Im in Support of Miss Sophia so here you go!!!!! Good Luck All!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
DANG EDDIE...A 3rd one.?.BOI BOI BOI
Last Updated On: 9/22/2010 3:35:39 PM
LITHONIA, GA -- A third person has come forward accusing Bishop Eddie Long of exploiting his role as pastor of an Atlanta-area megachurch to coerce them into sexual relationships.
Maurice Robinson, 20, and Anthony Flagg, 21, filed a civil lawsuit against Long on Tuesday. They has been members of Long's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia.
No details are yet available about the third accuser.
Robinson and Flagg say they were only 17 and 18 when Long abused his spiritual authority to seduce them with cars, money, clothes, jewelry, international trips and access to celebrities.
Each filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday. Their attorney, B.J. Bernstein, held a press conference shortly afterward.
Bernstein described the young men's enrollment in the Longfellow Youth Academy where they ascended to the elite group of young men known as Bishop Long's "Spiritual Sons".
According to Robinson's written complaint "...Long typically engages in a private spiritual ceremony described as a 'covenant' between himself and each young Spiritual Son..."
"[Long] would use biblical stories to talk about how important it was to follow your leader and master and let them know that the acts they were engaging in did not mean they were homosexual," Bernstein said.
She added that Long told them he was simply "releasing
LITHONIA, GA -- A third person has come forward accusing Bishop Eddie Long of exploiting his role as pastor of an Atlanta-area megachurch to coerce them into sexual relationships.
Maurice Robinson, 20, and Anthony Flagg, 21, filed a civil lawsuit against Long on Tuesday. They has been members of Long's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia.
No details are yet available about the third accuser.
Robinson and Flagg say they were only 17 and 18 when Long abused his spiritual authority to seduce them with cars, money, clothes, jewelry, international trips and access to celebrities.
Each filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday. Their attorney, B.J. Bernstein, held a press conference shortly afterward.
Bernstein described the young men's enrollment in the Longfellow Youth Academy where they ascended to the elite group of young men known as Bishop Long's "Spiritual Sons".
According to Robinson's written complaint "...Long typically engages in a private spiritual ceremony described as a 'covenant' between himself and each young Spiritual Son..."
"[Long] would use biblical stories to talk about how important it was to follow your leader and master and let them know that the acts they were engaging in did not mean they were homosexual," Bernstein said.
She added that Long told them he was simply "releasing
Mr. Long...you are going down baby!!!!!
CNN) -- Two Georgia men have filed a lawsuit claiming that prominent Atlanta, Georgia, pastor Eddie Long coerced them into sex.
The suits, filed Tuesday in DeKalb County, Georgia, allege that Long used his position as a spiritual authority and bishop to coerce young male members and employees of his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church into sex.
A spokesman for Long told CNN on Wednesday that the allegations are "a case of retaliation and a shakedown for money by men with some serious credibility issues."
Long "categorically and adamantly denies these allegations," said spokesman Art Franklin.
"Defendant Long has a pattern and practice of singling out a select group of young male church members and using his authority as Bishop over them to ultimately bring them to a point of engaging in a sexual relationship," the suits allege.
Long is considered one of the nation's top black preachers. His church has more 25,000 members, according to the suit, and was the site of Coretta Scott King's 2006 funeral, attended by then-President George W. Bush and three previous presidents. King was the widow of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
The pastor took one plaintiff, Anthony Flagg, 21, on overnight trips to a half-dozen American cities in recent years, Flagg's suit alleges.
Video: Spokesman denies claims Video: Sexual coercion lawsuit announced
"Long shared a bedroom and engaged in intimate sexual contact with plaintiff Flagg including kissing, massaging, masturbating of plaintiff Flagg by defendant Long and oral sexual contact," the suit says.
Long took the other plaintiff, Maurice Murray Robinson, 20, to Auckland, New Zealand, in October 2008 for his 18th birthday and engaged in oral sex with him, Robinson's suit alleges.
"Following the New Zealand Trip, Defendant Long regularly engaged in sexual touching, and other sexual acts with Plaintiff Robinson," Robinson's suit alleges.
"It is very unfortunate that someone has taken this course of action," Franklin, Long's spokesman, said Tuesday. "Our law firm will be able to respond once attorneys have had an opportunity to review the lawsuit."
Long frequently denounces homosexual behavior. A 2007 article in the Southern Poverty Law Center's magazine called him "one of the most virulently homophobic black leaders in the religiously based anti-gay movement."
"Everybody knows that a bishop or church pastor ... cannot have any sort of sexual relations or sexual relationship with one of your parishioners," the lawyer, B.J. Bernstein, said at a news conference Tuesday evening. "And even worse to have it with two young men who trusted him and got to know him at a very young age."
Bernstein said she has alerted federal authorities about the allegations.
In June, Robinson was arrested and charged with burglary in connection with a break-in to Long's office. An iPhone, iPad and other items -- more than $1,300 worth -- were taken from the office, according to the police report.
On Tuesday, Bernstein said the theft was Robinson's attempt to retaliate against the pastor. She said that once Robinson began telling others about his experience with Long, "he realized he wasn't the only one."
"It made [Robinson] angry," she said.
Both plaintiffs said the pastor, his church and church employees gave them cash and lavish gifts that ranged from cars to college tuition.
The suits also said that Long framed the sexual relationships as religious in nature.
The suits allege that Long chose the plaintiffs to be his "Spiritual Sons," a program that allegedly includes other young men from the church.
"Spiritual Sons are taken on public and private jets to U.S. and international destinations, housed in luxury hotels and given access to numerous celebrities including entertainment stars and politicians," the suit alleges.
Flagg moved into a home owned by another New Birth pastor when he was a high school junior, according to the suit, where Long would sometimes share a bed with him. Flagg was eventually put on the church's payroll, his suit alleges, with Long personally delivering his checks.
Flagg's suit says that Long presided over a spiritual "covenant" ceremony between the two of them.
"It was essentially a marriage ceremony, with candles, exchange of jewelry, and biblical quotes," Bernstein said Tuesday. "The bishop [told] him I will always have your back and you will always have mine."
Robinson's suit alleges that "Defendant Long would use Holy Scripture to discuss and justify the intimate relationship between himself and Plaintiff Robinson."
The lawsuits are seeking unspecified amounts of punitive damages from Long on various counts, ranging from negligence to breach of fiduciary duty.
The suits allege that various staff members working for Long, his church and the Longfellows Academy -- which the suit describes as an offshoot ministry of New Birth -- "knew of Defendant Long's sexually inappropriate conduct and did nothing to warn or protect [the plaintiffs]."
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Really Karen Clark? Really? Is this what we are doing?
The previous stops have been plagued with low attendance and cries of (false) attacks by gay marriage proponents. Dr. Alveda King, niece of civil rights icon Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has agreed to speak during the Atlanta stop on the tour scheduled for August 7, 2010 at the state capitol.
But it looks as if NOM is saving the coup de grace for the last stop on their hate tour with a special performance by Grammy winning gospel star Karen Clark Sheard. Yep, you read right.
Sheard is known for her amazing vocal ability and multi-octave range. A former member of the gospel group The Clark Sisters, Sheard and her siblings are often credited for blending the sound of popular music with gospel, most notably on the 80's hit "You Brought The Sunshine". Sheard's brand of gospel music along with her daughter's, gospel sensation Kiera Sheard is no stranger to gays and lesbians and can be frequently heard inside gay clubs.
If there was any doubt regarding where Sheard stood on LGBT rights, despite being apart of an industry and a religious denomination overflowing with gay and lesbian people, her upcoming performance in support of stripping a segment of the American population of their civil rights will deliver a strong answer.
It never fails that large (mostly white) anti-gay organizations will always find a person of color to help promote their agenda, and because so many of us think we've already overcome and our rights as African-Americans won't be up for popular vote next we take the bait. Karen Clark Sheard's participation in NOM's hate rally...and that's exactly what it is no matter how they try to disguise it... is a disgrace!
Karen you don't have to agree with gay marriage simply don't have one. You can cite your religious beliefs as reason why you disagree with marriage equality, but your religious beliefs should in no way dictate the laws in a secular society that will create two classes of people, those who have full equality and protections under the law and those who do not.
It's a sad day when a voice that has the power to heal and unite people is being used as a weapon of mass destruction, but of course in the most loving hypocritically Christian way possible. Love the sinner but hate the sin, right?
