In the coming weeks, InterstateQ.com will publish a five-week, in-depth commentary series, “Fessing Up: exploring the ‘dirty little secrets’ of the gay community.”
The purpose of the series, written by me and other contributors, will be to open community discussion with frank and honest thoughts and debate. Ignoring problems that exist inside our community and among some of our LGBT siblings is dangerous. In order to make our community better, stronger and more equal, we have to begin taking responsibility and speaking out when our own community, personal and social health is threatened.
Although the series will deal specifically with gay and bisexual men, as well as men who have sex with men (MSM), it will contain possible truths and discussion for the whole LGBT community.
The five-week series won’t deal specifically with HIV/AIDS, but each of its five subject areas will have a lot to do with the crisis. In a way, each of the subject areas offer us a chance to move forward on the goal of ending the out-of-control HIV/AIDS crisis:
- Substance abuse in the gay community
- Promiscuity and unsafe sex in the gay community
- HIV and STD infection rates
- The social and sexual disenfranchisement and stigmatization of HIV+ gay, bi and MSM men
- Ideals of gay masculinity and beauty
We know that increased risks of drug and alcohol abuse in the LGBT community contributes to promiscuity, unsafe sex and increased risks of contracting HIV and other STDs; that many gay, bi and MSM men are having a lot of sex, but doing so unsafely and with high risk; and that HIV and STD infection rates have skyrocketed, and will continue to skyrocket, inside the MSM community. We know that HIV+ gay, bi and MSM men are being cast to the side, despite the fact that many of the HIV- men doing the stigmatization are engaging in some of the very same risky behaviors that might well mean they will contract the disease. Finally, we know that nearly god-like ideals of male beauty and masculinity can leave a debilitating scar on gay, bi and MSM self-esteem, body image and self-worth.
And, while we know that all of these issues have an impact on the sexual, social, legal, physical and psychological health of the LGBT community, we have utterly failed at having open and frank conversation about how we can address these issues, support our LGBT brothers and sisters and make our entire community more healthy and more equal.
Look for the first of the five-week series in a few days.
April 14th, 2009 at 10:03 am
well I bet this series is going to be well taken by our community, since our community love to keep our secrets in the closet..
April 15th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Be careful. These things NEED to be talked about. However, don’t be surprised to see someone disengeniously using you by saying “See, even homosexuals admit that homosexuality is an unhealthy lifestyle.”
April 15th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I look forward to it. There are many facets of the issues you outlined. Most of which are psycho-social and psycho-sexual derived. Our gay male community seems loathe to delve into the manifestations or the actuating impulses of them, much less the behavior. But it is needed. I applaud the undertaking Matt.
April 17th, 2009 at 12:17 am
I think it’s healthy to discuss all this stuff. Good for you, Matt.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:27 am
[...] Up: exploring the dirty little secrets of the gay community.” The purpose of the series, announced last week, will be to open community discussion with frank and honest thoughts and debate. Ignoring problems [...]
April 30th, 2009 at 8:34 am
[...] series, “Fessing Up: exploring the dirty little secrets of the gay community.” The purpose of the series, will be to open community discussion with frank and honest thoughts and debate. Ignoring problems [...]
May 8th, 2009 at 11:06 am
[...] series, “Fessing Up: exploring the dirty little secrets of the gay community.” The purpose of the series, will be to open community discussion with frank and honest thoughts and debate. Ignoring problems [...]
May 14th, 2009 at 9:45 am
[...] series, “Fessing Up: exploring the dirty little secrets of the gay community.” The purpose of the series, will be to open community discussion with frank and honest thoughts and debate. Ignoring problems [...]
May 21st, 2009 at 1:46 pm
[...] series, “Fessing Up: exploring the dirty little secrets of the gay community.” The purpose of the series, will be to open community discussion with frank and honest thoughts and debate. Ignoring problems [...]