Measuring Up California’s Measure B

The adult entertainment industry has been in the news recently with the passing of Measure B, the Safer Sex in the Adult Film Industry Act. This new legislation requires actors in pornographic films to wear condoms to prevent the spread of STDs and HIV. There’s been a lot of controversy around this issue which promises to continue, as The Free Speech Coalition- an adult-film-industry trade association- says it will challenge Measure B in court as a violation of the First Amendment. We took a closer look at some of the different perspectives and opinions.

Public health and policy advocates

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a global organization providing HIV/AIDS medical care and advocacy, was one of the most outspoken champions of the measure. Their advocacy website states that passing the Measure will help prevent the spread of STDs and HIV, protect porn performers, and prevent taxpayer dollars from being spent on costs related to the adult industry. Porn producers are now required to obtain health permits and the county will do spot checks on porn sets to make sure performers are using condoms.

Since Measure B’s passing, AHF has expressed interest in taking its effort statewide by advocating for a bill that would broaden the power of the state and local governments to enforce condom use on porn sets. Some have even speculated that that was the main inspiration for Measure B—to gain footing for state legislation, which could, in turn, influence other states to adopt a similar policy.

Emily Nagoski, a sex educator and owner of The Dirty Normal, supports Measure B because it protects adult performers. She writes, “It’s not a right to put yourself in harm’s way for a paycheck, it’s a circumstance created by employers who care more about their bottom line than the safety of their workers.”

Nagoski also supports Measure B because some studies suggest that including condoms in porn will cause viewers to normalize condom use and thus use condoms more in their own sex lives.

 

Adult industry producers and actors

Porn industry leaders say the extra precautions aren’t warranted; L.A. County porn community hasn't had a performer test positive for HIV since 2004. "During that time, we've produced over 300,000 scenes. We do a pretty incredible job when it comes to protecting the performers," said Steve Hirsch, opponent of Measure B and founder of porn production company Vivid Entertainment.  

Performer and director Kylie Ireland said, “It's a ridiculous waste of time and money to regulate an industry that is already self-regulating.”

Measure B has also been criticized because it could be bad for business. Porn producers speculate that customers will not be interested in watching porn featuring actors wearing condoms. With the passing of Measure B, executives and directors have threatened to move from Los Angeles to other locations. Veteran director Kevin Moore said, “I love this business, but I feel this is an attempt to drive us out of California.''

The public

Though there hasn’t been a large-scale survey of the general public surrounding California’s Measure B, 56.8% of voters supported the measure at the polls.

We want to hear what you think. Is Measure B providing a good service, ensuring that adult actors are protected and moving porn toward becoming safer? Or is this unwarranted legislation that will waste money and move the industry elsewhere (or further under the table)?

 Sources

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/porn-industry-measure-mandatory-condom-measure-passed-los/story?id=17673377
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/11/condoms-in-porn-los-angeles-county-measure-b.html
http://healthland.time.com/2012/11/09/porn-industry-threatens-to-sue-over-l-a-county-law-requiring-condoms/

Grindr: Friend or Foe to the Gay Community?

By now, most people have heard of Grindr, and many of us have profiles. Our contact at Grindr reports that there are 4 million users worldwide, 1.3 million of whom are in the U.S. The average user logs on to Grindr 8-10 times per day and spends about 90 minutes using the app throughout the day. So if you find yourself Grindr-addicted, you’re not alone!

News headlines about the app are pretty extreme:

• EXPOSED: The seedy underbelly of hook-up apps (News.com.au, September 2012)
• A deadly dating game (China Daily, September 2012)
• Grindr: Welcome to the World’s Biggest, Scariest Gay Bar (Vanity Fair, May 2011)
• Popular gay dating app Grindr blamed for syphilis outbreak (Examiner.com, August 2012)

Not to mention Paris Hilton’s recent comments that “most” gay men on Grindr “probably have AIDS.” Paris isn’t the only one to blame Grindr for increased rates of HIV and STD infections among gay and bi men. So what’s the deal? Are folks just looking for someone to blame, or does the app somehow promote or condone risky business, like barebacking or anonymous sex? We at GO Atlanta took a closer look.

