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Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) were ineligible to donate blood in most countries since the 1980's. In Canada the deferral period has been incrementally decreased from lifetime to male-to-male sex in the last 3 months. Now a few countries have removed the deferral altogether. Risk models have been utilised to estimate the probability of an HIV positive donation being released into the blood supply and to inform incremental changes to the length of the deferral period. Here we use public health data to estimate the risk of HIV if the gbMSM deferral criteria were removed in Canada. We calculate the risk reduction among heterosexuals based on responses to standard risk questions routinely asked of donors. We assume gbMSM will donate at the same rate as heterosexual males. We apply the same risk reduction principle to HIV incidence and prevalence among gbMSM in the general population to evaluate the HIV risk without gbMSM time deferral. We model three scenarios where risk reduction is varied by assumptions about incidence and compliance with deferral criteria. The estimates for all scenarios were not significantly different to the currently observed scenario which predicts a residual risk of 0.02 HIV positive per million donations (95% CI: 0.000006–0.09). The models predict that removing the gbMSM deferral criteria would result in HIV residual risk similar to currently observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a prevalent mental health issue for sexual minority men (SMM), with the internalization of sexual identity-based stigma a key risk factor. Self-warmth is a protective factor and self-coldness is a risk factor for depressive symptoms, yet limited research in this area has focused on SMM. In the present study, an international sample of 1,285 gay and 487 bisexual men completed measures of depression, internalized heterosexism, and self-warmth/self-coldness. A multiple linear regression showed that internalized heterosexism explained 0.4% unique variance, self-warmth explained 0.5% unique variance, and self-coldness explained 18.8% unique variance in depressive symptoms. Self-warmth was directly and indirectly related to lower levels of depressive symptoms among SMM. In contrast, self-coldness was directly related to higher levels of depressive symptoms among SMM, and indirectly related to higher levels of depressive symptoms only for gay men. Findings should inform work aiming primarily to reduce self-coldness among SMM, thereby reducing depressive symptoms.

Background: Peer-led interventions are central to the global HIV response for gay and bisexual men who have sex with men [GBMSM]. Since the year 2000, technological advancements in HIV and an increased response to the health disparities faced by GBMSM outside of HIV, have contributed to the expanding scope of their content and delivery. This review sets out to characterise the evidence base for individual level peer interventions for GBMSM, overview approaches to implementing and evaluating them and identify future priorities for their delivery and evaluation. Methods: A scoping review methodology was applied and evaluations of peer programs for GBMSM published in peer reviewed journals were identified via subject heading and keyword searches across five electronic databases. Titles and abstracts were reviewed, and full texts were assessed against eligibility criteria. A coding framework was used to extract data from included studies against intervention implementation and evaluation components. Results: A total of 38 studies evaluating peer led interventions against effectiveness outcomes were deemed eligible for inclusion and coded into four intervention modalities; peer counselling [n = 6], groupwork programs [n = 15], peer navigation [n = 7] and peer education [n = 10]. Most addressed HIV [n = 32] and across intervention modalities, evaluations demonstrated compelling evidence of significant effect. Intervention effects on broader indicators of psychosocial wellbeing were not extensively evaluated. Expertise regarding the implementation and evaluation of peer interventions addressing HIV among GBMSM ought to be leveraged to expand the scope of peer intervention to meet the diverse health and wellbeing needs of GBMSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only a minority of men experiencing sexual problems will seek professional help and the proportion of gay or bisexual men can be even lower. To investigate if sexual identity and minority stress are related to professional help-seeking in Polish gay and bisexual men. Sexual identity was measured with the standard question: "Do you consider yourself to be heterosexual, gay, or bisexual?" Men who provided a complete set of answers to the study tools and replied "yes" to the question: "Have you ever had a problem with sexual functioning that lasted at least several months?" were included (N total =644, N straight = 203, N gay = 324, N bi = 117). A simple question on help-seeking was: "Did you seek professional assistance then?" Other data were gathered with the use of a self-constructed questionnaire. Minority stress processes, that is, internalized homophobia, expectations of rejection, and identity concealment, were measured with the subscales of the Sexual Minority Stress Scale. Bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to test the statistical significance of sexual identity and minority stress processes as predictors of professional help-seeking. Contacting a specialist when experiencing a sexual problem. A total of 84.5% of all men did not seek professional help. Gay identity (OR = 0.58, P =.045), as opposed to bisexual identity, was significantly related to reduced odds of consulting a specialist. Age (OR = 1.03, P =.005), number of doctor's visits per year (OR = 1.51, P <.001), and a psychiatric diagnosis (OR = 1.65, P =.043) were positively related to help-seeking behaviors. Identity concealment significantly decreased the likelihood of consulting a specialist (OR = 0.94, P =.017). Specialists need to be aware that gay identity and identity concealment may prevent a proportion of men from seeking their help and thus should be publicly explicit about their inclusive and nonpathologizing approach to sexual diversity. The major strengths of the study include the use of a relatively large sample size and data from the little recognized Polish context characterized by a predominantly hostile anti-LGBT social climate, and exploration of a neglected topic of substantial significance at the public and individual levels. The major limitations are the use of nonprobability sampling, cross-sectional self-report design, and a single question to capture the presence of sexual problems with no measurement of associated distress. Gay men are at risk of avoiding help-seeking when experiencing sexual problems because of identity concealment. Grabski B., Kasparek K., Koziara K., et al. Professional Help-Seeking in Men Experiencing Sexual Problems – The Role of Sexual Identity and Minority Stress. J Sex Med 2022;19:1090–1097. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have compared clients' perceptions of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment by sexual orientation in programs with mostly nonwhite populations. In eight such SUD programs, treatment satisfaction, therapeutic alliance with counselors, social affiliation with other clients, and treatment connection between 58 self-identified LGB clients, 72 self-identified heterosexual clients with histories of same-gender sexual experiences (Hetero-SGSE), and 503 self-identified heterosexual clients without histories of same-gender sexual experiences (Heterosexual) were compared. Gay/bisexual men reported less social affiliation than Heterosexual men, with low rates of sexual orientation disclosure in treatment. Hetero-SGSE respondents reported less treatment connection than LGB and Heterosexual participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a high and increasing prevalence of depression symptoms among gay and bisexual individuals. Studies have found that childhood emotional abuse (CEA) can impact mental-health problems in adulthood; however, limited research on this association among marginalized populations, especially in China. This study aimed to explore the relationship between CEA and depression symptoms in adulthood among gay and bisexual youths in China and to test the mediating role of rejection sensitivity and the moderating role of sexual identity in this relationship.Methods: Participants comprised 496 gay and bisexual Chinese men aged 18-29 years. They responded to a questionnaire that assessed history of CEA, rejection sensitivity, and depression symptoms.Results: CEA showed a positive association with depression symptoms among participants. Participants' rejection sensitivity played a partial mediating role in the relationship between CEA and depression symptoms. Sexual identity had a moderating effect on the CEA's influence on depression symptoms, with a stronger impact for gay men than bisexual men.Limitations: Cross-sectional approach limited casual inferences among variables. Recall bias regarding CEA may have impacted the accuracy of the effect sizes observed.Conclusion: This study contributes to improving understanding of CEA's role as a substantial risk factor for strong depression symptoms in adulthood among gay and bisexual youths and it demonstrates that focusing on educating families and establishing equal policies is important to decrease and eliminate depression symptoms. Theories of sexual minority stress and biphobia are applicable for explaining mental health outcomes among young members of sexual minorities in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HIV infections disproportionately impact Latino gay and bisexual men (GBM) in the United States. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a proven prevention strategy that can help reduce new HIV infections in this population. Unfortunately, PrEP adoption and persistence among Latino GBM remain low. The added benefits of using PrEP experienced by Latino GBM can provide important insights to inform the development of PrEP messaging to motivate this population to explore and consider PrEP as an appropriate and acceptable HIV prevention tool. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with Latino GBM PrEP users to explore positive feelings and emotions, and additional benefits gained from using PrEP. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: A total of 29 Latino GBM completed the study interview. The average age of participants was 30 years, and the mean length of time using PrEP was 17.1 months. Five themes were constructed from the data representing the additional benefits gained by Latino GBM PrEP users, and included: (1) reduced fear, anxiety, and stress about HIV, HIV testing, and sex; (2) feeling empowered and in control of their HIV risk; (3) greater awareness of sexual risk behaviors and sexual health; (4) greater sexual exploration and pleasure, and comfort having condomless sex; and (5) a greater connection to community and a feeling of contributing to the elimination of HIV. Conclusions: The added benefits identified in this study represent a range of social, emotional, and psychological benefits that Latino GBM experience while using PrEP. They speak to the complementary benefits that PrEP can bring to Latino GBM who decide to use the medication, that go beyond HIV prevention. These findings can inform the development of future PrEP messaging to help improve motivation for PrEP uptake and persistent use among Latino GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Effective Skills to Empower Effective Men (ESTEEM) represents the first intervention to address the psychological pathways through which minority stress undermines young sexual minority men's (SMM's) mental and sexual health using transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral therapy. This study compared the efficacy of ESTEEM against two existing interventions. Method: Participants were young HIV-negative SMM (N = 254; ages = 18–35; 67.2% racial/ethnic minority) experiencing a depression, anxiety, and/or stress-/trauma-related disorder and past-90-day HIV transmission risk behavior. After completing HIV testing and counseling, participants were randomized to receive 10-session ESTEEM (n = 100); 10-session community-based LGBQ-affirmative counseling (n = 102); or only HIV testing and counseling (n = 52). Results: For the primary outcome of any HIV transmission risk behavior at 8 months, ESTEEM was not significantly associated with greater reduction compared to HIV testing and counseling (risk ratio [RR] = 0.89, p =.52). Supportive analyses of the frequency of HIV transmission risk behavior at 8 months showed a nonsignificant difference between ESTEEM compared to HIV testing and counseling (RR = 0.69) and LGBQ-affirmative counseling (RR = 0.62). For secondary outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety, substance use, suicidality, number of mental health diagnoses) at 8 months, ESTEEM had a larger effect size than the two comparison conditions, but these comparisons did not reach statistical significance when adjusting for the false discovery rate. Observed