Can Safer Sex Be Sexy? (VIDEO)
In September I was approached to join Impulse Group NYC as Director of Community Outreach. As Community Education and Recruitment Manager at the New York Blood Center’s Project ACHIEVE, I oversee all the strategic efforts to educate and recruit HIV-related biomedical research (on vaccines, PrEP, PEP, microbicides, etc.) and behavioral research studies. Having worked in the field of HIV prevention for the past eight years, I’ve learned to align myself with groups and organizations that I believe have the promise to have the highest impact to curb the HIV epidemic. Through my work with organizations like AVAC, the Young Black Gay Men’s Leadership Initiative (YBGLI), NAESM, and the New York City HIV Prevention Planning Group (NYC HPG) I am able to contribute to the field locally and nationally.

What interested me in this new start-up group was the mission to make safer sex and HIV prevention for gay men in New York City fun and normal in creative ways. In addition to raising awareness, the opportunity to rebuild a gay community in New York City was the most convincing for me to accept the volunteer position. Working with other passionate gay men who are volunteering their time to have an innovative reach to our community has been the most rewarding. Impulse Group NYC is part of the larger, international Impulse Group network, with chapters in Los Angeles, Mexico City, New Delhi, South Florida, Atlanta, and, more recently, San Diego and Orlando. As Director of Community Outreach, I am in charge of providing health information and updates of community issues to the group. From the information and community issues, we plan events to highlight the most pressing issues in our community.

Last Thursday the New York City chapter of Impulse Group launched its first-ever video campaign, Ask & Tell, with the release of “SEX,” the first video in the series.

Exemplifying our mission to spark a dialogue and spread awareness around safer sex, the five-part series features insightful, funny and honest interviews with five New York City gay men. Each video in the series showcases their candid responses to often-thought-about but rarely-voiced questions on topics ranging from sex and protection to health, stigma, HIV status and more. Since its release, “SEX” has received over 40,000 views on Impulse Group NYC’s YouTube channel, far exceeding our expectations but confirming what we suspected: that the gay community in New York City is ready and willing to talk about safer sex. It was an achievement to see the video featured on gay blogs like Towerload, Queerty, NewNowNext, and several more. Each week throughout the month of December, a new video in the series will be released.

This week we premiered “PROTECTION” and “HEALTH,” the second and third videos in the series, which you can watch below:

When we first set out to create this campaign months ago, our main goal was to create something that New York City gay men could relate to. As the development of the series went on, we realized that Ask & Tell was going to be different from what we’ve seen in the past. This video series was created, directed, and produced by a diverse group of young gay men who make up Impulse Group NYC. Our ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds all vary, yet we each share a passion for showing New York City’s gay community that they can be informed about safer-sex practices and it can be enjoyable. As advocates and community members, we thought it important that we speak bluntly about the issue but also make it relatable and get people talking.

The goal of our Ask & Tell video series is to provoke conversation among New York City’s gay community. We want sexually active men to watch the videos, connect with the content and hopefully think differently about safer sex. This video series continues to support Impulse Group NYC’s goal to provide our community with all the tools they need to live a sexually informed lifestyle, making safer sex sexy.

According to the recently released New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s “HIV Surveillance Annual Report,” last year 2,832 people living in New York City became infected with HIV, and an additional 1,784 people were diagnosed with AIDS. While this may be the first time that the city has seen fewer new HIV diagnoses, the majority of new infections still occur in gay men. This is not just unique to New York City; across the country rates of HIV/AIDS impacts gay men significantly.

These videos are just the beginning of what every gay man should be talking about. We want guys to know it’s sexy to communicate openly about their health and desires. This is why we decided on the following five topics to discuss in the video series:

Sex: We celebrate sexual diversity through differing desires, relationships structures, and individual choices. It is everyone’s responsibility to make it enjoyable and keep it safe.

Protection: We know that our lives matter, which is why we want gay men to take control of their lives and protect themselves — and not just sexually. Protect yourself and protect him too.

Health: There is nothing wrong with living a healthy lifestyle and loving your health. We should all strive for physical, mental, and emotional health.

Stigma: We all are one community and should not cast each other out based of differences. Challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone and try to be proactive in unpacking biases and prejudices you’re familiar with.

