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

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

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 Men’s Body Image: Near 50 Percent Would Sacrifice 1 Year Of Their Lives For The Perfect Body, Survey Finds

One part me says, “Are you kidding me?” This is exactly what I think is wrong  with the minds of a majority of gay me, willing to die for their physical appearance and putting their bodies as their number one priority. The other part of thinks, “One year, I’d only loose one year?”

 

via www.huffingtonpost.com

Exactly how far would you go for cast-iron pecs or the perfect six-pack?

Indeed, gay men have been stereotypically cast as gym bunnies by popular culture for some time, but a new British poll has now revealed a slightly more disturbing fact about that population’s fractured relationship with body image. A study commissioned by the Central YMCA, the Succeed Foundation and the University of the West of England’s (UWE) Centre for Appearance Research in Bristol found that48 percent of gay male respondents would sacrifice a year or more of their lives in exchange for a perfect body. Perhaps even more onerous: researchers also found that 10 percent of those men would agree to die more than 11 years earlier if they could have their ideal body right now, according to Pink News. Continue reading