effect sizes for condition comparisons were smaller than the effect sizes used to power the study. In exploratory analyses, ESTEEM showed promise for reducing comorbidity. Conclusions: Because the control conditions were associated with stronger effects than anticipated, and given the heterogeneous nature of transdiagnostic outcomes, the study possessed insufficient power to statistically detect the consistently small-to-moderate benefit of ESTEEM compared to the two control conditions. What is the public health significance of this article?: As long as young sexual minority men (SMM) face minority stress, identity-affirming and effective psychological interventions are needed to address the impact that this stress has on their mental and sexual health. This study found evidence that an LGBQ-affirmative, minority-stress-focused, transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention called ESTEEM was associated with reductions across numerous mental and sexual health outcomes among young SMM experiencing co-occurring mental and sexual health concerns, though not significantly greater reductions than the two existing interventions to which ESTEEM was compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Queer criminology must contend with many social, political, and disciplinary concerns, which include existing negative representations of LGBTQ people. Queer criminologists have noted the potential pitfalls of studying LGBTQ people's criminal offending, including perpetuating stigmatizing stereotypes, and expanding criminal justice administrative projects to LGBTQ people's detriment. This article explores a counterpoint to these concerns: gay and bisexual men's own reasons for participating in criminological research. Their reasons for discussing their gang, crime, and violence involvement illustrate their desire to help others, including telling their story so that other LGBTQ people will not follow their path and choices, and helping the researcher pursue a criminal justice degree and scholarly career. These responses suggest that responsible queer criminological research is valued among the populations we study, and they contain implicit strategies for criminological methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bisexual male youth are more likely to engage in certain behaviors that contribute to HIV/STI transmission (e.g., substance use) than are heterosexual and gay male youth. However, sexuality education rarely addresses the unique needs of sexual minority youth, especially bisexual, pansexual, and queer (bi+) youth, and little is known about their sexuality education experiences and preferences. As such, the goal of this study was to examine bi+ male youth's experiences learning about sex and their preferences for sexuality education. Methods: In 2019, 56 bi+ male youth ages 14–17 were surveyed and interviewed about their sexuality education experiences and preferences. Participants identified as bisexual (64%), pansexual (27%), and queer (9%), were racially/ethnically diverse (39% white, 32% Latinx, 20% Black, 9% other races), and included cisgender (79%) and transgender (21%) male youth. Results: Participants described varied experiences with school-based sexuality education (e.g., none, abstinence only, covered sexual health in some way), but it rarely addressed their unique needs. They typically learned about sex by searching for information online and from sexually explicit media. Participants identified several topics they wanted to learn more about (e.g., sex with same-gender partners, anal sex, consent), but they typically believed they were prepared to have sex. Finally, some participants described benefits of tailoring sexuality education to their unique needs, while others described benefits of more inclusive programs. Conclusions and Policy Implications: Findings suggest that bi+ male youth do not receive adequate sexuality education to make informed decisions about safer sex, highlighting the critical need for reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore the impacts of sexual stigma experiences on the mental health of older gay and bisexual men in Portugal. Self-identified older gay and bisexual men (n = 210) between 50 and 80 years old (mean age = 60.03; SD = 6.33) participated in this study. Measurement instruments included a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18, measures of suicidal ideation and intention, and the Sexual Stigma Scale. Older gay and bisexual men with higher levels of sexual stigma presented significantly higher anxiety, depression, somatization, and suicidal ideation scores. Correlational analyses showed significant correlations among mental health variables and sexual stigma variables. Regression analyses showed that sexual stigma explained 11% of anxiety symptoms, 10% of depression symptoms, and 9% of somatization symptoms. Sexual stigma has a negative impact on older gay and bisexual men's mental health. Mental health professionals should be aware of how sexual stigma affects sexual minority men's quality of life and work toward the reduction/elimination of sexual stigma in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Equitable cancer survivorship care for gay and bisexual male (GBM) prostate cancer survivors should be responsive to their sexual health needs. Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are higher among GBM compared to heterosexual men across the lifespan. In addition, evidence suggests that GBM will use a variety of strategies to cope with sexual dysfunction that may increase risk for STIs. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of STIs following prostate cancer treatment among GBM and identify risk factors. Methods: In 2019, 401 GBM previously treated for prostate cancer were recruited into the Restore-2 Study. They completed a baseline online questionnaire with items assessing STIs diagnosed since being treated for prostate cancer. Any STI diagnoses was regressed on demographic, clinical, and relationship related variables using binary logistic regression. Results: Forty-five participants (11.4%) were diagnosed with an STI during or following their prostate cancer treatment. The mostly commonly diagnosed STI was syphilis (4.3%), followed by gonorrhoea (2.8%), and chlamydia (2.5%). Four participants were infected with HIV following their prostate cancer treatment. Independent risk factors for STI diagnosis included time since prostate cancer diagnosis (aOR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.10-1.26), nonmonogamous sexual relationship (aOR = 11.23; 95% CI: 2.11-59.73), better sexual function (aOR = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.04), penile injection treatment (aOR = 3.28; 95% CI: 1.48-7.29), and multiple sex partners (aOR = 5.57; 95% CI: 1.64-18.96). Conclusions: GBM prostate cancer survivors are at risk for STIs. Culturally responsive STI prevention should be incorporated into cancer survivorship plans, particularly as men are treated for and regain sexual function over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To elucidate trends of prostate-cancer (PCa) screening in gay and bisexual men and assess the association of sexual orientation with PCa screening in the United States of America.Methods: Data for men ≥40 years-old with no history of PCa were collected from the National Health Interview Survey for the years 2013, 2015, and 2018. Multivariable logistic regression models were created to determine the associations between sexual orientation and PCa screening and the discussion of advantages and disadvantages prior to PCa screening.Results: Gay men screened for prostate cancer were younger than their straight counterparts with a median age (IQR) of 58 years (52-66) vs 64 years (56-71). Gay men were more likely to have undergone a screening PSA test (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.20-2.02) and discuss the advantages of PSA testing with the physician prior to the test (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.22-2.21) when compared to straight men. In yearly analysis, gay men were more likely to have undergone screening in 2013 (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.01-2.68) and 2015 (OR 1.95, 95 CI% 1.30-2.91), however, there was no difference when compared to straight men in 2018 (OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.85-2.04).Conclusion: Gay men were screened for PCa at a younger age comparted to straight men. They were also more likely to have undergone PCa cancer screening than straight men between 2013 and 2018. Further study is needed to better understand the role of sexual orientation in PCa screening and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background Literature in the West suggested that bisexual men have a higher smoking rate compared to gay men. Data on patterns of smoking among gay and bisexual men are limited in Eastern Asian countries like China. This study examined the cigarette smoking prevalence for gay versus bisexual men in China and their unique minority stress - smoking pathways. Methods Between September 2017 and November 2018, we surveyed a convenience sample of 538 gay men and 138 bisexual men recruited from local sexual minority organizations in four metropolitan cities in China (i.e., Beijing, Wuhan, Nanchang, and Changsha). Measures included sexual orientation, sociodemographics, theory-based minority stressors, depressive symptoms, and past 30-day cigarette smoking. Two-group (gay men vs. bisexual men) structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test possible distinct mechanisms between theory-based stressors, depressive symptoms, and cigarette smoking among gay men and bisexual men, respectively. Results The mean age of participants was 26.51 (SD = 8.41) years old and 76.3% of them had at least a college degree. Bisexual men reported a higher rate of cigarette smoking compared to gay men (39.9% vs. 27.3%). Two-group SEM indicated that the pathways for cigarette smoking were not different between gay and bisexual men. Higher rejection anticipation was associated with greater depressive symptoms (standardized β = 0.32, p

To leverage qualitative data to explore gay and bisexual men's (GBM) perceptions about doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP). Doxy-PEP is a novel biomedical STI-prevention strategy that helps reduce the risk of acquiring bacterial STIs. Little is known about Doxy-PEP's acceptability in the U.S., nor how best to engage those most vulnerable to STIs in taking up this nascent prevention strategy. Between July and September of 2023, 24 GBM from across the U.S. completed qualitative interviews about their perceptions regarding Doxy-PEP. Interviews were analyzed using a codebook approach to thematic analysis. Participants were generally interested in using Doxy-PEP, but were concerned about the potential for antibiotic resistance, side-effects, medication interactions to occur, along with stigmatizing discourse around its use. Meanwhile, participants were motivated by the simplicity of Doxy-PEP and the protection it could confer on both an individual and community-level— as well as its potential to reduce STI-related anxiety. Finally, participants desired additional information on Doxy-PEP to address their concerns. There is a need for clear guidelines and expanded public health messaging on Doxy-PEP in the U.S. • Participants expressed interested in using Doxy-PEP as an STI-prevention strategy. • Participants were motivated by Doxy-PEP's simplicity and the protection it offers. • The potential for antibiotic resistance was a major concern. • Other concerns include side-effects, medication interaction and stigmatization. • Participants desired additional information on Doxy-PEP to address their concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Los Angeles County (LAC), the population of older people living with HIV (OPLWH) is rising and psychosocial issues are largely unexplored. The Healthy Living Project hosted focus group discussions with English and Spanish-speaking gay and bisexual men, heterosexual men, transgender women, and cisgender women. Universal and group-specific concerns included: sentiments of diminished mental health, loneliness, and age-based and HIV stigma from communities and service providers; financial security, housing, social interactions, and access to care. Our findings emphasize the development of population-specific and intersectional programs and services tailored to the diverse needs of OPLWH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses how the demonizing of the bisexual men, especially of the bisexual man of color, is rooted in fictions of purity. Topics covered include fear of a Jewish/Muslim Other in 15th-century Iberian Peninsula, fictions of purity preserved in post-Reconquista Spain and its colonies, and the establishment of the concept of limpieza de sangre or pureness of blood.

This meta-analysis utilizes 24 papers published between 2012 and 2020 that focus on earnings differences by sexual orientation. The papers cover the period between 1991 and 2018, and countries in Europe, North America, and Australia. The meta-analysis indicates that gay men earned less than heterosexual men. Lesbian women earned more than heterosexual women, while bisexual men earned less than heterosexual men. Bisexual women earned less than heterosexual women. According to the meta-analysis, in data sets after 2010, gay men and bisexual men and women continue to experience earnings penalties, while lesbian women continue to experience earnings premiums. The persistence of earnings penalties for gay men and bisexual men and women in the face of anti-discrimination policies represents a cause for concern and indicates the need for comprehensive legislation and workplace guidelines to guarantee that people receive fair pay and not experience any form of workplace inequality simply because of their sexual orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internalized sexual stigma, adult attachment, relationship satisfaction, and emotion regulation pay a major role in predicting depression in minority populations. We examined the variables in a sample of 165 gay (64.8%) and bisexual men (35.2%), ages 19-68 years (M = 36.2; SD = 11.6). Internalized stigma, attachment insecurity, relationship satisfaction, and emotion dysregulation predicted depression; emotion regulation mediated the relationship between internalized stigma and depression, between attachment and depression, as well as between relationship satisfaction and depression. Findings suggest the importance of improving educational community programs on sexual prejudices and on social homo and bi-negativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, representations of irresponsible gay men partying with little regard for viral transmission have circulated across social media; a construction of gay men that has a history that long precedes the coronavirus conjuncture. In this article, we draw on in-depth qualitative interviews with 43 queer men in London and Edinburgh, to investigate experiences of sexual and intimate practices during COVID-19 and use the concept of 'biosexual citizenship' (2018) to analyse the ethical frameworks these men used to navigate them. We argue that rather than being 'good' or 'bad' biosexual citizens, queer men have developed an array of ethically reflexive strategies in order to negotiate the difficult terrain they have had to face when trying to pursue their cultures of sex and intimacy during the pandemic. In so doing, they appear to enact biosexual citizenship through diverse sexual practices that both inevitably include and challenge both hegemonic imperatives of responsibility and well-being, as well as well-worn media representations of reckless, hedonistic gay men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, most new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) belong to the at-risk group of gay and bisexual men. Developing therapies to reverse viral latency and prevent spread is paramount for the HIV cure agenda. In gay and bisexual men, a major, yet poorly characterized, route of HIV entry is via transport across the colonic epithelial barrier. While colonic tears and paracellular transport contribute to infection, we hypothesize that HIV entry through the colonic mucosa proceeds via a process known as transcytosis, involving (i) virion binding to the apical surface of the colonic epithelium, (ii) viral endocytosis, (iii) transport of virions across the cell, and (iv) HIV release from the basolateral membrane. Using Caco-2 colonic epithelial cells plated as a polarized monolayer in transwells, we characterized the mechanism of HIV transport. After exposing the monolayer to HIV apically, reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) of the viral genome present in the basolateral chamber revealed that transport is dose dependent, cooperative, and inefficient, with released virus first detectable at 12 h. Inefficiency may be associated with .50% decline in detectable intracellular virus that correlates temporally with increased association of the virion with lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP-11) endosomes. Microscopy revealed green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled HIV within the confines of the epithelial monolayer, with no virus detectable between cells, suggesting that viral transport is transcellular. Treatment of the monolayer with endocytosis inhibitors, cholesterol reducing agents, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) to caveolin showed that viral endocytosis is mediated by caveolin-coated endosomes contained in lipid rafts. These results indicate that HIV transport across the intestinal epithelial barrier via transcytosis is a viable mechanism for viral spread and a potential therapeutic target. IMPORTANCE Despite the success of combination antiretroviral therapy in suppressing HIV replication and the emergence and effectiveness of PrEP-based prevention strategies, in 2018, 37,968 people in the United States received a new HIV diagnosis, accompanied by 15,820 deaths. While the annual number of new diagnoses decreased 7% from 2014 to 2018, 14% of people with HIV did not know they were infected. Gay and bisexual men accounted for 69% of all HIV diagnoses and 83% of diagnoses among males. Due to the scope of the HIV epidemic, determining and understanding precise routes of infection and the mechanisms of viral spread are paramount to ending the epidemic. Since transcellular transport of HIV across an intact colonic epithelial barrier is poorly understood, our overall goal is to characterize the molecular events involved in HIV transcytosis across the intestinal epithelial cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores gender's relationship with white supremacy and respectability politics and the intersectional impact of the three on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Black community from the 1980s to 2000. The demonization of gay white men and erasure of white women from the HIV/AIDS epidemic evidenced that white supremacy does not distribute its privilege equally. Through a juxtaposition of my interview with HIV/AIDS advocate Ruselle Miller-Hill, a formerly incarcerated Black woman living with AIDS, and well-known AIDS activist and survivor Rae Lewis-Thornton, I examine the impact of internal gendered respectability politics in the Black community. The article also examines how these respectability politics painted Black women as the victims of duplicitous bisexual Black men to protect the former's respectability at the expense of their sexual autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States (US). It is often discussed within the context of women's sexual health due to its association with cervical cancer. However, HPV is also associated with other cancers and conditions which affect men. Gay and bisexual males (GBM) in the US have higher