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In a recent conversation with a young man, he told me his story and the difficulty that he’s had in embracing his sexuality. He felt that he could not accept his same-sex attraction because he grew up in a rather conservative family. He found it really difficult to accept the fact that he likes other guys, and he felt isolated as he didn’t know where to seek help. He finished his story by stating, “I can’t even say the ‘G’ word.”
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Beats are magical and forbidden areas to play for some people, but are dark and dangerous places for others. The one thing that cannot be argued is that beats have been around for as long as... well as long as some of us have been alive.
We often take it for granted that, in Australia, we are able to talk about sex and sexuality openly. This however cannot be applied globally. There are countries that prohibit open discussion about sex and sexuality, fearing that it will lead to moral decay. Cultural and religious beliefs can also contribute to social anxiety around the topic, with sex being viewed as a private act between a man and a woman in a heterosexual marriage. Any interpretation outside of this is seen as a deviation to the norm. This can create an environment whereby young people do not receive positive and thorough information about sex, sexuality and sexual health.
Have you ever wondered how often you should get a sexual health check? Most of us either have a regular or semi-regular sexual health testing pattern, say once a year or twice a year, or maybe even less frequent, whereas others may just head to the doctor when they have that undesirable itch or burning sensation when they pee.
We all know they come in a range of shapes and sizes and finding the perfect one for you can be quite a challenge. You'll probably come across a few that are too big or too small, but hopefully you get a few that are just right.
Coming out can be a long and difficult process. Most of us have experienced the feeling of confusion, self doubt and denial when we first realised that we are attracted to members of the same sex.
We know there are ways to dramatically reduce the transmission of HIV, but before we even contemplate adopting other risk reduction techniques (along with using condoms and water based lube), we actually have to be absolutely sure about our own HIV status. The only way to do that is by testing and as we always say the more sexual partners that you have, the more frequently you should go for testing.
It’s a scenario that lots of guys will be able to relate to: you are out and about or staying in the warmth of home and checking out the apps to see who is nearby or who is not that far away, distance wise.
When was the last time you thought about HIV in a global context? It is easy for us to be wrapped up in the numbers of new HIV notifications here in Australia, but it is also important to not think about HIV in just a Western vacuum. The HIV epidemic is vastly different depending upon which area and country of the world you are talking about and so is the response.
As a gay Asian man living in Melbourne, I am well and truly aware of negative stereotypes associated with my ‘race’ in the GLBTIQ community. The most common views are: all gay Asian men are sexually passive, emotionally submissive, and only interested in older white men. Derogatory remarks such as ‘visa chasers’, ‘potato queens’ and ‘lotus blossom’ are just some examples in which gay Asian men have been negatively stereotyped.
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