Search

The increasing prevalence of gender dysphoria or transgender identity in children and adolescents has raised clinical, ethical and psychological concerns, particularly regarding the efficacy and appropriateness of medical interventions. This paper explores the critical role of thorough psychological assessment in addressing gender dysphoria, with a focus on the closure of the Tavistock NHS Gender Identity Service (GIDS) and the findings of the Cass Review. The author draws on her clinical experience to argue for a comprehensive, individualized approach to the treatment of children and young adults with gender identity conflicts. Key issues discussed include the lack of a robust evidence base for early medical treatments, such as puberty blockers and cross‐sex hormones, and the ethical implications of medicalising the bodies of children before psychological and physical maturity. The paper argues that many children presenting with gender confusion may be navigating complex psychological conflicts, including issues of identity, sexual orientation, anxiety and trauma, and that rushing into potentially harmful and life‐changing medical treatments may remove opportunities for addressing these emotional struggles. The author critiques the affirmative model of treatment, advocating for a more cautious, holistic and empathetic framework that prioritises improved assessment, psychological support and the time required between early adolescent pubertal changes and full sexual, psychological maturation. The paper highlights the implications of the Bell v. Tavistock Judicial Review and questions the issue of informed consent to hormone treatments. The author calls for the restoration of ethical clinical practices aiming to reduce potential harm and improve long‐term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasy at the University of California, Riverside contains a unique archive of slash fan fiction and yaoi/boys' love (BL) manga. Slash and BL refer to fanmade or commercially published works of male homosexual erotica or romance historically made for the pleasure and consumption of women. These fandoms have been a minor subject of academic scholarship for years, though few archives or libraries are actively acquiring them. In this article, we explore the value and challenges associated with collecting materials containing taboo subject matter. We contextualize this process with an overview of the history of archival theory, the emergence of critical archive studies, and the intersection of niche fan communities with feminist and queer studies frameworks.

Gay and bisexual men are more likely than heterosexual men to be diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Evidence also suggests an elevated presence of mental health issues and psychological difficulties among gay and bisexual men. This review of literature evaluated previous attempts to understand the relationship between male homosexuality and borderline personality disorder. It examined various published studies related to gay and bisexual men and BPD since 1964, available on the PubMed database. Of the 67 studies, reviews, and letters to editors that appeared in the search results (excluding 210 duplicate results), 31 were shortlisted, while 36 others were excluded due to incongruence with the study criteria. The selected reports were classified under: (1) Nascent attempts to understand BPD among gay and bisexual men, (2) Epidemiology of BPD among gay and bisexual men, (3) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), (4) Adverse childhood experiences, and (5) Emerging trends. During the review process, the following sub-themes were identified: (1) Exoticization of male homosexuality in BPD research, (2) Parallel pathologization of BPD and homosexuality, (3) A focus on HIV and STDs, (4) Recognition of prejudices and biases, (5) Child sexual abuse, trauma, and bullying, (6) Therapeutic relationship and sexual minority stressors, and (7) Bias by omission in BPD research. The themes underscore the importance of renewing focus on the overrepresentation of gay and bisexual men and the underrepresentation of heterosexual men in BPD research. It also highlights the importance of exploring BPD-specific concerns and psychosocial processes that gay, bisexual, and heterosexual men may experience.

Background: Homosexuality and bisexuality have long been prevalent in all parts of the world including India. Many efforts have been put to destigmatize and to make the lives of these people better, and it is no longer considered pathological in the diagnostic systems. Still, they experience higher stigma, discrimination, marginalization, violence, and trauma throughout their lives. Thus, research is needed to evaluate the level of stress and how they cope with it. Objectives: The objectives were to study the sociodemographic profiles of the participants and to explore the stress-coping skills among lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study with a sample size of 50, including 18-year and older homosexual and bisexual participants, with the employment of a snowball sampling technique. A semi-structured sociodemographic pro forma, Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Brief Coping with Problem Experienced scales were applied. Results: The mean age of participants was 23.620 ± 3.630. There were 36 (72%) gay, 8 (16%) lesbian, and 6 (12%) bisexual participants. On estimation of stress, 15 (30%) participants had low stress, 27 (54%) had moderate stress, and 8 (16%) participants had high levels of stress. Among coping strategies, the highest mean was for self-distraction (5.70 ± 1.51), followed by acceptance (5.32 ± 1.20). A significant positive correlation between the PSS scores was found with self-blame and avoidant coping strategies. Conclusion: People with homosexual and bisexual orientation are likely to experience higher levels of stress, so it becomes vital to have more research in this field.