risks of HPV infection and a higher incidence of HPV-associated anal cancer than heterosexual males. In addition, GBM in the US have a higher prevalence of some high-risk strains of HPV than in other regions. HPV vaccination is highly effective at preventing HPV-associated cancers and genital warts. Several resources have been directed towards improving HPV awareness in the US over the past couple of years to improve vaccination rates. Given the low rates of HPV vaccination among GBM in the US, this study aimed to assess the trends in HPV and HPV vaccine awareness using a nationally representative sample of GBM. We found an overall increase in HPV and HPV vaccine awareness between 2017 and 2020. However, the sociodemographic differences in awareness levels highlight the need for more interventions to improve vaccination rates, especially in this high-risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stigmatization may prompt gay, bisexual, queer and other men who have sex with men (GBQMSM) to avoid or delay HIV testing. There has been little attention to GBQMSMs' perspectives about how stigma may influence their decisions about whether, where, and how often to get tested for HIV.Methods: We conducted nine focus groups with 64 adult GBQMSM in Metropolitan Detroit, including HIV-negative men and people living with HIV (PLWH). Data were thematically analyzed deductively and inductively in three rounds.Results: Three themes emerged regarding whether to get tested: (1) Perceived promiscuity, risk perceptions and HIV testing; (2) Fearing sexual rejection; and (3) Fearing friend and family member distancing and rejection. Themes concerning where to get tested included: (4) Conflating HIV testing and diagnosis; and (5) Seeking privacy and safety at specialized services. As for how often to get tested, themes included: (6) Reducing contact with healthcare providers due to intersectional stigma; (7) Responsibility and regular testing; and (8) HIV stigma and testing as routine care. Black participants articulated themes (3), (4), and (6) with greater frequency than other participants. Framing HIV testing as a personal responsibility may have created a "new stigma," with unintended consequences not observed with "routine healthcare" messaging.Conclusions: GBQMSMs' perspectives indicate the potential for new foci for HIV testing promotion interventions based on stigma-related issues that they deem important. There is a need for interventions to challenge the "promiscuity" stereotype, and to reduce the sexual stigmatization of GBQMSM living with HIV/AIDS-especially online. Provider stigma requires both intervention and continued availability of specialized services. Future stigma-reduction interventions for Black GBQMSM could focus on building family support/acceptance, awareness of multiple testing options, and integrating LGBTQ-related issues into initiatives for racial justice in health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike native gay and bisexual male (GBM), immigrant/refugee GBM in Lebanon have an added vulnerability to poor sexual health. The objective was to compare sexual health variables between these two communities. GBM who are immigrants/refugees were more likely to report non-university level of education, heterosexual marriage, engagement in sex work, past diagnosis of syphilis, healthcare and employment stigma, lower STI knowledge, and a higher number of male sex partners. Being foreign and feeling sufficiently informed about STIs were indicators of STI knowledge. This study highlights the roles of education and immigrant/refugee status in STI knowledge in migrant GBM in Lebanon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores heterosexual men's experiences of sexting with a primary focus on how, when and why men send sexually explicit photos to women. Previous research has focused either on gay and bisexual men's experiences or considered sexting within a broader youth context. This research considers young men and their engagement with sexting practices and its relationship to how they view and understand their bodies as desirable and sexual. Drawing from work that has called for more reflexive considerations of men's emotions and sexuality, we explore the processes by which men engage in the practice of sexting (how/where they take photos), the affects that sexting provides (how it makes them feel), their rationale for engaging in the practice (why they do it) and their expectations from partners (e.g. reciprocal photos, partner's responses). The findings of this paper suggest that while men highlight a range of affects and experiences with sexting, on the whole, it helps boost sexual confidence with partners and create and sustain intimacy, particularly in between seeing (in person) a partner or partners. Our research further suggests that men share similar concerns to women in other studies who are concerned about their photos becoming public, thus revealing a primary reason why this particular population of heterosexual men may not engage in the sending of erotic photos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from an online survey of a representative random sample of 334 men with non-normative sexual identities in Czechia, this article investigates how non-normative sexualities of men shape their parenting desires and intentions and perceived barriers to parenthood. The results show that the parenting desires and intentions of gay men are weaker than bisexual and heterosexual men who claim same-sex attraction. The findings unveil the mechanism that links sexual identities to parenting intentions. In a CEE country with institutional barriers to non-heterosexual parenthood, this study fills a gap in the knowledge about the relationship between self-identified gay and bisexual men and not/becoming a parent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite significant advances in the HIV treatment and prevention landscape such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), young Black-Canadian gay, bisexual and other sexual minority men continue to experience disproportionately high rates of HIV infection. While research has explored the factors associated with their higher HIV exposure and the efficacy of STI/HIV prevention programmes, there remains a paucity of research on their knowledge of HIV prevention strategies such as PrEP. We interviewed twenty-two young men and used a constructivist grounded theory approach to qualitatively analyse these young men's PrEP knowledge. Intersectionality and the social ecological model allowed us to explore how social locations (e.g. race, sexual orientation), interacted with individual, interpersonal