Sheard was scheduled to perform on August 15, 2010 at 2PM on the Capitol Steps in Washington, DC
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Traxx owner shot and killed
ATLANTA -- Organizers of Atlanta’s annual Black Gay Pride celebration are mourning the loss of one of their own.
Durand Robinson, 50, of Decatur, was shot and killed early Wednesday morning. Atlanta police said Robinson had gotten into an argument with someone just before shots rang out. Family and friends said Robinson may have been the victim of an attempted carjacking, however Atlanta police said investigators have not determined a motive or named a suspect in the shooting.
Robinson was co-owner of the popular gay nightclub Traxx, and the annual Black Gay Pride celebration that he helped organize drew tens of thousands of people to metro Atlanta each year during the Labor Day weekend.
*This is so tragic*
Durand Robinson, 50, of Decatur, was shot and killed early Wednesday morning. Atlanta police said Robinson had gotten into an argument with someone just before shots rang out. Family and friends said Robinson may have been the victim of an attempted carjacking, however Atlanta police said investigators have not determined a motive or named a suspect in the shooting.
Robinson was co-owner of the popular gay nightclub Traxx, and the annual Black Gay Pride celebration that he helped organize drew tens of thousands of people to metro Atlanta each year during the Labor Day weekend.
*This is so tragic*
Monday, August 16, 2010
Will Phillips is putting us all on NOTICE BABAY!!!!
This is too cute for words and so inspirational!
A Word from Julia
And I that's why I love this woman:
When asked if she hopes to see gay rights progress in those countries (homosexuality only became legal in India in 2009), Roberts said, “Everywhere. Even in America, we think we’re such forerunners and we haven’t worked out all the kinks either- and I think that love is the ultimate theme of our lives and to let everybody love in the best way they can in the most nurturing way with whoever that person is that they choose, that chooses them- if we could get that down, I think it would solve a lot of other problems.”
He has a "Vision"
When I announced I was gay, the church limited that grace and love. Although I had no doubt that God loved me, I discovered that God's love and the church's love can be two different things.
To be Christian is to be inclusive of people who love one another. This is why I support same-sex marriage.
As a pastor, I have counseled countless heterosexual and homosexual couples, and have observed that no matter the race, background or sexual orientation of the couple, a healthy relationship requires commitment, genuine respect and mutual love.
Though my partner and I had a commitment ceremony in 2003, and obtained a marriage license this past July in Washington D.C., we learned that marriage is more than our religious convictions and our commitment, but also about laws that will protect us.
Marriage equality is not about religious rights, but the right to equal benefits. At the end of 2003, the U.S. Government Accountability Office identified 1,138 federal provisions where marital status is a factor in determining or receiving benefits, rights and privileges.
These include next-of-kin hospital visits and medical decisions where one partner is too ill to be competent; automatic inheritance in the absence of a will and inheritance of jointly owned real and personal property through the right of survivorship. These benefits allow all marriages access to the social and emotional supports that can produce healthy families and communities.
I affirm the role of religion in our society. But no matter how powerful religion is, in the United States, the laws of the church and the laws of the government are intentionally separate.
Another view from the pulpit: Same-sex marriages will hurt families
In 1968, 73 percent of Americans disapproved of marriage between blacks and whites. Then, it was argued that interracial marriage would hurt families and dismantle societal structures. In 1967, the Supreme court ended race-based restrictions on marriage in Loving vs. Virginia.
Today, support of interracial marriage is stronger than it has ever been. So is support of same-sex marriage. Like interracial couples, gay couples are seeking equality under the law, asking their government for these rights, not individuals, or religious bodies.
If same-sex marriage is about love and religion is about love, then in this debate, love must go both ways. We must not be hateful in our disagreements over marriage. Verbal and emotional abuse should have no place in our sacred places of worship. The pulpit should not be used as a place of abuse even if one disagrees with same-sex marriage.
Jesus never mentioned homosexuality in his 33 years of life. But in Mark 12:31, he did emphasize, "...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." The apostle Paul said: "Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." I wonder what the debate over same-sex-marriage would be like if we applied this basic scripture?
True equality can begin when we see others as we see ourselves. I believe there is room to disagree, but just because we don't agree on my legal rights does not mean I am not entitled to them.
The gay community must also learn how to love those who disagree with them. If heterosexual couples and gay couples could see their commonality, equality would not just be the law of the land, but it could be a new law for humanity that governs our fragile future.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of O.C. Allen.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Loving Steph Jones
R&B Singer Steph Jones speaks the truth about our community...Luck Jordan Sparks...HEFFA...just joking!!!!!I love Jordan!!!
Judge Walker's Final Words on Prop 8
Final Stay Order
Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who last week struck down Proposition 8 as unconstitutional, has lifted his stay but same-sex marriages are still on hold.
Walker has ruled that same-sex marriages should resume immediately in California and put his order on hold until August 18 for the appeals court to review the matter.
Adds the Mercury News: "Walker's ruling invalidating the state's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage has already been appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Proposition 8 proponents have indicated they will seek an emergency stay from the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit of any order from the judge that would allow same-sex marriages to take place while the broader legal challenge proceeds."
Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who last week struck down Proposition 8 as unconstitutional, has lifted his stay but same-sex marriages are still on hold.
Walker has ruled that same-sex marriages should resume immediately in California and put his order on hold until August 18 for the appeals court to review the matter.
Adds the Mercury News: "Walker's ruling invalidating the state's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage has already been appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Proposition 8 proponents have indicated they will seek an emergency stay from the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit of any order from the judge that would allow same-sex marriages to take place while the broader legal challenge proceeds."
Justin Terry on GLO Network
She Has a new Attitude and a New Job
Good Luck to Patti!!!!
New attitude! Patti Labelle will join the cast of the Tony-winning Fela! on September 14th and will perform there until the show's scheduled closing in January. She will replace Tony winner Lilias White in the role of Fela's mother.
-A Broadway version of Glee will definitely happen, according to the show's co-creator Ryan Murphy, who says he is already auditioning the cast. No opening date has been disclosed. Murphy is also slated to direct the movie version of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart.
-Hairspray Tony winner Marisa Winokur will co-cost the coming CBS talk show about motherhood with openly lesbian Rosanne star Sara Gilbert.
-Patti Lupone and Brian Stokes Mitchell will star in the musical version of Pedro Almodovar's Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown, which begins previews at the Belasco Theatre on October 2nd.
-Turn around bright eyes: Tony nominee Justin "Kiki" Bond will perform a series of dates at Joe's Pub beginning on September 12th. If you haven't seen Justin Bond, you are missing one of the truly unique theatrical experiences of our days.
-Spider-Man: Turn Of The Dark will finally begin previews on November 14th after almost a year of delays related to its record-breaking $50M production cost.
-Tony winner Beth Leavel (Drowsy Chaperone) and George Wendt (Cheers) have been cast in the musical version of Elf, set to open at the Hirshfeld on November 14th. Wendt will play Santa, the lead role of Buddy has not yet been cast.
-A Broadway version of Glee will definitely happen, according to the show's co-creator Ryan Murphy, who says he is already auditioning the cast. No opening date has been disclosed. Murphy is also slated to direct the movie version of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart.
-Hairspray Tony winner Marisa Winokur will co-cost the coming CBS talk show about motherhood with openly lesbian Rosanne star Sara Gilbert.
-Patti Lupone and Brian Stokes Mitchell will star in the musical version of Pedro Almodovar's Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown, which begins previews at the Belasco Theatre on October 2nd.
-Turn around bright eyes: Tony nominee Justin "Kiki" Bond will perform a series of dates at Joe's Pub beginning on September 12th. If you haven't seen Justin Bond, you are missing one of the truly unique theatrical experiences of our days.
-Spider-Man: Turn Of The Dark will finally begin previews on November 14th after almost a year of delays related to its record-breaking $50M production cost.
-Tony winner Beth Leavel (Drowsy Chaperone) and George Wendt (Cheers) have been cast in the musical version of Elf, set to open at the Hirshfeld on November 14th. Wendt will play Santa, the lead role of Buddy has not yet been cast.
New Models Inc...Congrats to Amber Starr
GREETING TO ALL,
IT BECOMES WITH GREAT SADNESS TO MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AS IN THE HISTORY OF 12 YEARS NOW AND COUNTING WE HAVE NOT HAD EVEN THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF MAKING A DECISION SUCH AS THIS AND REGRET HAVING TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE FASHION.