Status: HIV-neutral. We all have an HIV status. Stay protected and stay in care.

Subscribe to Impulse Group NYC’s YouTube channel to keep up with the series. As the other videos premiere, feel free to join in the conversation. You can use the hashtag #AskAndTell to spark conversations with your friends across your social media platforms and provide comments on some of the questions asked.

To learn more about Impulse Group NYC, follow us on Facebook, Instagram , Twitter, and YouTube, or visit the Impulse Group NYC website.

www.huffingtonpost.com/dashawn-usher/can-safer-sex-be-sexy_b_6337026.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Actor Ansel Elgort Addresses Gay Rumors: 'Be True to Yourself'

Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2014/12/actor-ansel-elgort-addresses-gay-rumors-be-true-to-yourself-.html

10 Things You Should Know About the Rabidly Anti-LGBT Liberty Counsel

Matthew Staver founded Liberty Counsel, a legal organization aimed at “advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family.” But a primary focus of the organization has been preventing the rights of LGBT people worldwide.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-rabidly-anti-lgbt-liberty-counsel?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

'A Home For The Holidays,' CBS Show, To Feature First Gay Couple
Today’s installment is a special addition to the Huffington Post Gay Voices RaiseAChild.US “Let Love Define Family™” weekly series.

When I first shared that our family was invited to participate in a holiday special on television’s biggest network with my partner of eight years Jared Gee, he was not exactly enthusiastic about the idea.

“Are you kidding me?” exclaimed Jared. “No way are we doing a television show where you know they are going to re-write our family’s history to make it palatable to their conservative viewers.”

“The producers assure me that they won’t do that to us,” I replied. “And this is the first time in the 16-year history of this CBS holiday special that an LGBT-headed family will be featured. They want to tell the story of an adoptive family like ours.”

“Think of what you are asking of our kids!” Jared demanded, who, like me, is protective of our children and their time in the public eye.

The truth is that I had ruminated over that very question constantly during the two days that passed since receiving the call from a producer of the show. I’m the type of parent that is concerned that my kids will catch a cold when they show up at the breakfast table with bare feet.

“Forget it,” Jared said, as he stood up. “No way. I am not doing it. Don’t ask me again.”

Clearly that wasn’t the last discussion about the opportunity. As most decisions go between couples, it was a process. For us, the process took about three weeks and I was running out of excuses with the show’s producers. But, finally, Jared began to thaw to the idea when I was better able to frame my three reasons why we could not let this opportunity go.

First of all, this annual “A Home for The Holidays” special has very significant relevance to our family. I discovered this show back in about its third year. Its stories of adoptive families moved me. It opened my eyes to the real truths of children in the foster care system. And even though I had never seen a gay dad on the show, it still managed to inspire me to build my family through fostering and adoption. Over the years, “A Home for The Holidays” has become a tradition at our house. My children find comfort and community in watching the stories of other adopted children like them.

The second compelling reason was for the future of our children and all of those in the foster care system. I grew up in a small town at a time when adoptions were secretive and at times considered rather shameful. Over the past ten years or so, my views on adoption and foster care have evolved dramatically. I have learned and seen what abuse, neglect, abandonment, and malnourishment do to our country’s youth can do. I now know the innocence of foster children. I have also seen how resilient children are and how love nurtures the souls of both child and parent. Adoptions should be celebrated, not hidden.

As the last reason, I asked Jared to agree to do the show for the opportunity it presents for our community of LGBT parents, families and their children. Present and future. Our participation would not really be about us as individuals or as a family. Instead, our family’s inclusion in the show might be a small step toward equality.

Jared agreed.

The producers kept their word.

For years, I watched “A Home for the Holidays” and hoped that after the next musical act or commercial break, a story of an LGBT-headed adoptive family would be featured. In 15 years, that never happened. This Friday night, Jared, our kids and I hope that our story just might serve to motivate a new group of prospective parents to build families through fostering and adoption. Regardless of what might be said by those opposed to LGBT equality, we are deeply honored to have the opportunity to put the needs of the 400,000 children in the U.S. foster care system first. These children need good parents and safe homes, and my family believes firmly that single adults and the LGBT community are equally viable answers to our nation’s foster care crisis.