and community contexts to shape their understanding. Our analysis revealed two interrelated barriers to PrEP knowledge and uptake. The first centred on the ineffectiveness of institutions in disseminating PrEP information to participants. The second focused on the impact of participants' social locations and perceptions of PrEP users based on their PrEP knowledge. Findings suggest the need for more targeted, culturally congruent PrEP dissemination strategies and PrEP prescription policies that acknowledge the various social locations and ecologies in which young Black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men reside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous research has utilized a typological approach to characterizing intergenerational relationships and exploring their associations with children's socioemotional outcomes. This study applied this method to Taiwanese gay and bisexual men via a tentative typology constituted by two conditions: co-residence with, and outness to, parent(s). Aside from describing the prevalence of different types of living arrangement, we further examined their links with the internal drivers, filial piety and internalized homophobia, and life satisfaction. Age group difference and the moderation effect of typology on the association between internal drivers and life satisfaction were also investigated. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was completed by a sample of Taiwanese gay and bisexual men recruited via Facebook. Besides reporting their co-residence and outness status, respondents also completed the Contemporary Filial Piety Scale, Chinese Internalized Homophobia Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Descriptive statistics, ANCOVA, and moderation analysis were performed for young adults and early middle-aged adults separately. Results: While half of the total sample lived with parents, more than half (65.5%) were not out to them. Comparison of categories shows that closeted young adults reported significantly stronger internalized homophobia. Among early middle-aged men, those who were not out to and living with parent(s) reported the highest filial obligations and lowest life satisfaction compared with other groups. Conclusions: This study contributes to existing knowledge about various forms of family environments and the ways they are involved in Taiwanese gay and bisexual men's lives. Implications for the use of this typology in social policy and practice are discussed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on gangs and urban communities has often focused on gang members' alleged fatalism and corresponding lack of aspirations for the future. Relatedly, theories and research regarded as criminological canon can lead to assumptions and misrepresentations that are damaging and dehumanizing. Using examples from an interview-based and partially ethnographic study with gay and bisexual male gang members, I explore their goals for the future, in depth and in context. These men had detailed, specific, and normative goals, such as gaining fulfilling employment, educational attainment, and healthy families, as well as existential goals. Their well-formulated goals demonstrate how cultural messages and mainstream research assumptions can prime gang researchers to overlook or misinterpret our participants' own motives and meanings. This can be overcome by including gang-involved study participants in the research process and adopting an ethical standpoint of pursuing contextualized, humanistic portrayals of gang-involved people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blood operators are working to improve donor screening and eligibility for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM), and trans and nonbinary donors. Many consider screening all donors for specific sexual risk behaviors to be a more equitable approach that maintains the safety of the blood supply. Feasibility considerations with this change include ensuring donor understanding of additional sexual behavior questions and minimizing donor loss due to discomfort. Study design and methods: Qualitative one‐on‐one interviews were conducted with Canadian whole blood and plasma donors (N = 40). A thematic analysis was conducted to assess participants' understandings of the questions, examine their comfort/discomfort, and identify strategies to mitigate donor discomfort. Results: All participants understood what the sexual behavior questions were asking and thought the questions were appropriate. Themes related to comfort/discomfort include: their expectations of donor screening, social norms that they bring to donation, whether their answer felt like personal disclosure, knowing the reasons for the question, trusting confidentiality, confidence in knowing their sexual partner's behavior, and potential for the question to be discriminatory. Strategies to mitigate discomfort include: providing an explanation for the questions, forewarning donors of these questions, reducing ambiguity, and using a self‐administered questionnaire. Conclusion: While many blood operators and regulators view the move to sexual behavior–based screening for all donors as a significant paradigmatic shift, donors may not perceive additional sexual behavior questions as a significant change to their donation experience. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies to mitigate donor discomfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite PrEP's effectiveness as an HIV prevention intervention, uptake among gay and bisexual men remains low. Historical involvement in AIDS activism may reveal important ways of mobilising gay and bisexual men to increase PrEP uptake. Data come from a qualitative study to understand New York City gay and bisexual men's experiences with PrEP. Informed by a constructivist grounded theory approach, we assessed ways in which gay and bisexual men's relational experiences concerning PrEP were congruent with features of past AIDS activism. Participants' mean age was 32.5 years, half were men of colour, and over half had been taking PrEP for less than one year. Analysis revealed three primary themes related to AIDS activism strategies: (1) framing, which referenced how participants referred to PrEP as an empowering, liberatory and community-building intervention (2) reactions, which encompassed positive to negative expressions about PrEP and sex; and (3) innovation, which conveyed ways that participants engaged in processes of transferring lay knowledge about PrEP through leadership roles across social and digital encounters. Findings suggest that the ways in which gay and bisexual men communicate