HIV Status Talking

posted: 01/11/2010

Figures suggest that one in seven gay men on the scene in big cities has HIV, and that among men in their 30s and 40s, perhaps 1 in 3 men have HIV. Shocked? Many gay guys act like the risks aren't there and don’t seem worried. Almost half the gay men having casual sex never talk about HIV status with their partners.

Telling confidence 

Telling partners about having HIV is connected with how confident we feel. "It depends on how someone disclosing their status was taken in the past," Sona Barbosa of GMFA explains. "Some people have had really good feedback and they feel more confident saying, 'I'm HIV positive.' But those who've had negative feedback feel more reluctant to disclose."
 

Negative silence

HIV-negative men find talking about their own HIV status hard to talk about, as the men worry that being open about HIV will frighten off their shag. "People think, 'If I talk too much, I won't be accepted. If I broach the subject of being safe, I may lose the person: and so they find it's better not to talk, and not to risk losing the opportunity.'

But why take the risks (by not talking about your HIV status and not using condoms), putting your health on the line, and then face all the worries that follow taking those risks?
 

"This is such a cliché, but it's better to be safe than sorry;' says Peter Stevens, agony uncle for QX, the gay lifestyle magazine. "Lots of people are honest, but some guys lie about their status, and others might not even know they're HIV-positive.

So, if you can't be certain of someone's status, be aware of the ways the HIV virus can be transmitted, and make sure you're confident enough to ensure you both practise safer sex.”
 

The latest issue of FS for NW England for gay and bi men from gmfa includes articles on

• being more confident in talking about sex
• sex, drugs and smoking and breaking our bad habits now
• the 6 stupidest sex questions ever
• the FS problem page

Gay and Positive in 2010

posted: 07/01/2010

What’s it like to be a gay man with HIV in 2010? George (29), Leo (21), Tim (45), James (25), Jezz (37) and Ben (29) all talk about the ups and downs of being positive and gay in the latest issue of FS, gmfa’s magazine for NW England. Find out what they thought about HIV-positive guys before they were diagnosed, what it’s like being HIV-positive on the gay scene and their advice for HIV-negative guys.

And in the same issue 23 year old Adam talks about My Life – he’s positive too.
 

Problem Page - how to react when a positive guy tells you 

Sort It Out - the problem page – tackles how to react when a guy you’re about to shag with tells you he’s positive. Positive guys know from experience that half the time undiagnosed men make a mess of this – so here’s advice from readers and a counsellor on how not to embarrass the hell out of yourself with positive guys who trust you enough to tell you this.
 

Life Tips

There’s life tips in Change for Good – how to make those New Year resolutions stick and live the life you want.
 

Download the latest FS for NW England here and scroll down for back issues (and for other English regions) here - It's intended for adults - gay men.
 

Gay men and FS magazine

posted: 29/10/2009

There's a lot of good stuff for gay men living with HIV in GMFA's FS magazine's NW edition.

The latest issue has

• a personal account of living with HIV from Adam, 23
• a really helpful main feature - 21 ways to upgrade your life - excellent help for getting out of a rut and to help deal with depression
• article about navigating open relationships
• 6 ways to stop condoms breaking
• dealing with abuse and violence
• problem page and more

current NW edition pdf

dozens of back issues (London, not NW version)

African's Mambo Magazine

posted: 30/04/2009

Mambo is a healthier lifestyle magazine for Africans, produced by Terrence Higgins Trust.  The Spring issue is packed with colourful features

• Reverend Munasimenda Kanyama of Munkan Christian Ministries talks about raising awareness of STIs and HIV
• Church-going readers say whether churches should do more to encourage condom use
• Uncle Charles’s column on cultural rituals and sexual health
• African recipes
• A feature on what it is like to be African, Christian and Gay: Stephane Djedje is a gay Christian living in London. He appeared in the BBC programme ‘Inside Out’.
• Chilling Out – ways to reduce your stress
• The only UK interview with the Jazz Grandmaster, Hugh Masekela
• How beliefs and attitudes lead to poor sexual health
• Miss Zambia UK - Andella Chileshe Matthews, talks about supporting African women and children
• Pamela Mahaka is determined to pursue her dreams after being diagnosed with HIV
• Young Leaders empowering young people
• African round-up - facts and news

You will soon be able to read and download it online. From 15 May mambo website will be launched and you will be able to download a copy then.