Tag Archives: gay men

Welcome to The Rainbow Project: Improving the Physical, Mental & Emotional Health of Gay, Bisexual & Non-heterosexual Men in Northern Ireland

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Yet Ireland is a long way away from us here in San Francisco, The Rainbow Project is a great role model for gay men and groups world wide.

About The Rainbow Project

The Rainbow Project is a health organisation that works to improve the physical, mental & emotional health of gay, bisexual and non-heterosexual men in Northern Ireland.

We are the largest gay organisation in Northern Ireland and have two centres: one in Belfast city centre and the other in Foyle, L’Derry.

History

The Rainbow Project was established in 1994 by a group of volunteers who were concerned about the spread of HIV within the gay male population of Northern Ireland.

These volunteers wanted to provide information and support to men who have sex with men (MSM) ahout HIV and AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).  They carried out research within the gay and bisexual communities in order to find out what type of information and support services were required. Continue reading →

Gay Men and Aging: Finding Your Purpose

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I just finished reading about the suicide of a gay therapist Bob Bergeron.  No one knows why he committed suicide—the author of the article and many of his friends are left to wonder about the reasons. But the irony left in the wake of his death is hard to ignore. He was about to publish a book on successful gay male aging and his suicide note suggests that we was struggling with the very issue he was writing about—a potentially difficult issue for many gay men as we grow older..

 

A closer consideration of gay male aging suggests why growing older might be a particularly tricky. First of all, a large component of gay male culture is focused on beauty, youth, and sexual attractiveness. Like their heterosexual counterparts, gay men respond and react sexually to visual stimuli, namely the physical appeal of their sexual partners. As a result, beauty is privileged and so are the men who have it.

Joan Collins once said that physical beauty is a gift granted in youth that is slowly taken away little by little over time. Thus, gay men who are lucky to live long enough to age must face the decline of their attractiveness. However, growing up gay in a stigmatizing society might leave them particularly ill-suited to face the challenges of this time of life.

Bob Bergeron is a case in point. According to an article in the Sunday April 1st New York Times,  Mr. Bergeron grew up nervous and awkward, poor at sports and unable to interact with other boys. If he was like a lot of other growing up gay boys, he was probably scapegoated and physically harassed. Many of us, include me, were terribly bullied as children. We were called out for being gay before we even knew who we were.  At the same time, we learned being gay was something shameful and disgusting needing to be hidden from the world, including the people closest to us. Many of my clients and research respondents who have experienced this stigmatization grow up with deep wounds and a profound sense of personally inadequacy and low self-worth. So perhaps we were vulnerable to some of the dark sides of gay male life, namely, its overemphasis on looks, youth, and sexual attractiveness at the cost of healthier and life sustaining values that can assist us as we age. MORE

Which, btw, may have nothing to do with the gym.

Gay Men’s Social Group Debuts in Baltimore & Discusses How Have John Waters Movies Helped Shape Gay Culture

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A gay discussion where “How Have John Waters Movies Helped Shape Gay Culture in Baltimore,” is on the table, I’m in (Well, if I were a little bit closer).

Charm City now has its own gay male social group aimed at men 18+. (Wikimedia photo by Kathleen Conklin)

A new gay men’s discussion and social group was launched in Baltimore earlier this month.    Based on the success of a similar group—the Gay District in Washington, D.C.—Charm City Gay Social was formed and meets each Friday from 8:30-10 p.m. at the First United Church – United Church of Christ, 1728 Eastern Ave. in the Fell’s Point area. A move to the Mount Vernon neighborhood may take place eventually.

The group, which was founded by David Sugar and Ian Damm Luhr, is aimed at gay men 18 and over. It holds weekly discussions on a variety of subjects, including “What Kind of Gay Are You: New Gay Stereotypes” and “How Have John Waters Movies Helped Shape Gay Culture in Baltimore.” The organizers are seeking discussion facilitators for future meetings.

There may be a game night added to the mix or other activities to be determined. Following the discussion, participants go out for dinner in the area or head to the clubs. MORE

Gay Leadership Project: Gay Men To Be Role Models For Superb Health, Financial Independence And Loving Relationships

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Food for thought

Gay Leadership Project: Gay Men To Be Role Models For Superb Health, Financial Independence And Loving Relationships – says Angelo – Gay Life Coach And Gay Matchmaker.

Can a gay matchmaker from Miami turn into a visionary? Paul Angelo MHA, MBA offers a compelling vision for financial, health and relationship success for gay men in the U.S. and world-wide. The Gay Leadership Project is the beginning of something big – says Angelo.

Paul Angelo, the gay matchmaker and gay life coachoffers a new vision for gay men. In 5 years, Angelo sees gay men to be role models for superb health, financial independence and loving relationships. Continue reading →

Public Health Campaign Promotes Safe Sex Among Young, Gay Men in Ohio

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new public health campaign in Columbus, Ohio, is attracting attention for its ads promoting sexual health among young gay men.

The “Take Care Down There” campaign billboards and print ads feature shirtless men with arrows pointing below their waistlines.

Makeda Porter, the prevention-services manager at Columbus Public Health told LGBTQ Nationthat Columbus health officials anticipate that their message — “essentially, take good care of yourself — will be perceived as straightforward without being preachy.”

According to Porter, over a period of a few months, she and her colleagues met with several focus groups, concentrating on young men in general and young black men in particular.

In a report published last August by the Centers for Disease Control, the annual number of new HIV infections in the United States was at approximately 50,000 new infections each year between 2006 and 2009.