In Grindr’s policies, there’s nothing to be found promoting or discouraging unprotected sex. The app does prohibit “sexually explicit, revealing, or overly suggestive photos,” as well as “nudity or physically revealing clothing of any kind.” And, to Grindr’s credit, there is a Grindr Health page, which links to resources for HIV and STD testing, as well as substance abuse resources. Throughout the site, Grindr advocates user safety and responsibility.

Grindr has a reputation for being a booty call app. But is it? In a recent study [1] of Grindr users in West Hollywood and Long Beach, CA, researchers found that the most popular reasons for using Grindr were to kill time (84.3%)and make new friends (78.7%), followed by connecting with the gay community (64.5%) and meeting hook-ups (64.5%). Participants in the study were more likely to use condoms with partners they met on Grindr (59.8%) compared to partners they met elsewhere (41.9%).

So, that brings us back to our original question: is it really Grindr that’s fueling HIV and STD epidemics? The app touts itself as a platform for guys to meet other guys, and it’s being used heavily around the world... but not necessarily to look for sex.

 

It’s easy to blame an app that makes it so darn easy to get laid. There are 9 guys within a mile of me right now! But really, it’s my job to get tested so that I know my status and use condoms to stay healthy. And to talk to my partners about their status, too. Here in ATL, AID Atlanta offers HIV and STD testing and free condoms. If you want to learn more about staying safe, watch our series of webisodes, “A Gay in the Life.” They’re quick, funny, informative, and just for registering and watching, you’ll get a Starbucks giftcard. 

Many health agencies are starting to use Grindr and other hookup apps to talk to guys about getting testing. Who knows? Maybe you’ll see GO Atlanta on Grindr soon.

 

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[1] Rice et al. Sex Risk among Young Men who have Sex with Men who use Grindr, a Smartphone Geosocial Networking Application. J AIDS Clinic Res 2012, S4.

Safer Sex For Your Smartphone?

Know your HIV status? Know your partner’s? There’s an app for that. Technology is creeping further and further into our personal lives, and the question has become, does it make our lives easier or more complicated?

The recently developed app called Chec-Mate allows individuals to search for testing locations, receive results after the test, and share the results with a partner. The app complies with all HIPAA regulations, the laws by which all healthcare professionals are bound. Privacy is maintained by using a unique username and password. A key advantage of sharing a person’s status using the app is that it reduces the amount of personal information disclosed with the test results. The question of ease versus complication remains unanswered. The app requires registration, and then an individual must have the professional complete a special verification form at the testing site. The app also requires a yearly subscription. Since the application is currently only available for iPhone, it is certainly not usable by everyone who could potentially benefit from it.

Some people have no qualms about sharing all of the information displayed on the paper results. Others choose not to discuss status at all because of fear or unease about how to approach the subject. At GO Atlanta we are addressing this unease with our online video series that stresses everyone’s responsibility for talking about sexual health. If this app encourages dialogue around sexual health while maintaining privacy I am willing to add it to my list of prevention tools.

What do you think? Why are some apprehensive about discussing sexual health? Is this app beneficial to anyone, some, or potentially everyone?

Lucas.Gosdin@aidatlanta.org

BOXERS OR BRIEFS

Boxers, briefs, thongs or jocks - a gay man knows that there is something for everyone when it comes to underwear.  Whether you're strictly traditional with your whitey tighties, or you're bold and bare with your sexy and barely there bikinis, our undergarments can tell the world a lot about who we are.

Underwear speaks to our level of comfort - how comfortable we are with our own body being on display, and also our level of physical comfort.  Some guys like the support of a tight pair of briefs.  Other guys like the easy comfort of a loose pair of boxers.  Whatever your personal preference, you need only take a trip to a department store or flip through a catalog (International Male, anyone?) to know that there is a wide variety of ways to cover your most intimate parts.

