Employment Non-Discrimination Act Introduced in Senate On Wednesday, August 5, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) A word about Religion & Gay Marriage from a theologian It Health Concerns for Gay Men – The Body Health Concerns for Gay Men Rick Sowadsky December 1998 Anyone can have health problems, regardless of sexual orientation. The following article will discuss the more common health problems found among gay men. For simplicity’s sake, I will use the word “gay” here to represent both homosexual and bisexual men. I will also discuss some ways to improve health among gay men.Let me first review various health concerns commonly found among gay men: Gonorrhea Although the overall rate of infection with gonorrhea is going down in many countries like the United States, the rate of gonorrhea has recently begun to rise specifically among American gay men. Between men, gonorrhea is transmitted primarily through unprotected anal intercourse and giving oral sex. Gonorrhea can be found in the penis, the rectum and the throat. The Rise in gonorrhea rates among gay men indicates an increase in high-risk sexual behavior. Because of the close link between infection with gonorrhea and HIV, the increase in gonorrhea rates may lead to a subsequent increase in HIV rates and other STDs as well, unless immediate public-health intervention takes place. Genital/anal warts Genital and anal warts are caused by infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV). Genital warts on the penis are common in both heterosexual and gay men. However, anal warts in males tend to occur more frequently in gay men. Anal warts are primarily a result of unprotected anal intercourse and direct penis-to-rectum contact during sex. Hepatitis A Hepatitis A is transmitted through the oral-fecal route. Sexually, this infection is transmitted by oral-anal sex (rimming). Sexually transmitted hepatitis A tends to occur more commonly among gay men. Outbreaks of hepatitis A among gay men are a recurring problem in many large cities in Western nations. There is now a very effective vaccine to prevent infection with hepatitis A. Unfortunately, despite the higher rates of hepatitis A infection among gay men, most members of the gay community are unaware of this vaccine. Most gay men who are at risk for this infection have never been vaccinated, despite the availability of the vaccine. A strong effort needs to be made to increase hepatitis A vaccination rates among gay men. In addition to the risks of hepatitis A, rimming may also pose a risk for certain bacterial and parasitic infections, due to potential exposure to feces while rimming is taking place. Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is transmitted the same way as HIV, but is much more infectious than HIV. Between men, the infection is most commonly transmitted through unprotected anal intercourse and giving oral sex. Some gay men have been infected through sharing drug needles as well. In Western nations, sexually transmitted hepatitis B tends to occur more commonly among gay men. There is now a very effective vaccine to prevent infection with hepatitis B. Unfortunately, despite the higher rates of hepatitis B infection among gay men, most members of the gay community are unaware of this vaccine. Most gay men who are at risk of this infection have never been vaccinated, despite the availability of the vaccine. A strong effort needs to be made to increase hepatitis B vaccination rates among gay men. HIV/AIDS Worldwide, most of the people with HIV and AIDS are heterosexuals. But in North America, Western Europe and other developed nations, most cases continue to be transmitted sexually between men. In the United States, according to a recent report, most cases of recent HIV infection continue to be among gay men. This information also indicates that the rate of new HIV infections is relatively stable (it is not going down). We can therefore assume that the rate of infection among gay men is remaining relatively stable as well. Most cases of HIV transmission among gay men continue to occur through unprotected anal intercourse and, to a lesser extent, through giving oral sex (especially with ejaculation). Some gay men are also becoming infected through sharing drug needles. Based on all available data, the rate of HIV infection among gay men is not going down. Cancer and the risks of smoking Gay men may be at increased risk for certain forms of cancer, and illnesses linked to cigarette smoking. Some cancers are more commonly seen in persons with HIV infection. For example, Kaposi’s sarcoma and certain types of lymphomas are more common in people with HIV. Since HIV is found in higher rates among gay men in Western nations, cancers associated with HIV infection are more common among gay men in these parts of the world. Some strains of HPV — the virus that causes genital and anal warts (see above) — are linked to certain forms of cancer. When this virus causes cancer in men, it most often causes anal cancer. Anal HPV infection primarily occurs through unprotected anal intercourse, and direct penis-to-rectum contact during sex. Anal cancer occurs more frequently in men with damaged immune systems (including those with HIV). Smoking may increase the risk of cancer as well. HPV on the penis can also cause penile cancers, but this quite rare. Gay men may also be at increased risk for liver cancer. As stated above, gay men are considered at increased risk for hepatitis B infection, which has been linked to liver cancer and other forms of liver disease (including cirrhosis of the liver). In addition to anal and liver cancers, gay men may also be at increased risk for lung cancer and other cancers linked to cigarette smoking. It has been suggested that smoking rates among gay men may be higher than the general population. Of course, smoking also has many other health risks, including an increased risk for emphysema and heart disease. Alcoholism and drug abuse It has been suggested that alcohol use (and abuse) may be higher among gay men. This may, in part, be related to many gay men meeting in gay bars, where alcohol use is common. Alcoholism is itself a health-care problem since alcohol abuse can also lead to liver disease. In addition, alcohol use (and abuse) can also increase the risk for HIV and other STDs. While under the influence of alcohol, people tend to have sex more often, are less likely to use condoms or are less likely to use condoms correctly. It has also been suggested that drug abuse may be a significant problem among gay men. Recreational drug use (and abuse) includes the use of poppers, cocaine, speed, crank, marijuana and other drugs. Like alcohol abuse, drug abuse leads to various health problems, including an increased risk for HIV and STDs, due to changes in judgment, while a person is under the influence of these drugs. Gay bashing and gay domestic violence These are often not viewed as health concerns, but they should be. Physical violence can lead to bodily harm, trauma, hospitalization, etc. Many gay “hate crimes” never get reported, due to the victims’ fear of further discrimination, shame, intimidation by police and similar concerns. On a related matter, gay domestic violence can also lead to significant bodily harm, and is also very rarely reported, due to victims’ fears of discrimination, intimidation by police, lack of services for male victims of domestic violence, etc. Due to the lack of reporting of these crimes, the rates of gay bashing and gay domestic violence are most likely much higher than statistics indicate. Mental-health issues Mental-health issues cannot be ignored. Many gay men suffer from depression and low self-esteem. Gay men live in a world where they are often told they are “bad.” Some gay men are abandoned by their families. Discrimination against gays is all too common. The way that society often treats gay men can lower their self-esteem and lead to depression. For example, suicide rates among gay youth are higher than heterosexual youth. When a person has low self-esteem, they tend to value their life (and their health) less seriously. They are therefore less likely to protect themselves against HIV and other STDs, and other health problems. * Green Tea Protects from the Psychological Effects of Stress in Rats Green Tea Protects from the Psychological Effects of Stress in Rats Feeling stressed? Enjoying a cup of green tea with your lunch may help. (Photo by chotda) It’s no secret that a cup or two of green tea can make you relaxed, but now scientists have shown that green tea can reduce the effects of psychological stress in rats. In a paper yet to be published, rats were put under stress and given either their usual diet or a diet enriched with green tea polyphenols (link). To see how psychological stress and green tea were related, experiments measuring cognitive performance and serum levels of stress hormones were done. Study method The rats were divided into five groups: control group (CT), stress group (ST), and three stress groups given low, medium and high doses of green tea polyphenols (LG, MG and HG). The green tea polyphenol (GTP) content of the three diets were 0.1%, 0.5% and 1%, respectively. Psychological stress was induced by keeping the rats restrained and inhibiting their movements six hours every day for three weeks. Their cognitive performance was then evaluated using an open-field test, a step-through test and a water maze. These tests measure both the activity level and memory ability of rats.Green tea polyphenols and cognitive performance In the open-field test, which measures how actively rats explore the arena, the stressed rats were much less active than the control rats. No significant improvement was seen in the rats fed the low dose of green tea polyphenols, while the rats given the medium or high dose were almost as active as the control rats. The memory of the rats was also affected by stress during the step-through test and water maze test. These tests measure spatial memory and the ability to remember adverse stimuli. Again, only the medium and high doses of GTPs significantly reduced the harmful effects of stress on the rats’ memory. Green tea polyphenols and stress hormones Stress activates the symphatetic nervous system, which results in a release of catecholamines. Catecholamines are “fight-or-flight” hormones that consist of epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. They are involved in the modulation of cognition, awareness, attention, and emotional state, helping the body to cope with a stressful situation. According to the authors, when the stress level is too high for the body to cope with, cognitive impairments appear and the levels of these hormones begin to decline. Plasma levels of norepinephrine (another stress hormone, also known as noradrenaline) and dopamine were remarkably reduced in the ST and LG rats. In the MG and HG groups norepinephrine and dopamine levels were lower than in the control group, but much higher than in the LG group. In other words, medium and higher levels of green tea polyphenols partially inhibited the stress-induced decrease in the levels of these hormones. All four stress groups had higher levels of plasma cortisol than the control group. Cortisol is often referred to as the “stress hormone”, since its levels increase in the presence of stress and anxiety. Cortisol also causes blood pressure to rise and immune responses to be reduced. Feeding the stressed rats green tea polyphenols lowered their cortisol levels, but the