The CDC’s first multi-year estimates from its national HIV incidence surveillance find that overall, the annual number of new HIV infections in the United States was relatively stable at approximately 50,000 new infections each year between 2006 and 2009.

However, HIV infections increased among young men who have sex with men (MSM) between 2006 and 2009, driven by alarming increases among young, black MSM – the only sub-population to experience a sustained increase during the time period. MORE

Voices of Prevention — Gay Men’s Health Crisis, Healthy Connections (Video)

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This video, shown at SAMHSA’s 8th annual Prevention Day in February 2012, recognizes the work of Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), Healthy Connections to prevent substance abuse, suicide, and HIV infectionamong gay male youth and adults. GMHC, Healthy Connections, located in New York City, reaches out to gay and questioning male youth and young adults, particularly African-American males ages 12 to 17 and 18 to 24, who are at risk for substance abuse, HIV infection, and suicide. Healthy Connections provides prevention and intervention strategies and HIV testing. A facilitator travels to areas throughout New York City where the target population congregates and initiates conversations with individuals in these areas; during the conversations, the facilitator explains prevention services to gauge whether the individuals may be interested in participating. Outreach and informational palm cards are also provided at bars and clubs. Contact information is collected from young men who have sex with men interested in any of the services. Visit http://www.gmhc.org for more information about GMHC and its prevention programming.

 

HHS Considers Accepting Gay and Bisexual Men as Blood Donors

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Gay and bisexual men may be allowed to donate blood in the near future if a Health and Human Services Department pilot program to establish “alternative donor deferral criteria” for gay men comes to fruition. The department is seeking comments on how it should design the program. Because of new technology, donors can be tested more accurately for infections, which potentially eliminates the need to “continue an indefinite deferral” for a donor group, according to HHS. Since 1977, men who have sex with other men have been banned from donating blood. — Fatima Najiy

THT’s myHIV Site to Let Users Find and Recommend Best HIV Services

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The UK’s first service for people living with HIV that allows them to recommend healthcare providers to others and find recommended services themselves has been launched.

The initiative by HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust and healthcare recommendation siteiWantGreatCare will enable people living with HIV to find and recommend healthcare services that are sensitive to their needs.

A 2008 study found that one in five people with HIV had experienced discrimination in the last year from GPs or other healthcare professionals. Continue reading →

Gay Men’s Support Group to Discuss Erectile Dysfunction :: STUDIO CITY, CA

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STUDIO CITY, Calif. — Gay men with erectile dysfunction (ED) will meet Saturday, March 10, in Southern California to talk about their common experiences and find ways to connect around impotence.

Gay men have long faced homophobia when seeking care for problems common to both gay and straight men. Many gay-focused national nonprofits have long histories of helping gay men with diseases such as prostate cancer and HIV/AIDS. Now, for the first time, gay men will be meeting to discuss ED among men who enjoy sex with men.

“Gay men experience health issues from their unique perspective, but, health care professionals continue to ignore this, causing needless harm to thousands upon thousands of gay men who experience erectile dysfunction,” said Darryl Mitteldorf, LCSW, executive director of the national men’s cancer survivor nonprofit organization, Malecare Cancer Support, which is involved in the meeting.

“Malecare wants all gay men to find the help they need, from men who care about them and we are proud that one of our support group leaders, Dennis Bogorad, has developed a supportive meeting focused on erectile dysfunction,” Mitteldorf said.

This social gathering will offer single gay men with erectile dysfunction a chance to meet other gay men with erectile dysfunction. It will be a chance for men to mix and mingle in a no stress environment, share experiences, make new friends or maybe meet the love of their life.

“This is one silent sexual issue both gay and straight men share in common,” said Bogorad, a film producer who volunteers as leader of the gay men with prostate cancer support group that is co-sponsored by Malecare Cancer Support and the Cancer Support Community at the Benjamin Center in Los Angeles.

Gay men are best supported by each other, in a gay friendly atmosphere, organizers said.

Erectile dysfunction may be caused by many different diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, HIV, antidepressants, prostate issues, physical injury, aging and more.

Although the cause may vary, the life changes resulting from ED can challenge the quality of life for many gay men. Unfortunately, caregivers, medical professionals and advertisements present treatment options and social remedies almost always from a heterosexual point of view. Success with this first gay men and erectile dysfunction event will likely lead to similar events throughout the United States.

If you’d like to attend, please send an email to dennis@malecare.org.

About Malecare Cancer Support

Founded in 1998, Malecare Cancer Support is the national men’s cancer survivor support and advocacy national nonprofit organization. Malecare facilitates in-person and online cancer survivor support groups and develops men’s health awareness and advocacy campaigns. It currently manages the largest global prostate cancer support network online. VIA

Author of “The Complete Guide to Happiness for Gay Men…” Dead from Suicide

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 WAKE UP CALL

This hits the nail on the head and drives home the very reason why this site spawned, mental health issues hiding behind the mask of a beautiful body. Dying young and beautiful because of a hidden mental illness is unacceptable. The stigma and shame that is attached to mental illnesses overrides the education and knowledge of those knee deep in the illness themselves. “Bob Bergeron, a handsome, successful, intelligent, well-liked, physically fit gay New Yorker committed suicide recently. Ironically, and sadly, the psychotherapist was about to publish The Right Side of Forty: The Complete Guide to Happiness for Gay Men at Midlife and Beyond.”

“Colleague and associate Christopher Murray eulogizes Bob in a provocative article that touches on the complexity of why people commit suicide and why (in particular) gay men who might appear to be doing well may not be, not really. Check it out here.” (boyculture)