about PrEP with peers are consistent with features of AIDS activism. Deploying lay knowledge using framing strategies through peer-based intervention could expand PrEP uptake. However, elements of PrEP stigma must be addressed to engage with the wide-ranging HIV prevention needs of gay and bisexual men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of infectious syphilis in Canada has declined throughout the latter decades of the last century; however, in Ottawa, an upsurge in new cases began in 2001. The local epidemic continues to involve predominantly gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM), but in recent years, has expanded further into heterosexual populations. This has coincided with an increase in the number of pregnant women testing positive for syphilis on antenatal screening. The aim of this study is to understand the changing epidemiology in infectious syphilis cases diagnosed in Ottawa to strengthen primary care management and public health response.Methods: Surveillance data from the Ontario Ministry of Health were used to describe the evolving epidemiology of infectious syphilis in the Ottawa region from 2010 to 2019, including a comprehensive chart review of cases from 2015-2019.Results: The number of cases of infectious syphilis in Ottawa rose from 50 cases in 2010 to 171 cases in 2019. These rates were consistently high among males, and increased from 10.9/100,000 in 2010 to 30.9/100,000 in 2019. The rates among females, in comparison, increased from 0.4/100,000 in 2010 to 3.2/100,000 in 2019, with corresponding increases during antenatal screening (with no congenital syphilis cases to date).Conclusion: As the syphilis epidemic continues to evolve in Ottawa, ongoing surveillance plays a crucial role. Public health resources must address the needs of populations already impacted but at the same time be flexible enough to respond to changes in trends and support clinicians providing care to populations where the epidemic is emerging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Syphilis rates are of public health concern in Canada, with multiple jurisdictions reporting outbreaks over the past five years. The objective of this article is to describe trends in infectious and congenital syphilis in Canada 2011-2020.Methods: Routine surveillance of syphilis is conducted through the Canadian Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (CNDSS). In response to rising rates of syphilis, all provinces and territories (P/Ts) have also submitted enhanced surveillance data on infectious syphilis to the Public Health Agency of Canada through the Syphilis Outbreak Investigation Coordinating Committee (SOICC) starting in 2018. Descriptive analyses of CNDSS and SOICC surveillance data 2011-2020 by age, sex, pregnancy status, male sexual orientation and P/Ts were performed.Results: The national rate of infectious syphilis increased from 5.1 per 100,000 population in 2011 to 24.7 per 100,000 population in 2020.The rates increased in almost all P/Ts, with the Prairie provinces reporting the greatest relative increases from 2016 to 2020 (more than 400%). Rates in males were consistently higher than rates in females over the past 10 years; however, from 2016 to 2020, rates among females increased by 773%, compared with 73% among males. Although the proportion of cases who self-identify as gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men decreased from 54% to 38% between 2018 and 2020, they still represent a high proportion of cases (according to data from eight P/Ts). From 2016 to 2020, rates of infectious syphilis increased in every age group, especially in females aged 15-39 years. Confirmed early congenital syphilis cases for 2020 increased considerably from prior years, with 50 cases reported in 2020, compared with 4 cases in 2016.Conclusion: Infectious and congenital syphilis rates are a growing concern in Canada and the nature of the syphilis epidemics across Canada appears to be evolving, as evidenced by recent trends. More data and research are needed to better understand the drivers associated with the recent changes in the epidemiology of syphilis in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies looking at patterns of labour market outcomes among lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals focus mostly on earnings, while non-pecuniary outcomes of LGB individuals have remained a relatively under-researched area. Using the latest wave of the Workplace Employment Relations Study (WERS), this article investigates the job satisfaction levels of LGB individuals compared to their heterosexual peers for the first time in Britain. The results show significantly lower job satisfaction levels only for bisexual men, compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Moreover, the findings do not show a direct impact of LGB(T)-related workplace policies on job satisfaction levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female partners of men who have sex with men are a poorly studied group. Secondary analysis of the Ukrainian data gave the conservative number of such women as the range 10,700 to 43,000 persons. The article presents the results of the data analysis from the women’s subsample of a pilot a cross-sectional study of bisexual men and their female partners was conducted in 2013 in five Ukraine cities. 101 women were interviewed according to a standardized questionnaire, and 10 semi-structured interviews were recorded. The obtained data characterize the female partners of behaviorally bisexual men as a relatively young and mostly socially prosperous group with a completed education, having experience of cohabitation with men, as well as ready for sexual experiments and independent of the older generation. Confrontation with the bisexuality of the partner stimulates a change in perceptions of the relationship models between different genders and promotes the conscious choice of one’s own family life model with sensitivity to both members of the partnership’s needs. Most women interviewed characterize their relationships positively, although the stage may influence it in the relationship with the man before coming out of a bisexual and the rigidity of their own perceptions of gender roles. Limited communication with others, lack of sources of social and psychological support in crisis moments of life together may indicate socially disadapted status of heterosexual couples in which at least one partner is bisexual. This study’s main limitations are the small and non-random sampling and recruitment of respondents through their husbands or regular male partners who were open in their own non-heterosexuality.