One local designer is taking underwear a step further, and making it a true statement piece.  Bernard Buie has designed the "condom boxer."  This design is an effort to make underwear both sexy and functional.  No more fumbling to find a condom in that dark nightstand drawer - it's right there on you, in your convenient condom pocket!

Getting dressed for a date night?  Think you might get lucky?  Slip into your "condom boxers" and drop a condom (or two) into the convenient pocket on the leg of the boxers.  You'll be set for the night when the mood strikes you and your partner.  Interested to know more?  Check out their FB page here.

The Technology of Sex

Since the dawn of human existence the safest sex has always been to take your own breath away, hands- on (or not), the get off method.  Masturbation, like sex, transcends time.  Current advances in technology have changed the way we communicate, travel, stay healthy, and see the world; these changes were often premeditated and anticipated. However, mainstream media has done an excellent job of concealing the myriad of 21^st century post-masturbatory toys for the tech savvy mind and body. Although some of these toys were originally made for orifices of the female persuasion, there is no reason why any bodily hole should be neglected of pleasure from these “sexy-tech devices”.  I’ve picked out five of the most interesting and unique sex toys available.  Hours of technological labor and research went into the following five devices; all so that they could be the best fit, feel, and fuck when going into or onto you!   Be advised, unless you work for an amazing sex positive, non-profit like AID Atlanta you probably shouldn’t read any further if you are at your 9-5.

The NaughtiBod:

http://www.ohmibod.com/wired-vibrators/index.php

“Feel the vibrations of your favorite music”.  The folks at www.OhmiBod.com specialize in turning your mp3 players & smartphones into orgasmic catalysts. You’ll never listen to music the same way. Go “Ga” “GA!” while listening to Lady Gaga.

The Tenga Egg:

http://www.esmale.com/tenga/tenga-masturbator-egg-variety-pack-893-157-1506.php

Watch and amaze yourself! You’ll never look at eggs the same way. Tenga has hatched a truly unique and advanced product line. The egg masturbator comes in a variety of textures all designed with a unique textured skin meant for enhancing pleasure. No refrigeration necessary, unless you like it cold. Unlike the real thing, once you’ve cracked open the whites and yolk, you can wish, rinse and enjoy the egg a second time!

The FleshJack:

http://www.esmale.com/fleshjack/p0/158.htm

Ever fantasized about sleeping with your favorite gay porn star? Now you can! Well, at least with a lifelike duplicate of their ass or mouth. The FleshJack offers a range of male masturbators made from what they call “Real Feel Superskin”. Almost creepy close to the real orifices already, the sensation can even be made all the more realby inserting the sleeve in warm water before use to bring it to body temperature. Check out the demo below.

Aneros:  

http://www.esmale.com/aneros/p0/170.htm

The folks at Aneros specialize in prostate stimulation! Hours of research went into designing each Anero’s toy material, size, and shape! With the help of Aneros, guys can achieve their very best prostate stimulated orgasm. Find your very own mythical male g-spot with the unique line of products available.

The Googlher: 

http://fffff.at/diyds/googlher/

Welcome to the age of Vaginal or Anal web browsing! 

The Googlher is a device which plugs into your computer and triggers a bullet vibrator any time that Google pings your web browser (basically when Google spies what you’re doing).  The creators very own words were too good to paraphrase. “Mistrust and fear Google’s omnipotent ways no longer as the web giant profoundly soothes, touches, and moves you.”  Sex toys like these can be costly, but not to fear the folks over at F.A.T.  have us covered with instructions on how to make the device! It doesn’t look easy, but take a look at the demo video on the webpage and tell me it’s not worth the work! 

http://vimeo.com/30270233

UNWRAPPED

Recently, the popular porn site SEAN CODY, announced that it would be releasing it's first installment featuring condomless sex.  The video, "Brandon & Pierce Unwrapped," is a first for the popular site.  SEAN CODY is not alone, however, and follows the lead of CORBIN FISHER - another popular video site that has also recently added bareback video clips.