The 1961 Recent Australian Painting exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery in London is an important and much-discussed moment in Australian art history. It is when the idea of Australian art as "isolated" and "exotic" first became popularised in both British and Australian cultures. The prominent Australian art historian Bernard Smith criticised the idea, but in many ways his book Australian Painting, published the year after, repeated the assumption. What is overlooked in accounts of the show is that many of its artists were not "isolated", frequently having spent extended periods in Britain living and studying. But, more than this, what is rarely, if ever, discussed is how many of the artists in the show were queer, as was its curator, the director of the Whitechapel Gallery, Bryan Robertson. In many ways, the social and professional connections between Australian and British artists were forged through their shared homosexuality. It is this that puts Australian artists in connection with the British art scene and, on occasion, explains their influence upon it. Queerness has often connected Australian artists to those around the world—it is also the case for the Australian women artists in Paris before and after World War I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketing research on LGBTQ+ people has increased over the past two decades, entering mainstream marketing discourse – aligning with greater societal acceptance. This paper provides a contemporary review of marketing scholarship on LGBTQ+ communities published in Q1, and Q2 ranked Scimago marketing journals. Taking a social justice lens, this review examined whose voices were represented and how those voices were represented. The finding suggests samples studied were skewed towards heterosexual samples and those from the Global North. Where LGBTQ+ samples have been included, these were predominantly gay men. Three theoretical perspectives were adopted: attitudes and identity, meaning and interpretation and critical perspectives. In addition, the focus of the studies centred on four main themes: LGBTQ+ imagery in advertising, consumer behaviour of LGBTQ+ people, brand positioning and LGBTQ+ as a consumer market segment. Based on the findings, future scholarship should consider nuancing the multidimensional nature of the LGBTQ+ markets and investigates LGBTQ+ consumers as individuals with real and unique needs in their own rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) in India is higher than that of the general population, making them one of the high-risk population groups. This subgroup is also at a higher risk for mental disorders, substance use, and stigma due to their MSM status. There is a paucity of data about this in the Indian HIV-positive MSM subgroup. Aim: The study aimed to explore the understanding of “mental health” among MSM living with HIV and bring forth their unmet mental health needs. Methods: The study used a qualitative design with purposive sampling. Seven people living with HIV from a randomly selected antiretroviral therapy center in Mumbai, who identified as MSM, participated in the study. Data were collected through focus group discussion, audio recorded with consent, and then a thematic analysis of the transcript was done. Results: The responses were summarized into four broad categories – mental health problems, psychosocial and economic problems, philosophical conflicts, and coping strategies. The categories further generated multiple themes. Themes such as worries about the illness, fear of impending death, low self-esteem, stigma around HIV and homosexuality, and perceived and experienced discrimination were recurrent. Mental illness was perceived as an additional burden to their already existing health problem. Conclusion: This study provided a deeper understanding of the unmet mental health needs and psychosocial challenges faced by the HIV-infected Indian MSM. It may help the policymakers of the country to modify the existing health and social benefit schemes.

