reading, watching TV or a movie or going out for a walk.

Those eligible to access the program should already receive a Home Care Package and identify as LGBTIQ.

If you’re interested in volunteering or would like to find out more about the new service, please call Sandy Ashton, Switchboard’s Out and About Coordinator on 0466 218 921

tell me more please  >:D

The Victorian Government has released the Ice Action Plan, aimed to tackle the State’s ice problem and reduce the supply, demand and harm the drug has on Victoria’s communities.

Developed on the advice of Victoria Police and health and legal experts, the $45.5 million Ice Action Plan includes funding for harm minimalisation services in the LGBTI community, one of the populations affected by the drug.

“Supporting families, treating users, making our communities safer – these are the things that cannot wait,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.

The launch of the Plan ensures VAC will be able to continue to deliver its Alcohol & Other Drug Services aimed at reducing the harm associated with ice use in Victorian LGBTI communities.

“With concerns over the impact ice use has on HIV risk reduction strategies as well as the ongoing health and wellbeing of our community, we welcome this announcement,” said VAC CEO Simon Ruth.

“We look forward to working with Minister Foley on further improving health outcomes for the LGBTI communities.”

CEO of Pennington Institute and member of the Premier’s Ice Action Taskforce, John Ryan, said other states should look to what Victoria has faced and take action, as they will be caught by the problem soon.

“Crystal meth purity across Australia has caught up with Victoria. What has happened here, with ice reeking havoc, is a crystal ball for other states and territories to look at,” Mr Ryan said.

“We’ve learned the hard way that ice doesn’t creep up slowly, on a community or on a person. It moves fast and that’s what has to happen with the entire drug policy space, including Federally,” Mr Ryan said.

For more information on VAC’s Alcohol and Other Drug Services, visit vac.org.au

A church in New York has been hit with a violation after it posted an anti-gay sign on its board without obtaining permission.

The ATLAH Worldwide Missionary Church in Harlem posted the following anti-gay message on its church board: "Jesus would stone homos - stoning is still the law".

It wasn't so much the sign's homophobic message which saw ATLAH slapped with the violation, moreso the church's inability to obtain a permit.

Damaris Olivo of the Landmarks Preservation Commission said:

“Please keep in mind that the Commission cannot legally regulate the content of a sign, however, permits must be obtained for the installation of signage on landmark properties.”

“The commission’s first priority is to work with property owners to adjust violations.

“Usually the property owner works with staff to resolve the violations. In this instance unfortunately we have to issue a Notice of Violation because the property owner has not been cooperative.”

“If the sign is not removed, the building’s owners could face increasing levels of fines.”

The church's extremist pastor James David Manning made headlines earlier this year after suggesting Starbucks put semen in their lattes .

He said:

“The thing that I was not aware of is that… what Starbucks was doing, is they were taking specimens of male semen, and they were putting it in the blends of their lattes.

“It’s the absolute truth. They’re using male semen, and putting it into the blends of coffees that they sell.

“My suspicion is that they’re getting their semen from sodomites. Semen flavours up the coffee, and makes you thinks you’re having a good time.”

Tonight's episode of The Feed on SBS2 takes a timely look into the rise in HIV infections and the decline in condom use in Australia as well as the rise of Truvada as a prevention drug.

Taking data from the Kirby Institute's Annual Surveillance Report 2014, the program reports fewer people are dying from AIDS in Australia, but HIV infection rates are rising.

The Kirby Institute's Professor Andrew Grulich said changing perceptions were part of the reason for the rise in HIV.

“In the old days a person who got HIV would die,” Prof Grulich said.

“New treatments are great. People stay alive for a normal life span."

“[There] are more people living with HIV and [there are] changing perceptions of what HIV means, leading to increases in unsafe sex,” he said.

Grulich said anal sex remained the most common way to contract HIV, and wearing condoms was important.

"Condom use remains the centre of HIV prevention," Prof Grulich said.

However when gay men have sex with a casual partner, they are more likely to use a condom with that partner than are heterosexual men.

Nonetheless, in 2013, men who have sex with other men accounted for 70 per cent of people diagnosed with HIV the same year.

Tonight on SBS2 at 7:30pm, The Feed looks at why the number of HIV infections reached their highest point in 2012 for more than 15 years. The program also takes a look at the HIV drug Truvada, which has been found to be effective at preventing HIV.

The Sunshine Coast will host its first Over 50s Expo specifically addressing the needs of LGBTI seniors. The Expo provides the perfect opportunity for aged care organisations and community groups to come together to build a better understanding of the needs of LGBTI elders.

“For too long, many of our older people have not felt safe or comfortable using aged care and community services,” said Helen Daintree, Ageing in Diversity Health Promotion Officer. “This free event will address some of those concerns in a friendly atmosphere of celebration.”

The event is an initiative of the Queensland AIDS Council’s  (QuAC) Healthy Communities Programs through Ageing in Diversity Project.  The Expo will include a number of stalls staffed by by aged care service providers and community groups.

“Visibility as LGBTI seniors, and celebrating the age we are will be the central premise for the event, and paramount in every aspect of the day’s activities.”

Daintree told GNN the Expo takes a holistic approach to age and health care,  providing food for the spirit as well as the mind and body.

As well as workshops and salons, the expo will deliver a range of entertainment.

Diddley Squat, finalists in ABC TVs Exhumed series and self described ‘bunch of middle-aged friends who got together to have fun and make some noise’, will entertain, as well as the multi-talented Steven Oliver, most recently seen in ABC TV’s Black Comedy.

Workshops and demonstrations, competitions, games, talks, free health checks for hearing, blood pressure and balance, and even Delta therapy dogs to pat or cuddle will mean an engaging day.

QuAC’s Seniors’ Community Visiting Service will hold a ‘salon’, a popular spot for people to catch up with old friends. Previous ‘salons’ have reunited old friends who had not seen each other for 20 or more years.

The Amazing Ageing Race provides a fun way to explore LGBTI history and the chance to win a fabulous weekend for two at the Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island, donated by the Resort and Integrated Living Australia.

Several workshops will be on offer, including an in-depth workshop on Advanced Health Directives for LGBTI people.

“Given the history of criminalisation and discrimination, and the fears these have caused amongst our elders, it is vitally important for us to have a clear Advanced Health Directive. The Expo provides the perfect opportunity to begin the process with expert guidance and help,” said Gai Lemon, Director of Healthy Communities Programs.

The expo will also feature a special screening of the documentary Gen Silent, exploring ageing issues for gay men, lesbians and transgender people in the USA. This will be accompanied by its Australian counterpart, Then and Now followed by a forum and discussion with elders, young people, and service providers.

The Expo runs on Thursday March 19th, at the Lake Kawana Community Centre from 2pm -7pm, with plenty of food and drink available at the venue during the day.

Award-winning local jeweller Nadia Neuman from the Mondial Group has designed a special charm to allow the wearer to show their support for marriage equality.

According to Neuman the Australian Marriage Equality charm is an elegant, stylish and timeless unisex accessory created to raise money for, and awareness of, equal marriage rights in Australia.

Available in silver (rrp $50) and 9k gold (rrp $180), 100% of profits made from the sale of the Australian Marriage Equality charm will be donated to Australian Marriage Equality’s ongoing National Campaign. The charm can be worn on the leather bracelet it is delivered on or as a pendant.

Neuman described teh creation of teh charm as "an extension of what has been a very rewarding initiative for me both personally and professionally".

"Just like the Australian Marriage Equality ring, I hope the charm acts as a keepsake and special reminder of a time we all helped to change history," she said.

It’s not the first time the jeweller has created a design to support equal love. In April 2014, Australian Marriage Equality and Nadia Neuman joined forces for the launch of the Australian Marriage Equality ring.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition Party, Tanya Plibersek and Liberal Party Local Member Christine Forster, spoke at the launch of the Australian Marriage Equality ring sending clear message of political support for the initiative.

The Australian Marriage Equality charm is available for sale online now at www.eternalbymondial.com.au or in store at the exclusive Mondial by Nadia Neuman boutique located in the iconic Strand Arcade.

As for Kyle, he feels it's time to return to work.
'If you'd asked me that a month ago I'd have said: 'No, I'm not ready to go back, I'm going to miss him too much.' But he's crawling now and he's feeding properly so I don't think I'm going to miss too many milestones. It's time to go back.'
Kyle believes Miles will be an only child. 'I'd have liked more children, but I don't want to push my luck and I'm not greedy,' he says.
'A lot of people think he is disadvantaged because he has only one parent. And, although I grew up with siblings, I don't think he'll miss having brothers or sisters. We're always having playdates with friends.'
He says he would love a long-term relationship in the future but has to put his son's needs first. 'Lots of gay people don't want children and so I'd need to find someone that does,' he says. 'But to be honest, I've always been independent and I'm happy just being me and Miles for a few years.
'Maybe I'll meet someone when I'm 50 and on holiday. Or maybe I'll meet someone through work? Who knows? I'm not in any hurry. I'm happy as I am.'
As for his biological mother, legally Miles will be able to discover who she is when he turns 18. Both Kyle and Anne-Marie say they will encourage him if that's what he decides.
'I hope he does ask,' says Anne-Marie. 'I want to give her the biggest hug because if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have him.'
And with that, she looks down at her sleeping grandson in her arms and squeezes him tightly.