The clips on SEAN CODY does come with a warning of sorts.  Before you view the video, it states: “Unprotected sex is not something we recommend or endorse.”  Huh??  By featuring a bareback video, are you not endorsing unprotected sex?

While bareback sex remains a high risk reality in the gay community, is it irresponsible for websites to feature such films?  Or, by not featuring condomless sex, do we fetishize this behavior and make it even more appealing to gay/bi men?  In the age of HIV/AIDS, what is the responsible stance to take?

You can read the full article here:  http://www.queerty.com/sean-cody-joins-the-bareback-bandwagon-20111228/

STD's: What's the Real Risk?

Yesterday, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention released an annual report of statistics and trends for three rampant sexually transmitted diseases in the US. For the first time in ten years overall syphilis rates have decreased in the country.  While this is a wonderful step forward for our nation, the CDC still reports ungodly amounts of STDS in the US.  What should come as no surprise is, just like in previous years, communities of color, gay men, and MSM-identified men are still subject to highest rates of infection among the nation’s most prominent STDS. 

Here is a breakdown of where the nation stands with each STD:

Syphilis:

MSM make up 2/3 of all 2010 syphilis rates. Black MSM who have seen a 135% increase in syphilis from 2006-2010, found some alleviation this year with an 8.5 % drop in infections compared to last year. Hispanic communities saw a 9% increase in in syphilis. Caucasian communities saw a 3.65 % increase in syphilis rates.

Gonorrhea and Chlamydia:

The CDC recorded 1.3 million positive case of Chlamydia in 2010. Black women make up the largest numbers of both Gonorrhea and Chlamydia infections. The Hispanic community saw a 12 percent increase in both STDS.  White communities faced a 7.5 percent increase in Chlamydia infections and a 9.2 percent increase in gonorrhea infections. 

These results highlight dichotomy’s that exist across color lines:

Reuters did a telephone interview with Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention. He explained the statistics in way that communicates the spread better.

Syphilis infections are 2.4 per 100,000 for Whites, 5.9 per 100,000 for Hispanics and 20 per 100,000 for African Americans.

Rates of chlamydia in African Americans are about 1,383 per 100,000, compared with 467 per 100,000 among Hispanics, and 166 per 100,000 for Whites.

For gonorrhea, rates for Whites are 26 per 100,000. Among Hispanics, rates are about three times that at 63 per 100,000, and among African Americans, the rates are 512 per 100,000.

Fenton explained the dichotomy’s across color lines as such:

"It's not because someone is black or Hispanic or white that results in the differences that we see in STDs. It's really what these represent in terms of differences in health insurance coverage, employment status, in ability to access preventive services or curative services. These are all factors which are going to have a huge impact on communities”.

What Fenton said hits the bull right in its eye. Barriers to healthcare services exist in Hispanic, black, and queer communities. These findings are very similar to CDC reports released in August on 2009’s new HIV infections—which pinpointed that while gay/bi men make up only 2% of the population, they are an astounding 61% of new infections. Young MSM (ages 13 to 29) were most affected, representing more than 1 in 4 (27%) of all new HIV infections nationally in 2009.

MSM and other community’s that historically have been and continue to be marginalized today, face the heaviest burden for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV alike. But it is not the fact that they are of color, gay, or sleep with men that is causing these disparities; the fact is that access to healthcare, education, and preventive services become limited by societal stigma. The reality is individuals that lie within the intersections of being both queer and of color are at the highest risk for these STDs and new HIV infections.

AID Atlanta is doing its part to alleviate the stigma by providing programs that target specific risk groups. With programs like Evolution, Deeper Love, SISTA SOL, and of course GO Atlanta, we hope to reduce the rates and change the patterns in which these STDS and the HIV virus is spreading. Our new web-based outreach series, A Gay in the Life, allows us to break through some of the barriers associated with accessibility. Programs like the ones found here are hopefully just the beginning of more culturally competent health-care systems and AIDS service organizations.