This article shows that British homosexual Muslims face rejection and identity conflict between their homosexuality and their Muslimness. The opposition between Islam and homosexuality has created a feeling of exclusion, illustrating the assumed incompatibility between being Muslim and being homosexual. Homosexual Muslims face religiously motivated homophobia rooted in the heteronormative precepts of Islam. In parallel, they face Islamophobic attitudes in which Islam is now used as a form of civilisational opposition to the British values of tolerance and inclusion and the wider homosexual community see it as a threat to their very existence. Nevertheless, the results show that the hostility of Muslims toward homosexuality is evolving, and the heteronormative discourses are now coexisting with more neutral and even homo-friendly approaches. A new bicultural belonging among homosexual Muslims is being constructed to address individual strategies of managing both identities and is fostering new interpretations of acceptance of different sexualities within Islam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) in India is higher than that of the general population, making them one of the high-risk population groups. This subgroup is also at a higher risk for mental disorders, substance use, and stigma due to their MSM status. There is a paucity of data about this in the Indian HIV-positive MSM subgroup. Aim: The study aimed to explore the understanding of "mental health" among MSM living with HIV and bring forth their unmet mental health needs. Methods: The study used a qualitative design with purposive sampling. Seven people living with HIV from a randomly selected antiretroviral therapy center in Mumbai, who identified as MSM, participated in the study. Data were collected through focus group discussion, audio recorded with consent, and then a thematic analysis of the transcript was done. Results: The responses were summarized into four broad categories -- mental health problems, psychosocial and economic problems, philosophical conflicts, and coping strategies. The categories further generated multiple themes. Themes such as worries about the illness, fear of impending death, low self-esteem, stigma around HIV and homosexuality, and perceived and experienced discrimination were recurrent. Mental illness was perceived as an additional burden to their already existing health problem. Conclusion: This study provided a deeper understanding of the unmet mental health needs and psychosocial challenges faced by the HIV-infected Indian MSM. It may help the policymakers of the country to modify the existing health and social benefit schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Homosexuality and bisexuality have long been prevalent in all parts of the world including India. Many efforts have been put to destigmatize and to make the lives of these people better, and it is no longer considered pathological in the diagnostic systems. Still, they experience higher stigma, discrimination, marginalization, violence, and trauma throughout their lives. Thus, research is needed to evaluate the level of stress and how they cope with it. Objectives: The objectives were to study the sociodemographic profiles of the participants and to explore the stress-coping skills among lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study with a sample size of 50, including 18-year and older homosexual and bisexual participants, with the employment of a snowball sampling technique. A semi-structured sociodemographic pro forma, Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Brief Coping with Problem Experienced scales were applied. Results: The mean age of participants was 23.620 ± 3.630. There were 36 (72%) gay, 8 (16%) lesbian, and 6 (12%) bisexual participants. On estimation of stress, 15 (30%) participants had low stress, 27 (54%) had moderate stress, and 8 (16%) participants had high levels of stress. Among coping strategies, the highest mean was for self-distraction (5.70 ± 1.51), followed by acceptance (5.32 ± 1.20). A significant positive correlation between the PSS scores was found with self-blame and avoidant coping strategies. Conclusion: People with homosexual and bisexual orientation are likely to experience higher levels of stress, so it becomes vital to have more research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since a recent law protecting the rights of LGBTQ people was implemented in Pakistan, homosexuality has become a hot-button issue. The rights that will be granted to the LGBTQ community are controversial; some people support them, while others oppose them. So, the present study aims to analyze the factors that influence the sexual orientation of homosexual males in Pakistan by approaching a biopsychosocial perspective, who despite being the resident of a state in which homosexuality is unacceptable, presents themselves as homosexual males. A total of thirty male participants who identify themselves as homosexuals aged between 18 to 35 were selected by using purposive and snowball sampling techniques from Karachi. However, participants were also approached by using potential Facebook groups. Their participation was entirely voluntary and consented. The study was conducted as a qualitative telephonic survey method and data was collected through a self-generated interviewing questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions based on three themes i.e., Biological, Psychological, and social factors. The findings indicated that social factors are the most influencing paradigm which has the biggest impact on male homosexuality, followed by biological and psychological factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many homosexual men, coming to terms with their sexual orientation represents a complex process. It is interesting, in this sense, to establish how the rise of neoconservatism gave a particular aspect to the expressions of shame and pride associated with sexuality in general and, specifically, with the sexual identity of Mexican gay men. The references that will be used for the development of the research will be interviews carried out with Mexican gay men within the framework of the research project "Rural homosexual childhoods and adolescence", in which the intention was to understand the strategies used by homosexual men during their childhood to survive the contexts of homophobia in which they lived until reaching adulthood. The majority of the subjects, despite having explored their sexuality from a very young age alongside other boys from their communities of origin, managed to prevent their sexual orientation from triggering forms of violence or exclusion while they lived with their family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cigarette smoking, as a significant public health problem worldwide, deserves more attention. This research intended to assess the prevalence rate of smoking among college students self-identified as lesbian or gay, examine whether depression mediated the association between social support and smoking, and explore whether disclosure moderated the indirect effect of the mediation model. All data were collected by online questionnaires, yielding a total of 1,109 homosexual college students involved in the analysis. A moderated mediation analysis was adopted to uncover the connection between social support, depression, and cigarette smoking, with disclosure as the moderator. The prevalence of smoking was 7.4%, and lesbian females (12.5%) were more likely to report smoking than gay males (5.2%). Depression fully mediated the effects of social support on cigarette smoking (coefficient ab = −0.0097, 95% Boot CI: −0.0174 to −0.0029), accounting for 97.0% of the total effect. Further moderated mediation analyses revealed the indirect effect of depression was statistically significant in both disclosed (effect = 0.0737, 95% Boot CI: 0.0005 to 0.1502) and non-disclosed groups (effect = −0.0109, 95% Boot CI: −0.0183 to −0.0039). The prevalence of smoking among homosexual college students in China should not be neglected, especially among lesbian students. Interventions, such as encouraging greater disclosure and expanding social support, may help break the link between depression and smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stigma toward same-sex behaviors may be a structural driver of HIV epidemics among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Eastern Europe and has been linked to adverse HIV-outcomes elsewhere. We explored associations between sexual behavior stigma with HIV risk behaviors, testing, treatment, and infection. From November 2017 to February 2018, MSM across 27 Ukrainian cities were recruited to cross-sectional surveys using respondent driven sampling. Eligible participants were cisgender males aged ≥ 14 years residing in participating cities that reported ≥ 1 sexual contact with another man in the prior 6 months. Participants self-reported experience of stigma (ever) and various HIV-outcomes and were tested for HIV antibodies. Regression models were used to explore associations between three sexual behavior stigma variables with demographic and HIV-related variables. Of 5812 recruited cisgender MSM, 5544 (95.4%) were included. 1663 (30.0%) MSM reported having experienced stigma due to being MSM from family and friends, 698 (12.6%) reported anticipated healthcare stigma, and 1805 (32.6%) reported general public/social stigma due to being MSM (enacted). All forms of stigma were associated with heightened HIV risk behaviors; those experiencing stigma (vs not) had more anal sex partners in the prior month and were less likely to have used condoms during their last anal intercourse. Stigma was not associated with HIV infection, testing, or treatment variables. A sizeable proportion of Ukrainian MSM reported ever experiencing stigma due to being MSM. MSM that had experienced stigma had higher odds of HIV sexual risk behaviors. Further study using longitudinal designs is required to determine causality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the legal acceptance of homosexuality in India, it remains a social taboo, resulting in various challenges being faced by homosexual males. These challenges mainly include issues such as addiction/drug use and inconsistent and/or incorrect condom usage which increase the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV among them. This study was thus conducted with the objective of studying the patterns of addiction/drug use and condom usage among homosexual males. Methods: The study was conducted at outreach sites of a non-governmental organization (NGO). A total of 240 participants, consisting of homosexual and bisexual males aged 18-24 years who were residing in the metropolitan city of Mumbai for at least 1 year, were enrolled. Data about addiction/drug use and patterns of condom usage was collected, compiled, entered into Microsoft Excel, and subsequently analyzed using SPSS. Findings: Out of the total participants, 171 (71.2%) reported engaging in addiction/drug use, Among those participants, 105 (61.4%) engaged in alcohol consumption prior to sexual contact to enhance pleasure or delay climax. Cigarette smoking was the most common type of addiction. Statistically significant association was found between habitual addiction/drug use (P = 0.0023), use of ecstasy/aphrodisiac drugs (P = 0.00654) and, inconsistent and/or incorrect condom use among the participants. However, planned addiction/drug use only before sexual contact did not show a significant association (P = 0.066). Conclusion: Habitual addiction/drug use among homosexual males increases the likelihood of engaging in inconsistent and/or incorrect condom use, thereby elevating the risk of acquiring STIs and HIV. To mitigate this risk, interventions targeting addiction/drug use prevention should be initiated during adolescence to address this issue at an earlier stage of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Little is known about the reasoning behind the desire to have children in non-heterosexual individuals. This study compares the motives of different sexual–romantic orientations and their preferred ways of fulfilling this desire. Methods: This was a monocentric cross-sectional study. Subjects were recruited via social media, personal contacts and queer organisations in Switzerland. An anonymous questionnaire comprised general questions about the participant's background, a validated survey about the desire to have children and additional non-validated questions addressing the impact of sexual–romantic orientation on the desire to have children. The inclusion criteria were adults without children and a completed questionnaire. Results: Of 837 participants, 642 were included in the study. Four groups of sexual–romantic orientations consisted of more than 35 participants: bisexual–biromantic (n = 38), heterosexual–heteroromantic (n = 230), homosexual–homoromantic (n = 159) and pansexual–panromantic (n = 55). Subgroups with a positive wish for a child rated all motives in the same order and with minimal numeric difference. The most important aspect seemed to be emotional involvement. Non-heterosexual–heteroromantic showed concerns about adverse reactions regarding their wish for a child. All orientations hoped for a biological child. Conclusion: Our findings about bi-, hetero-, homo- and pansexual people and their motives for a desire to have children agree with the existing literature about hetero, homo and bisexual. The impact of the fear of adverse reaction and discrimination has been discussed before and is supported by our data. We suggest better support before and during the realization of the wish for a child as well as support for non-traditional aspiring parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Para muchos varones homosexuales asumir su orientación sexual representa un proceso complejo. Interesa, en este sentido, establecer de qué manera el ascenso del neoconservadurismo les dio un cariz particular a las expresiones de vergüenza y orgullo asociadas a la sexualidad en general y, específicamente, a la identidad sexual de varones gais mexicanos. Los referentes que se utilizarán para el desarrollo de la investigación serán entrevistas realizadas a varones gais mexicanos en el marco del proyecto de investigación “Infancias y adolescencias homosexuales rurales”, en el que la intención fue comprender las estrategias utilizadas por varones homosexuales durante su infancia para sobrevivir a los contextos de homofobia en los que vivieron hasta llegar a la edad adulta. La mayoría de los sujetos, a pesar de haber explorado su sexualidad desde muy jóvenes al lado de otros chicos de sus comunidades de origen, lograron evitar que su orientación sexual detonara formas de violencia o exclusión mientras vivieron con su familia.