reduction was statistically significant only in the MG group. The levels of reactive oxidative species (ROS) were increased in the brain tissue of stressed rats, but again, medium and high doses of GTPs partially inhibited this increase. Similarly, the total antioxidative capacity in brain tissue was reduced by stress but to a smaller extent in the MG and HG groups. The levels of superoxide dismutase showed a similar trend, but the differences were not statistically significant.A different effect was seen in the levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-2. While stress increased IL-6 and IL-2, feeding the rats GTPs did not inhibit this increase. In fact, green tea polyphenols increased IL-6 even further. This may be because increased levels of IL-6 can enhance the body’s adaptability to stress. Similar effects have been reported in other studies on green tea. Conclusion Psychological stress negatively affected the behavior and memory of rats. This adverse effect was associated with higher levels of cortisol, reactive oxygen species, IL-2, and IL-6, and lower levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, and total antioxidative capacity. These changes were partially inhibited by diets containing 0.5% and 1% green tea polyphenols, except for IL-6, which was further increased by GTPs. A diet containing only 0.1% GTPs did not show significant results. via inhumanexperiment.blogspot.com a good reasion to switch over to green tea. Posted via web from rmarcandrews’s posterous pass this along if you know any one or Organization THE KAISER PERMANENTE HIV/AIDS DIVERSITY AWARDS (All questions or comments regarding this message should be sent to Lalitha Sankaran at When You’re a Victim of Gay Domestic Violence o determine if you are a victim of gay abuse, you must evaluate your relationship and your partner’s actions. It can be difficult to accept that you are a victim of abuse. Some warning signs include being afraid of your partner’s anger or emotions, making decisions based on your partner’s reacts, feeling threatened or blamed for all of the relationship problems, or any other forceful situation that makes you uncomfortable.Here’s how to get help: Difficulty: N/A Time Required: Varies Here’s How: Talk with someone you trust, such as an exclusive friend, family member or gay-affirmative therapist. Keep an overnight bag or emergency kit nearby just in case you need to leave your relationship. Include an extra set of toiletries, clothes and other essentials. Always remember that it’s not your fault and you deserve to be treated with respect. It’s easy to convince yourself that you are being abused out of love, but that is only a fabrication. True love is based on respect and healthy boundaries, not fear, intimidation or violence. Finally, call 800.799.SAFE or email AV*@la****.org . Your call is confidential and they will be able to assist you in this time of crisis. via gaylife.about.com a follow up to the posting above Posted via web from rmarcandrews’s posterous Gay Partner Abuse We hear stories of domestic violence every day, but rarely do we imagine abuse between two men or two women. However, gays and lesbians are susceptible to domestic violence just as any other individual.So, why do we hear so little about domestic violence between gays and lesbians and why are so few cases reported? First off, it’s difficult to determine which partner is the victim (unlike heterosexual couples where the woman is most often the victim). Many gay men hesitate to report abuse, fearing exposure of their sexuality. There are very few abuse centers that provide services for lgbt individuals. There are even fewer centers solely dedicated to gay and lesbian victims. Because majority of support groups are comprised of heterosexuals, gays feel they must hide their sexuality or come out to the support group. Many gay couples share friends, so the victim may be afraid of losing the support he finds in his partner and mutual friends. Victims of abuse should focus on their safety and not the fear of being “outed” or losing existing support systems. What are the different types of abuse? Not many people realize that there are many types of abuse. Read the different forms below: Physical abuse Hitting, beating, choking, slapping, pushing, kicking, biting, etc. Abandoning a partner or holding a partner down by force Intimidating a partner, abusing pets, stealing or selling partner’s possessions Use or threats with a weapon of any kind Sexual Abuse Overly criticizing a partner’s body, clothing, or appearance Forcing sex or sexual situations without consent Refusing safe sex Emotional Abuse Abusive or threatening language, yelling or intimidating Purposefully not showing affection Obsessive jealousy or blaming Constantly being made to feel like you are not “good enough” Social Isolation Isolating the victim from family, friends or other support systems Blaming family and friends for relationship problems Spying on phone calls, emails, or IM’s Forcing partner to choose between the couple relationship and loved ones Spiritual Abuse Degrading or denying the victim’s beliefs or spiritual expressions Why do people abuse their partners? The main motivator behind abuse is power and manipulation, which can stem from a number of the abuser’s personal issues or past experiences. The important thing to realize is that the victim is not at fault . Patterns of abuse must be worked out by the abuser and for your own safety you must remove yourself from the situation. via gaylife.about.com This is a very good article. And a situation that is not talked about as much as it should. The more people see that it is OK to talk the more people can get help. please read and pass it on to others. Posted via web from rmarcandrews’s posterous