For a list of all the programs found here at AID Atlanta log on to www.aidatlanta.org

And to watch A Gay in the Life for yourself check out www.getupandgoatlanta.com

GETTING SERIOUS

There are often misconceptions in society that gay/bi men are somehow more promiscuous than their heterosexual counterparts.  Since the inception of HIV/AIDS, it seems that we've had to defend our sex lives, no matter how chaste and committed they may be.  Despite our best efforts, many still believe that the continuation of high numbers of new HIV/AIDS cases in the gay/bi community are directly correlated to promiscuous and risky sexual behaviors.  A new study, however, may finally help to silence that myth.

According to this study, the strongest single predictor of not using condoms in anal sex in a group of young US gay men was that the relationship was regarded as ‘serious’. Unprotected sex was eight times more likely in serious relationships than in casual encounters.

This study, conducted conducted by Northwestern University in Illinois, USA (Mustanski) reinforces previous findings that over two-thirds of HIV transmissions between US gay men happen between primary sex partners and only a third between casual partners (Sullivan).

In this study, the researchers comment, “there was almost no unprotected sex occurring in relationships classified as casual”. This suggests that HIV prevention strategies amongst US gay men may need to focus more on HIV risk and safer-sex negotiation within couples than on individual risk-taking decisions.

The entire article on the report can be read here.  It's important to note that this is ONE study.  However, it could help influence how groups like AID Atlanta target their programming to the community in the future. 

What are your thoughts?

Are you more likely to have unprotected sex in a

relationship you consider serious?

If so, what defines a "serious" relationship?

A Sex Toy Story

via POZ, by Trenton Straube

A new survey reveals that HIV-positive men who have sex with men lead vibrant, and sometimes vibrating, sex lives.

It’s not every day that we come across HIV-related research that explores health-promoting sexual behaviors. So when we came across the article “USA Study of Sex Toy Use by HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex With Other Men: Implications for Sexual Health” in the International Journal of STD & AIDS, we wanted to know more.

Conducted by the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University in collaboration with Online Buddies Inc., the survey included 2,275 HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). Participants were recruited from Manhunt.net and spanned the United States; most were white (83 percent), Latino (7 percent) or black (4 percent).

The survey set out to look at sex toy use and its implications for health among positive MSM. It found that 70 percent of participants reported using at least one sex toy in the past year, including dildos (49 percent), butt plugs (31 percent), vibrators (28 percent), masturbation sleeves (17 percent) and anal beads or balls (16 percent). And 31 percent reported using toys in the previous four weeks. White men were more likely to use toys, and men in sexually active relationships were more likely to use toys than those not in such relationships.

Before beginning, the researchers hypothesized that using sex toys not only increased sexual pleasure but also lowered the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and lead to fewer instances of unprotected anal sex.

To find out the results, we spoke with Joshua G. Rosenberger, PhD, MPH, who’s an assistant professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at George Mason University in Virginia and has a joint research appointment at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Center for Sexual Health Promotion.


Your survey results found that positive MSM who used sex toys were not statistically more likely to have an STI or to use condoms. How does this bode for your hypotheses going into the research?

Overall we saw relatively low rates of people reporting risk reduction as a primary reason for toy use. What we found with the sex toy use was, not surprisingly, it was more commonplace for sexual pleasure. When we created the survey, we were more interested first in documenting the [sex toy] behaviors—focusing on how much do you enjoy this, how do you incorporate this into your sexual life—because no one had ever done that. [Risk reduction] is important, but that wasn’t our main goal.

Now that you know more data about sex toy use, how would you like to see the data used among advocates and health practitioners?

First and foremost, it’s a way to educate them that MSM sex is not just anal sex and that there is a whole sexual repertoire that exists. There really needs to be more discussion and dialogue about what that looks like. We spend so much time on disease transmission, on labeling gay, bisexual and other MSM as having all this anal sex.

When you’re thinking about HIV, [sex toys are] just one other risk reduction strategy. You can easily recommend toy use as a safe way to engage in fun, healthy sexual activity in which both people can get satisfaction and pleasure without risk—and you can teach them the necessary steps around toy use, which would include making sure the toys are cleaned properly. And really just putting that message out as another alternative. It’s not just abstinence; it’s not just condoms; here’s one other tool that you can use to make sex possible.

You’ve done previous research on sex toy use among the larger U.S. population. How do the MSM results compare?

The numbers, in general, are mostly the same across the board in terms of rates of use and lifetime use, [but] slightly higher among MSM. There’s actually a paper under review right now that’s looking at a final study we just completed with women who have sex with women, and we have questions in there about HIV infection and women who are HIV positive.

Can any of the takeaways from this MSM survey be applied to other groups?

Absolutely. That’s why it’s important. The implication of what can be done [in terms of risk reduction and sexual health and satisfaction] can be extrapolated to any population, regardless of [HIV] status.

The survey did reveal some interesting aspects of the general health and sexual activities of MSM living with HIV. It was great to hear that 91 percent of them described their health as good, or excellent or very good, and then there were the findings that 53 percent were not dating, and yet that 88 percent were sexually active. What do these stats say about this population group?

I think that the overall data is saying that men living with HIV are actually not that much different from those who are negative. And I think that’s an element we’re often forgetting within the public health domain, [which is] always looking to point out all the differences. It’s overall a pretty healthy population. So it really demonstrates that HIV is not the end all be all and all of a sudden you’re doomed, and there’s no more sex, no more relationships. With medical treatment, there’s no reason that [people living with HIV] shouldn’t be engaging in safe and happy and healthy sexual behaviors.

The survey looked at whether condoms were used during the last 10 times participants engaged in anal intercourse. The HIV-positive MSM who were the insertive partner, or the top, reported using condoms an average of 5.85 times out of 10. Those who were receptive, or bottoms, reported 5.68 times. Can you put these figures in a larger context?

We don’t have partner data for these events. And a lot of research out there talks about, or asks, “Did you or did you not use a condom? Yes or No” without understanding the contextual factors, such as not knowing their status, whether people ejaculated during this event, [whether they were with a long-term partner or was it an anonymous encounter]—all those factors that actually, when you’re thinking about risk, are important.

Having said that, we found that the number of events that were protected [averaged at nearly 6 out of 10]. Some people interpret that as 40 percent of sexual events were condom non-protected. Data from national representative studies [show] that among gay and bisexual men, regardless of HIV status, the rates of condom use are higher than in the heterosexual population in the United States. I think that gives you a nice comparison. Condom use might not be perfect; it may not need to be perfect; if there’s not a risk of disease transmission, then there may not ever need to be a reason to use a condom.

And now the million-dollar question, if the data can answer it: Does using sex toys make you more sexually satisfied and healthier overall?

What we found was yes, individuals who reported more toy use were more likely to report higher rates of satisfaction, pleasure and all of the domains that are associated with sexual happiness. [However, here’s the chicken-or-the-egg conundrum: How do you know whether toy use makes people more sexually satisfied or whether] people who are more sexually satisfied use toys? We don’t have that answer. We can’t really indicate which one leads to which.

Finally, why is it important to study a topic such as sex toy use among HIV-positive MSM?

It’s important to understand how individuals living with HIV construct their sexual lives. Being optimistic, a day will come when we have a cure or vaccine for this disease. It will be a shame [if] we look back at the literature and media [in] 50 years and [will not know] about the sex lives of gay men because all we’ve done is research about this one single disease.

And while [risk reduction] is certainly important, we’re [not] really taking into account that [HIV-positive] individuals are living healthy, sexual lives and have their own sexual health issues just as anyone else. Sex toys are just one way to bridge this gap and still promote both pleasure and risk reduction.