This paper is a qualitative theological research discussing Dante Alighieri’s (d. 1321) account of LGBT-Q (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) based on his major work, Inferno, with a particular reference to Medieval Christian tradition. Accordingly, this paper used content analysis to apprehend major literature on Dante and LGBT-Q. This paper concluded that the term Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities demolished due to homosexual violation, is apparent in his work. Furthermore, as several Biblical texts also suited the concrete image of those cities, Dante’s Inferno also presented Medieval Christian position concerning homosexuality, which is condemn homosexuality as lust against the role of nature, so it is equated with committing violence against God.

Los derechos de las personas LGTBI están de actualidad en la sociedad del si- glo XXI. Es nuestro propósito estudiar las normas sobre orientación sexual e identidad de género en los países del Norte de Europa (Reino Unido, Irlanda, Islandia, Finlandia, Dinamarca, Noruega, Suecia, Estonia, Letonia y Lituania). Nos dedicaremos sobre todo al estudio del grado de reconocimiento del derecho al cambio de género en las leyes nacionales, así como si esas legislaciones res- petan o no el Convenio Europeo de Derechos Humanos y la legislación de la Unión Europea, a través de las resoluciones del Tribunal Derechos Humanos y del Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea.

BackgroundRepresenting the pathological extreme pursuit of muscularity, muscle dysmorphia (MD) is characterized by a pervasive belief or fear around insufficient muscularity and an elevated drive for muscularity. Despite evidence of elevated body image-related concerns among sexual minority populations, little is known about the degree of muscle dysmorphia (MD) symptoms among sexual minorities, particularly based on Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI) scores. The objective of this study was to examine the nature and severity of MD symptoms in cisgender sexual minority men and women and provide community norms of the MDDI for these populations.MethodsData from participants in The PRIDE Study, an existing study of health outcomes in sexual and gender minority people from the United States, were examined. Participants included cisgender gay men (N = 1090), cisgender bisexual plus (bisexual, pansexual, and/or polysexual) men (N = 100), cisgender lesbian women (N = 563), and cisgender bisexual plus women (N = 507). We calculated means, standard deviations (SD), and percentiles for the MDDI total and subscale scores for cisgender sexual minority men and women. We compared MDDI scores by sexual orientation using linear regression models, both unadjusted and adjusted for sociodemographics.ResultsOverall, the sample was 85.2% White, 3.0% Asian or Pacific Islander, 2.0% Black, 0.5% Native American, 3.9% multiracial, and 6.6% Hispanic/Latino/a. The mean age was 38.6 (SD = 14.3) and 69.4% had a college degree or higher. Means (SD) for the MDDI total score were 27.4 (7.7) for cisgender gay men, 26.4 (6.4) for cisgender bisexual plus men, 24.3 (6.1) for cisgender lesbian women, and 24.6 (5.5) for cisgender bisexual plus women. There were no significant differences in MDDI scores between cisgender gay and bisexual plus men, or between cisgender lesbian women and bisexual plus women in unadjusted or adjusted models.ConclusionsThese normative data provide insights into the experience of MD symptoms among cisgender sexual minority men and women and can aid researchers and clinicians in the evaluation of MD symptoms and interpretation of MDDI scores in sexual minority populations.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) access is increasing in Latin America. We explored PrEP use among Spanish-speaking, Hornet geosocial networking application users from Latin American countries with limited PrEP data via an online survey completed between December 2018 and February 2019. A total of 718 Hornet users from 10 countries were included, of whom 72.1% reported PrEP awareness. Few (5.6%) were currently taking PrEP, though 32.1% intended to take PrEP in the subsequent 6 months. PrEP awareness was lower in 18-25 year olds compared to 26+ (62.4% vs. 75.6%, aOR 0.67, [95% CI 0.46-0.97]), and higher among those living in larger versus smaller cities (74.4% vs. 58.8%, aOR 1.96, [95% CI 1.25-3.07]) or countries with at least partial versus no PrEP policy adoption (79.1% vs. 60.8%, aOR 2.20, [95% CI 1.56-3.12]). Intention to use PrEP was higher among PrEP-eligible respondents (51.8% vs. 29.6%, aOR 2.26, [95% CI 1.26-4.07]) and those recently tested for a sexually transmitted infection (35.4% vs. 25.5%, aOR 1.58, [95% CI 1.01-2.48]). Efforts to expand PrEP use in Latin America should focus on national PrEP policy adoption, and research should explore barriers to awareness and use among young men who have sex with men.

ABSTRACTSexual transmission of enteric pathogens among men who have sex with men (MSM) is well documented, although whether providers are cognizant of this risk when MSM patients present with gastrointestinal symptoms has not been studied. Over 34 months at a major tertiary metropolitan medical system, this study retrospectively analyzed 436 BioFire FilmArray Gastrointestinal results from 361 patients documented as MSM. An extensive chart review was performed, including specific sexual behaviors, socioeconomic risk factors, and whether providers charted a sexual history when a patient presented for care. Overall BioFire positivity rate was 62% with no significant difference in positivity between persons living with HIV and those without. Patients charted as sexually active had a significantly increased odds ratio (OR) of a positive result compared to those who were not. Anilingus had the highest OR. Providers charted any type of sexual history in 40.6% of cases, and HIV/infectious disease providers were significantly more likely to do this compared to other subspecialties. Sexual transmission of enteric pathogens within MSM is ongoing, and patients are at risk regardless of living with HIV. Not all sexual behaviors have the same associated risk, highlighting opportunities to decrease transmission. Increased provider vigilance and better patient education on sexual transmission of enteric pathogens are needed to reduce the disease burden.IMPORTANCEOur work adds several key findings to the growing body of literature describing the epidemiology of enteric pathogens as sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men (MSM). We analyzed clinical test results, housing status, provider awareness, sexual behaviors, and symptoms for 361 patients. We found that any sexual activity was associated with an increased risk of diarrheal pathogen detection, whereas being unhoused was not a risk factor. These findings suggest separate transmission networks between unhoused persons, who are also at risk of infectious diarrhea, and MSM. Moreover, our study suggested low awareness among patient-facing clinicians that diarrheal pathogens can be sexually transmitted. Together, our findings indicate an important opportunity to disrupt transmission cycles by educating clinicians on how to assess and counsel MSM patients.

Progress over time has encouraged the gay community to be more open about their sexual identity. However, there is still stigma and societal disacceptance because they are considered deviant from religion, law and culture. This research aims to determine the relationship between self-disclosure and the psychological well-being of homosexuals (gay) in Central Java. The method used is quantitative with a correlational design. A total of 237 homosexuals (gay) in Central Java were used as research participants using incidental sampling techniques. Research measurements used the Revised Self-Disclosure Scale (α = .92) and the Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale (α = .543-.828). The research data analysis method uses the product-moment correlation test from Karl Pearson. The research results show a significant, but not strong, positive relationship between self-disclosure and psychological well-being (r = .147 and sig. = .012). This indicates that self-disclosure is one of the factors related to increasing the psychological well-being of homosexuals (gays) in Central Java. The implication of this research is the need for self-disclosure for homosexuals (Gay) to vent all the feelings and inner pressure they experience and make them feel more relieved to improve their psychological well-being to live their lives well for the sake of past goals. Future research should be able to develop research by looking for other factors related to self-disclosure and psychological well-being.

Habíamos ganado la guerra, one of Esther Tusquets' autobiographical texts, published in 2007, allows us to enrich the question of the representation of homoeroticism in her novels. The sexual dissidence of the character José, one of the first loves of the young Esther, can be understood not only as the recovery of her past, but also as a reflection of the present moment of writing, through the narrative and dramatic strategies chosen in the process of creation. From this perspective, in the light of theoretical studies on autobiography and social-historical studies, it is analysed how the episode in which she narrates her story with José dialogues both with her youthful "me", in force at the time of the modification of the Ley de Vagos y Maleantes, and with the author who publishes in 2007. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rights of LGTBI people are topical in 21st century society. It is our aim to study the regulations on sexual orientation and gender identity in Northern European countries (United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). We will focus on the extent to which the right to gender reassignment is recognised in national laws, and whether or not these laws respect the European Convention on Human Rights and European Union law, through the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores some of the ways in which colour came to be associated with racial and sexual minorities in European modernity. It does this through examination of a case-study of material produced by students at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in imperial Britain from the late nineteenth century to the mid-1930s. The oldest and most prestigious universities in England were important because they educated a considerable proportion of the administrative, political, and military elite of the British Empire. Their students’ writings, therefore, reveal the attitudes toward men and colour of the British ruling elite in the process of its ongoing formation. The concepts of orientalism and ornamentalism are used to explain the process by which queer men were understood as »colourful« aesthetic characters and as being associated with non-white men of colour. This process involved assimilating students into stereotypical types, two of the most important of which were the sport-loving »hearty« student and the culture-loving »aesthete« (to employ terms in use at the time). This had the effect of implying that these rival groups of young men were, in effect, teams in a competition in which it was widely assumed that the majority white and sexually orthodox group would triumph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media is currently one of the most effective platforms for selfexpression. The media currently in demand as a forum for expression is YouTube. YouTube is a social media that uses video as the primary medium for distributing content. In addition to conveying information, YouTube can be used for self-expression, one of which is in the coming out process for LGBTQ+ groups. This coming out process is found in LGBTQ+ people who have begun openly declaring that they belong to the group and accept their identity. One coming-out video that has had a considerable impact over the past few years is I Am Gay by Eugene Lee Yang. The research method used is qualitative with a descriptive type of research. Based on an interpretive study of the music video "I am Gay," uploaded by Eugene Lee Yang on The Try Guys' official YouTube channel on June 15, 2019, several conclusions can be drawn. The video, which is five minutes and nine seconds long, is a powerful visual narrative about Eugene's life journey and coming out as a homosexual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasy at the University of California, Riverside contains a unique archive of slash fan fiction and yaoi/boys' love (BL) manga. Slash and BL refer to fanmade or commercially published works of male homosexual erotica or romance historically made for the pleasure and consumption of women. These fandoms have been a minor subject of academic scholarship for years, though few archives or libraries are actively acquiring them. In this article, we explore the value and challenges associated with collecting materials containing taboo subject matter. We contextualize this process with an overview of the history of archival theory, the emergence of critical archive studies, and the intersection of niche fan communities with feminist and queer studies frameworks.

Objectives: Monkeypox (MPox) is a zoonotic virus in the genus Orthopoxvirus. It is transmitted from animal to human, and between humans. The clinical presentations vary, starting with a prodrome phase to different skin findings and systemic complications. Methods: We present two distinctive cases of MPox co-infected with other viruses (hepatitis C virus [HCV] and HIV) by clinical and histopathological analysis. Results: Surprisingly, the MPox patient with a history of HCV developed different skin pathological characteristics (less severe inflammatory changes than the classic patient with HCV or MPox alone). In contrast, patients living with HIV presenting with MPox had severe inflammatory cutaneous changes and distortion of the skin architecture. Conclusion: Our findings strongly suggest that MPox infections likely occur in the presence of one or more previous other viral infections, and the prior infection with specific microbes determines the severity of MPox infection.

Habíamos ganado la guerra, uno de los textos autobiográficos de Esther Tusquets, publicado en 2007, permite enriquecer la cuestión de la representación del homoerotismo en sus novelas. La disidencia sexual del personaje de José, uno de los primeros amores de la joven Esther, puede ser entendida no solo como la recuperación de su pasado, sino como un reflejo del momento presente de la escritura, a través de las estrategias narrativas y dramáticas elegidas en el proceso de creación. Desde esa perspectiva, de la mano de estudios teóricos sobre autobiografía e histórico-sociales, se analiza de qué modo el episodio donde se narra su historia con José dialoga tanto con su “yo” de la juventud, vigente entonces la modificación de la Ley de Vagos y Maleantes, como con la autora que publica en 2007.

In the landscape of healthcare disparities and the marginalized status of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Malaysia, understanding the dynamics surrounding HPV vaccination is of paramount importance. The purpose of this study is to examine the knowledge and attitudes of MSM regarding HPV vaccination and to identify factors that may hinder or facilitate its uptake. The findings will contribute to the development of targeted interventions to promote HPV vaccination and reduce the burden of HPV-related health issues among Malaysian MSM. Between May 2019 and September 2022, an online cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data through popular social media platforms targeting MSM in Malaysia. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed to investigate the associations between HPV vaccination intention and various influencing factors. Out of the total 411 respondents in the study, 266 (60.3%) indicated an intent to receive the HPV vaccination, falling under the categories of "certain to happen", "very likely", and "likely". The average knowledge score for participants was 6.82 (SD = 3.93, range 0–13) out of a total possible score of 13. In the multivariate logistic model, participants who identified themselves as bisexual (OR 6.93, 95% CI 2.35–20.41) and gay/homosexual (OR 4.36, 95% CI 1.66–11.42) showed a greater inclination to receive the HPV vaccine compared to heterosexual participants. High intent to be vaccinated for HPV infection was positively and significantly associated with a high level of knowledge (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.09–2.95). In the multivariable model, there was no significant association between all variables of attitudes towards HPV infection and HPV vaccinations and the intention to receive HPV vaccination. Study participants reported a low level of susceptibility to HPV infection despite their perception that HPV infection is severe. Two-thirds of participants expected to encounter stigma in healthcare settings during future implementation of HPV vaccination programs. This study underscores the importance of improving HPV vaccine acceptance among Malaysian MSM due to the moderate acceptance level observed. In Malaysia, promoting HPV awareness, enhancing risk perception, and addressing stigma and sensitivity surrounding HPV vaccination may be beneficial in increasing the vaccination willingness among MSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Akofena is the property of Universite Felix Houphouet Boigny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The internet and social media enhance communication, education, and social connection among users; however, some adverse effects on health are notable, particularly sexual risk engagement and mood problems. Mobile dating applications (apps)/websites facilitate high sexual-risk access, particularly among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals. Recognition of the characteristics of using these platforms and identifying factors related to high sexual risk among LGBTQ youths will facilitate both targeting of those at risk and subsequent intervention. Materials and Methods: Adolescents and youths were invited to voluntarily join this study, scan the QR code, and anonymously complete the questionnaires. These validated questionnaires were launched online via a popular platform among LGBTQs during 2017-2018. Multiple logistic regression was employed to identify factors independently associated with high sexual risk among study subjects. Results: Of 360 participants (mean age: 21±2.8 years, range: 11-25), 60.8% self-reported as homosexual, and the rest were bisexual. Median dating app/website usage was 2 (range 1-10). Two-thirds (62.8%) met partners from those e-platforms, and most (79.6%) developed a sexual relationship. Over half (52.2%) did not use a condom, and one-third (30.6%) abused substances during sex. Poor condom compliance, multiple partners, and substance use were strongly associated with individuals who used >2 apps for longer than 3 years. Depression susceptibility was 32.2%, and was related to condom-use failure (p=0.01). Conclusion: Among LGBTQs, the greater the number and longer time exposed to dating apps/websites, the higher the number of sexual risk behaviors. Moreover, unsafe sex increased among individuals at risk for depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male HIV serodiscordant couples have diverse relationship agreements regarding sex outside the relationship. We examined the relationship agreements as described by 343 male HIV-negative partners in HIV serodiscordant relationships in Australia, Brazil and Thailand participating in a multi-year cohort study. At baseline, 125 (34.1%) HIV-negative partners reported no agreement, 115 (33.5%) had a monogamous agreement, and 103 (37.9%) had an open agreement allowing sex outside the relationship. Relationship agreements were largely stable over time, with 76% of HIV-negative men reporting the same agreement across follow up, while changes were predominantly towards having an open agreement. Behaviour largely matched relationship agreements, and the predictors of breaking an agreement by having condomless anal intercourse (CLAI) with an outside partner were CLAI within the relationship (OR = 3.17, 95%CI: 1.64–6.14, p < 0.001) and PrEP use in the last three months (OR = 3.42, 95%CI: 1.48–7.92, p = 0.004). When considering HIV transmission risk for HIV-negative men in serodiscordant relationships, greater focus needs to be placed on sex that is occurring outside the relationship and the agreements that facilitate this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This article offers a different interpretation of Leviticus 18:22, which has traditionally been seen as a scripture that forbids homosexuality. The Bible outright condemns various sexual orientations such as homosexuality, bisexuality, and bestiality; as a result, the Old Testament portrays heterosexuality as the proper sexual identity. The general reading of texts frequently devolves into pros and contras but leaves little room for other aspects of the text that can allow for a more transformative interpretation. In fact, when texts and the reality of today’s plurality in sexual orientations collide, dominant and judgmental meanings often result. Due to this, socio-ideological studies reread Leviticus 18:22 from an LGBT viewpoint in order to shed light on the Priest’s Tradition’s ideological role in promoting heterosexuality as its identity politics. This analysis gives space to the sociopolitical situation that gives the book its shape, departing from awareness and skepticism of the existence of other realities that are not described or even repressed in the text (behind the text). Hence, it is hoped that the text’s true meaning, one that liberates prejudice via conversation and creativity, might be recovered. Abstrak Artikel ini memberikan pembacaan alternatif terhadap teks Imamat 18:22 yang selama ini cenderung dipahami sebagai teks yang mengecam homoseksual. Teks secara eksplisit menolak beragam orientasi seksual seperti homoseksual, biseksual, bestialitas; dan dengan demikian menggambarkan heteroseksual sebagai identitas seksual yang benar dalam Perjanjian Lama. Pembacaan umum terhadap teks acap kali sekadar jatuh pada persoalan pro-kontra, namun tidak memberikan ruang terhadap dimensi lain dari teks yang mungkin memberikan pembacaan yang lebih transformatif. Sebab dalam faktanya, perjumpaan teks dengan realitas keberagaman orientasi seksual di masa kini cenderung memberikan makna yang menghegemoni dan menghakimi. Untuk itu, kajian sosio-ideologis berupaya menguak peran ideologis dari Tradisi Imam yang mempropagandakan heteroseksual sebagai politik identitasnya, serta membaca ulang teks Imamat 18:22 melalui perspektif LGBT. Berangkat dari kesadaran dan kecurigaan akan adanya realitas lain yang tidak digambarkan bahkan dibungkam dalam teks, kajian ini memberikan ruang terhadap situasi sosial-politik yang membentuk teks (di balik teks). Dengan demikian, diharapkan tercapai pemulihan makna dari teks yang membebaskan prasangka secara jujur, dialogis, dan kreatif.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is warning about a new outbreak of meningococcal meningitis among gay, bisexual, and other men that have sex with men (MSM) due to multiple cases reported in Florida. Meningococcal meningitis (MM) is a bacterial infection often spread by direct contact or through respiratory droplet dissemination from an infected person to a host. Meningitis can cause a wide range of complications, from thrombosis to cerebral edema or even septic shocks as the bacteria thrive on colonizing the submucosa of blood vessels adjacent to inflamed meninges. The CDC urged MSM to immediately take the MenACWY vaccine. 200 years ago, several outbreaks have been recorded of the disease throughout history, the first being in Africa in the 1840s. The world cannot afford more outbreaks and serious measures should be taken to contend with and contain such potential threats. In this review, we aim to provide an updated investigation of the bacterial infection relevant to the current global health status and a revision on what governments, policymakers, health providers, and individuals should do to prevent the further spread of this fatal disease.

This study aims to identify the moderation of Huzaemah Tahido Yanggo's fiqh of the law of purity over homosexual acts. This is a qualitative research in the form of heirloom studies which uses a normative-philosophical approach. The paradigm of moderate fiqh conceptualized by M. Quraish Shihab becomes the theory of analysis. The results show that there is a paradigm basis for moderate fiqh in the construction of Huzaemah's fiqh on the law of purity over homosexual acts. This great conclusion can be seen from the following various aspects. The first aspect is the dimensions of the paradigm of fiqh al-maqashid and fiqh al-awlawiyat in the use of theological foundations that emphasize the realization of the benefit orientation of Islamic sharia, namely the regeneration of offspring (hifz al-nasl) and the protection of honor (hifz al-'ird). The second aspect is the paradigm pattern of fiqh al-muwazanat, and fiqh al-ma'alat in the basis of consideration of the impact of disease from a medical perspective, and violations of national legal norms in Indonesia. The pattern of the fiqh al-ma'alat paradigm can also be seen from Huzaemah's advice to the community and the government to realize preventive efforts, healing as well as rehabilitation and empowerment of homosexual actors to positive things. The theoretical implications of this study show that a holistic fiqh paradigm is needed in prohibiting homosexual acts, namely by involving multiple perspectives, such as medical, state norms, psychology and socio-cultural norms.

Esta investigación parte de reconocer la presencia de estudiantes gays en escuelas secundarias mexicanas, así como las problemáticas que pueden vivir en su tránsito educativo. El objetivo es examinar tanto actitudes como percepciones del estudiantado y personal educativo, así como acciones implementadas para abordar los desafíos que enfrentan dichos estudiantes. La metodología se basa en el paradigma cualitativo con un método interpretativo. Se trabajó en línea mediante entrevistas y cuestionarios con seis jóvenes gays de 18 años de estrato socioeconómico medio urbano de la Ciudad de México. Los resultados se organizan en tres categorías: presencia de la diversidad sexual en las escuelas secundarias; actitudes de pares y amistades; e intervenciones educativas realizadas por los agentes escolares. En las discusiones y conclusiones se enfatiza la necesidad de crear entornos educativos seguros que promuevan el respeto, inclusión y valoración de la diversidad.

LGBTphobia is a characteristic of Brazil when data on this type of violence are analyzed. For a long time, this theme was neglected at many social levels, including the legal and governmental spheres. A response to the violence experienced by Brazilian LGBT+ people has been tried many times through specific laws, however, only after many years did this advance happen. Then, Brazil became the 43rd country to criminalize LGBTphobia. Even with such progress, LGBTphobia rates in Brazil continued to be alarming, constituting a social, health and legal issue. In view of these factors, this study sought to analyze the social conceptions about criminalization among Brazilian homosexual men and heterosexual men. Based on the analysis performed, contrasting differences were noted between the two groups. It is expected that this study can provide technical and scientific data to possible interventions on the problems exposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study the demographics and the quality of life of Transgenders and men who have sex with men (MSM) infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Methods: A Cross sectional study conducted from 2019 to 2021 in the Indus Hospital Karachi. A 30 minutes interview was conducted among HIV positive homosexual participants. Results: Out of 100 patients enrolled 58% were transgender, 39% uneducated, 76% not supported financially by family, 20% reported hospital misconduct, 50% were commercial sex workers and 64% had anxiety. Our results also showed that increasing patient knowledge does not guarantee safe sex habits (p-value=0.82). Conclusion: We found declining psycho-social wellbeing in this population. Education and family support may help establish a good standard of living in them. More studies are needed in the Pakistani transgender population in order to understand their needs better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continue to be a major public health problem with significant burden on the society. Some of this can be attributed to our lack of knowledge about the change of disease spectrum from time to time. Aims: The aim of the study was to understand the changing pattern of STDs over the past 17 years (2003–2019). Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective study where data of patients who attended our Suraksha Clinic from 2003 to 2019 were collected. All the cases were subjected to detailed history, examination, and investigations done to rule out STDs. Results: A total of 2436 patients were included in the study. The majority of the patients were in the age group of 18–30 years. The most frequent diagnosis was vulvovaginal candidiasis, followed by herpes genitalis. 3.3% of patients had human immunodeficiency virus. 4.8% of patients were men sex men (MSM). Overall, viral STDs were most common, followed by fungal and bacterial. To understand the changing trends, data were divided into different phases according to the time period. During Phase 1 (2003–2007), viral STDs were most common, followed by bacterial and fungal. However, this trend changed in Phase 4 (2016–2019) and fungal STDs became most common. Conclusions: Despite numerous health initiatives, the number of STD cases is rising day by day. The increasing number of MSM over the study period necessitates dedicated efforts to address the health needs of this population. The National AIDS Control Organization should take necessary measures and steps to address the overall increase in STDs considering recent trends showing a drop in bacterial STDs and an increase in fungal and viral STDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carl Gustav Jung, who dealt with the common transition of humanity in order to explain human behavior and brought the concept of "archetype", which are the units of the collective unconscious, to the science of psychology, mentioned four basic archetypes that have a complementary degree of the human self. The anima / animus archetypes, which are accepted as one of these basic archetypal units, are the imagery and gripping in the soul of women and men, who are also biologically given as bisexuality, in order to understand the human mixed gender and integrate with their own body. According to Carl Gustav Jung, although these spiritual images and traces in individuals are very important for the healthy selfdevelopment of individuals, their uncontrolled and unhealthy development affects the mental development of individuals in the opposite direction in their clinics, and the images of the opposite sex take over the individual's self, and later on, feminine men and masculine women. or cause homosexual selves to occur. In this context, the unhealthy development of anima and animus archetypes and characters who are far from society take place in the novels of the Republican period writer Selim İleri, who explains the reasons for not being anything. In our study, the characters in Selim İleri's novels were examined and tried to reveal the decisions in the self within the healthy development of the archetypes in the characters' self-integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leo Bersani was an enormously seductive critic, and he frequently wrote about seductiveness, beginning with his first book, Marcel Proust: The Fictions of Life and Art. This essay focuses on a passage in that book where Bersani discusses Proust's character, the Baron de Charlus, whose seductive orientation toward the world Bersani relates to Charlus's "homosexual talk." This essay considers the fate of seductiveness within Bersani's own career-long homosexual talk. It moves, by way of his queer provocations of the 1980s and 1990s, from his first book to his 2013 preface to that book, and shows how, even as Bersani reformulated the seductive in increasingly austere terms, he continued to deploy it, never forgetting how close it is to the intolerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The internet and social media enhance communication, education, and social connection among users; however, some adverse effects on health are notable, particularly sexual risk engagement and mood problems. Mobile dating applications (apps)/websites facilitate high sexual-risk access, particularly among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals. Recognition of the characteristics of using these platforms and identifying factors related to high sexual risk among LGBTQ youths will facilitate both targeting of those at risk and subsequent intervention. Materials and Methods: Adolescents and youths were invited to voluntarily join this study, scan the QR code, and anonymously complete the questionnaires. These validated questionnaires were launched online via a popular platform among LGBTQs during 2017-2018. Multiple logistic regression was employed to identify factors independently associated with high sexual risk among study subjects. Results: Of 360 participants (mean age: 21±2.8 years, range: 11-25), 60.8% self-reported as homosexual, and the rest were bisexual. Median dating app/website usage was 2 (range 1-10). Two-thirds (62.8%) met partners from those e-platforms, and most (79.6%) developed a sexual relationship. Over half (52.2%) did not use a condom, and one-third (30.6%) abused substances during sex. Poor condom compliance, multiple partners, and substance use were strongly associated with individuals who used >2 apps for longer than 3 years. Depression susceptibility was 32.2%, and was related to condom-use failure (p=0.01). Conclusion: Among LGBTQs, the greater the number and longer time exposed to dating apps/websites, the higher the number of sexual risk behaviors. Moreover, unsafe sex increased among individuals at risk for depression.