Seventeen years ago, the idea for “A Home for the Holidays” was pitched to CBS by Dave Thomas, Founder and CEO of Wendy’s, and Jennifer Perry, Executive Director of the Children’s Action Network. Each year the CBS special, presented in association with The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and Children’s Action Network, successfully moves about 60 percent of the presented children toward adoption. Over 30,000 people have been inspired to reach out for more information on becoming an adoptive parent as a direct result of this annual special. Performers and presenters for the 16th annual “A Home for the Holidays” include Jennifer Hudson, Train, Earth Wind & Fire, Rixton, Katharine McPhee, Ashley Monroe, Dan & Shay, Jillian Michaels, and Elyes Gabel. The show will be broadcast Friday, December 19, 2014, 9–10 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

“We are pleased to include the Valenza-Gee family on this year’s ‘A Home for the Holidays,’” said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment. “The special aims to include all families in order to raise awareness and get foster children placed in loving homes, which it succeeds in doing year after year.”

Rich Valenza is the founder and CEO of RaiseAChild.US, a national organization headquartered in Hollywood, California that encourages the LGBT community, and all people equally, to build families through fostering and adoption to serve the needs of the 400,000 children in the U.S. foster care system. Since 2011, RaiseAChild.US has run media campaigns and events to educate prospective parents and the public, and has engaged more than 2,500 prospective parents. For information about how you can become a foster or fost/adopt parent, visit www.RaiseAChild.US.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/18/home-for-the-holidays-first-gay_n_6342838.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Op-ed: Why 'I Can't Breathe' Does Belong on the Basketball Court

Some say sports isn’t political, but one athlete argues the opposite.

read more

Paulo Senra

www.advocate.com/commentary/2014/12/18/op-ed-why-i-cant-breathe-does-belong-basketball-court

'American Horror Story: Freak Show' Just Revealed How The Seasons Are Connected
Ryan Murphy shocked “American Horror Story” fans in October when he revealed that all the seasons of the anthology series are connected. On Wednesday night, the first links were made onscreen.

We first knew that Season 4 would connect to Season 2’s “Asylum” when it was announced that Lily Rabe’s Sister Mary Eunice would appear on “Freak Show.” Wednesday night’s mid-season finale finally connected the dots between Elsa Mars’ freak show and Briarcliff Manor from “Asylum.” The episode revealed Pepper’s entire origin story, from when she first met Elsa to how she arrived at the asylum. In present day of “Freak Show,” which is set in Jupiter, Florida in 1952, Elsa finds Pepper’s sister and asks her to take Pepper in so she can finally have a real family.

But then “Freak Show” jumped ahead 10 years to 1962 in Massachusetts — let us remind you that Briarcliff was purchased by the Catholic church and converted into a Sanitarium that year, according to “Asylum.” In the scene, Pepper’s sister sat across from Rabe’s Sister Mary Eunice (she’s back!) and told her that Pepper murdered her son. In Season 2 of “AHS,” it was revealed that Pepper had been accused of drowning her sister’s son and cutting his ears off (but it was actually her sister’s husband who committed the murder). The “Freak Show” mid-season finale included this twist: Pepper’s sister and brother-in-law both conspired against her, killing their own son to have her locked away.

The episode ended with Pepper’s arrival at Briarcliff where she meets Sister Mary for the first time and the God-loving nun (remember, this is before her demonic possession) welcomes her with kindness. Pepper looked down at an old Life magazine dated July 6, 1958 to see Elsa Mars on the cover, a now-proclaimed TV star. So now we know that no matter how Season 4 of “American Horror Story” ends, Elsa’s dreams of stardom will eventually come true. The only thing we’re left wondering is how we’re supposed to ignore the fact that Elsa looks exactly like Sister Jude.

“American Horror Story: Freak Show” returns on Jan. 7 with a mid-season premiere that will guest star Neil Patrick Harris and feature the return of “AHS” alum Jamie Brewer.

“American Horror Story: Freak Show” airs on Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m. ET on FX.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/18/american-horror-story-connections_n_6345408.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices