About Gay Life

H1N1 and HIV

2009-11-09T14:13:29Z

Does having HIV increase your chances of contracting H1N1 (or the Swine Flu) virus?

"Since we know that HIV weakens the immune system, naturally we would assume people with HIV would be more at risk," says Mark Cichocki, About.com Guide to HIV/AIDS. "Actually that is not the case. Because our immune systems are not responsible for fighting off the flu, HIV positive people are generally not considered to be at greater risk of contracting the flu than HIV negative people, regardless of their immune system health."

Mark warns that there is an exception. HIV-positive people should keep in mind that "bacterial pneumonia often accompanies influenza" and "people with certain chronic illnesses, including HIV are at added risk for a superinfection of bacterial pneumonia once they get the flu." So, those with weaker immune systems should take added precautions... jump

H1N1 and HIV originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 14:13:29.

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Larry Johnson cut from Chiefs

2009-11-09T13:40:03Z

Larry Johnson has made his last public fumble in Kansas City. The pro bowl running back was cut from the Chiefs one day after his suspension for mouthing gay slurs to Twitter fans and a reporter in the team locker room.

The move by the Chiefs and the NFL shows that they are willing to take action by holding their players responsible for offensive plays off the field. Fans agree: After Johnson's incident, the Chiefs were petitioned to prohibit him from gaining the 75 yards he needed break the team's rushing record.

Larry Johnson cut from Chiefs originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 13:40:03.

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LGBT youth in prison

2009-11-09T12:19:09Z

The Supreme Court on Monday will consider whether sentencing youth offenders that have committed non-homicidal crimes to life in prison without parole is cruel or unusual punishment. The cases involve two youths, Joe Harris Sullivan, one of only two 13-year-olds sentenced to life in prison without parole, and Floridian Terrance Graham, who was sentenced at age 17. Currently, Florida is the nation's leader in youth incarceration rates.

Gay youth in prison
The treatment of LGBT youth in prison, although not directly related to Sullivan v. Florida and Graham v. Florida, must be examined before the court. LGBT youth represent as much as 13 percent of the total detained youth population... jump

LGBT youth in prison originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 12:19:09.

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Ultimate fighting: homoerotic or homosocial?

2009-11-04T18:10:26Z

Two guys locked in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu floor work—one on top, one on bottom—each in an attempt to submit the other with impenetrable holds sounds homoerotic; but are the gladiator contests of ultimate fighting "sporno" or just rough homosocial play?

An ultimate fighter has yet to come out publicly since The New York Times, About.com's parent company, featured gay rough-house Shad Smith in the magazine last year. The sport, however, has attracted an avid base of gay and bi fighters and fans.

As a person who trains with other boxers, I'd argue that there are more gay/bi boxing and MMA enthusiasts than the notoriously homophobic boxing leagues will admit. Yet, other leagues, such the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), aren't so quick to tap out openly gay fighters.

"Any guy involved in grappling is the furthest thing from homophobic in the world," UFC President Dana White said, as reported by The Daily Beast. "I honestly think it would have no impact whatsoever with not only our fighters or our fan base."

White's gay embrace comes after a previous blast for spitting anti-gay slurs at his critics.

Could this be a new day for ultimate? Will underground gay boxing clubs start sparring out in the open? Given the historically homoerotic-yet-homophobic nature of hyper-masculine sports like boxing, it may be some time. But, with Dana White's crack in the door, ultimate could soon be the most open sport yet.

Image: Anderson Silva (R) fights Patrick Cote in the UFC Middleweight Title Bout. © Tasos Katopodis/Getty

Ultimate fighting: homoerotic or homosocial? originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 18:10:26.

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U.N. questions Russia's treatment of gays

2009-11-04T16:57:53Z

A report from the United Nations Human Rights Committee shows that those who work in discord with Russian authorities, including gay and lesbian activists, are often driven underground or disbanded under threat of government violence.

The report highlights Russia's lack of progress in providing basic human rights, including fair trials, freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Military sanctioned violence against journalists, activists, and prison inmates also plague the nation, the report shows.

The 18-member U.N. panel has called for reforms, citing "systematic discrimination against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation" among other offenses against human rights groups.

Although homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia in the 1990s, the government continues to strike against GLBT activism. In February 2007, Mayor Yuri Luzhkov banned what was to be the first gay pride parade in Moscow. Luzhkov stated that homosexuality was unnatural and described same-sex love as "satanic."

More on gay life in Russia.

U.N. questions Russia's treatment of gays originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 16:57:53.

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Mixed results for 2009 election

2009-11-04T13:25:44Z

Voters decided Tuesday whether to keep or repeal key LGBT rights laws in several states. Here are the results:

Kalamazoo: The southern Michigan city will keep its law approved by city leaders last June making it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Maine: Voters passed Question 1, repealing a statute that legalized gay marriage. The Maine legislature legalized same-sex unions last May.

New Jersey: Gov. Jon Corzine loss to Republican Christopher Christie, who opposes same-sex marriage.

Washington: A law granting domestic partner benefits to same-sex couples leads 51 percent to 49 percent, with 50 percent of precincts counted, according to early AP reports.

Mixed results for 2009 election originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 13:25:44.

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The Perfect Stalkermobile

2009-11-03T14:35:12Z

I haven't updated my top gay cars list in a some time. I promise a list will come soon. But, while it's parked, I check in on Vanity Fair's gay car blogger Brett Berk for my four-wheel fix.

On my cruise, I ran into Brett's top car pick for the urban stalker, the Tesla Roadster.

"It's small and low--about the length of a big claw-foot tub, and providing comparable levels of ground clearance--and is thus capable of being hidden behind common street furniture like dumpsters, or those plastic boxes that serve up fliers for extension classes," Brett writes.

We haven't a good gay stalker story since Maroon 5's Adam Levine was swooned by Darkus. But if one should hit the wires soon, they should definitely take the Tesla Roadster for a creep.

The Perfect Stalkermobile originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 14:35:12.

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R�is�n Murphy's orally fixated

2009-11-03T13:24:42Z

The gays have been gaga for a while and rightly so: She's just become the first artist to have four #1 hits from a debut album. But, electro-pop crowds are on "pins and needles" as ElectroQueer describes, waiting for a trifecta from Irish artist R�is�n Murphy.

Soon-to-be mom Murphy is best known for her debut album, Ruby Blue (you may remember "Night of the Dancing Flame" hitting many American ears for the first time on So You Think You Can Dance), but loyals and newcomers await her third album due to hit any time. Until then, Murphy is teasing fans with a new single "Orally Fixated." ElectroQueer has more.

Also, check out this 2008 interview with Murphy by About.com Dance Music Guide DJ Ron Slomowicz.

R�is�n Murphy's orally fixated originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 13:24:42.

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Should anti-gay supporters be exposed?

2009-11-03T12:54:53Z

Voters in Washington and Maine will decide today whether existing protections should be extended to same-sex couples. A fierce battle has unfolded since both states introduced equal rights offers to gay and lesbian couples earlier this year—as is typical when the issue of gay marriage enters the law books (remember Prop 8 in California?). Polls in Maine predict that voters are split on the issue.

It's not unlike either side, for or against, to dig deep into rhetoric sending voters on a political seesaw. However, since the days of Anita Bryant, anti-gay supporters have been heavily criticized for falsifying facts under the guise of morality. The detriment of family values and children are often mentioned when communicating with voters, even when facts prove otherwise. For instance, anti-gay groups in Maine are using the Prop 8 defense, telling voters that same-sex marriage will be taught in schools, despite state Attorney General Janet T. Mills's claim otherwise.

Show me the facts
In these days of spawning grass roots politics, unsubstantiated claims are not enough. Anti-gay groups are being asked to support their claims with numbers:

Where's the money?: Anti-gay marriage group NOM (National Organization for Marriage) has contributed an estimated $1.6 million to Stand for Marriage Maine, the organization opposing the state's gay marriage statute. The state ethics commission has filed an injunction to force NOM to produce its donor list.

Show me the names: In appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ordered Protect Marriage Washington, the organization that placed anti-gay Referendum 71 on the ballot in Washington, to release the names on their petitions. The Supreme Court has placed a hold on the release until they decides whether to hear the case.

Define family values: San Francisco District Court Judge Vaughn Walker has asked Prop 8 supporters to explain the legal basis of their argument against gay marriage. In other words, how does gay marriage hurt straight people... factually?

Voters initiatives not enough
Creating ghost stories to solicit funds and signatures that restrict rights may no longer stand as judicial bodies, legislatures and pro-gay advocates place gay opponents on the defensive. But, is releasing the names of anti-gay supporters a matter of full disclosure or individual privacy? Soon, in the midst of several open injunctions and appeals, the country's high court will have to decide.

Should anti-gay supporters be exposed? originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 12:54:53.

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HIV+ Travel Ban Lifted. Blood and Organ Should Follow

2009-11-02T14:32:38Z

The CDC issued a final rule Monday removing HIV from its list of "communicable disease of public health significance." The amendment allows HIV positive travelers entry into the United States. Prior to the executive order issued by President Obama, positive travelers could be rejected based on their status alone.

"While HIV infection is a serious health condition, it is not a communicable disease that is a significant public health risk for introduction, transmission, and spread to the U.S. population through casual contact," the CDC published in the Federal Register.

The 22-year-old ban was lifted by President Obama on Friday as part of the reauthorizing of the Ryan White Programs. "If we want to be a global leader in combating HIV-AIDS, we need to act like it," he said in a public address.

While the lift on HIV positive travelers is a testament to the administration's increased understanding of HIV communicability, two post-AIDS scare bans remain. Since 1983, the Food and Drug Administration has prohibited men who have sex with other men from giving blood donations, imposing a lifelong ban on gay men. A similar rule also bans gays from donating organs.

The archaic policies remain under review, but little action has been taken to repeal the blood and organ bans. Now is the time for the FDA signal that it too understands the communicability of HIV. By continuing to single out only one high risk population while leaving others untouched, the agency becomes not a proactive voice in the understanding of and protection against HIV, but a stalled stamp in false perceptions that HIV is a "gay disease."

HIV+ Travel Ban Lifted. Blood and Organ Should Follow originally appeared on About.com Gay Life on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 14:32:38.

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