AFTER MUCH THOUGHT AND POOR COMMUNICATION WITH THE REIGNING MISS MODELS INC 2010 (TAMISHA IMAN). MISS MODELS INC NATIONAL PAGEANTRY HAS COME TO A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AS TO HER TO RESIGN FROM THE POSITION AS MISS MODELS INC NATIONAL 2010. WE WHERE GOING TO AWAIT TO MAKE THIS OFFICIAL AS OF SUNDAY, AUGUST 15TH 2010 AND AFTER CAREFUL REVIEW DECIDED TO NOT FURTHER DELAY THE BUSINESS OF MMI.
WE WILL NOT GO INTO ANY FURTHER INFO REGARDING THIS DECISION OUT OF MAINTAINING A PROFESSIONAL APPROACH TO THE ART FORM. THERE ARE MANY DETERMINING FACTORS AS TO WHY THIS DECISION WAS MADE AND HARD FEELINGS ARE CERTAINLY "NOT" SOMETHING WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON HERE AT MMI.
WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE MISS MODELS INC NATIONAL 2010 (MISS AMBER STARR) "THE MMI REWIND" AND LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT 10 MONTH REIGN WITH HER AS SHE IS AWARE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND OVERWHELMINGLY TAKES ON THE POSITION. OFFICIALLY ASAP SHE WILL RECEIVE COMPLETE CROWNING ROYALTIES AND WILL TAKE ON HER FIRST NATIONAL BOOKING SEPT 24TH-26TH IN NORFOLK VA FOLLOWED BY A STUNNING EXCLUSIVE MMI SHOOT TO BE OFFERED ASAP PUBLICLY.
WE WELCOME HER TO THE NATIONAL ARENA AND TO THE MMI MAFIA NOW AND FOREVER. PLEASE NOTE WE WILL NOT OFFER ANY FURTHER INFO REGARDING THIS MATTER AS WE ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD. PLEASE FURTHER NOTE THAT ALL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS PER MMI ARE COMPLETE UPON THIS DECISION AS WELL.
RESPECTFULLY ,
MISS VEGA OVA
MMI NATIONAL PAGEANTRY CEO/FOUNDER
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
PROP 8 OVERTURNED>....VICTORY!!!!!!
Moments ago California's Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage was OVERTURNED by Judge Vaughn Walker..This is great but we still have a war to win..KEEP IT UP EVERYONE!!!! I'm so excited.!!!!
Prop 8 Ruling
Prop 8 Ruling
GLO to hit in September!!!
Well the wait is almost over. The new LGBT newtork "GLO" is set to release next month and I have to say that I am extremely excited about it..check out the website and all the new shows that will be coming!!!!
http://www.glotvnetwork.com/
http://www.glotvnetwork.com/
This is just Sad...Man kills Baby for Acting like a girl
Heartbreaking. Horrific. Beyond disgusting.
A 20-year-old Long Island man is behind bars and accused of brutally beating the life out of a 17-month-old boy that he was babysitting. The little boy was "acting like a little girl", Pedro Jones told police, reports ABC 7. "Police were called to the scene [at the Shinnecock Indian Reservation] around 8:25 Sunday night. The child was in cardiac arrest, police said. He was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later. According to court documents, Jones, who was not related to the boy, punched him over and over with closed fists and grabbed him by the neck. Documents say he confessed to the crime, telling troopers, 'I was trying to make him act like a boy instead of a little girl. I never struck that kid that hard before. A one-time mistake, and I am going to do 20 years.' He told troopers he planned to marry Roy's mother, who is a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation. They lived together on tribal land in Southampton."According to the felony complaint, Jones said, "I never struck the child that hard before" and "One mistake, I'm going to do 20 years." Beating an infant to death is a mistake? Jones was arraigned and plead not guilty to a charge of first-degree manslaughter, reports WCAX. And claimed yet another underage casualty to hypermasculine thug culture.
watch video @ http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=7588244
A 20-year-old Long Island man is behind bars and accused of brutally beating the life out of a 17-month-old boy that he was babysitting. The little boy was "acting like a little girl", Pedro Jones told police, reports ABC 7. "Police were called to the scene [at the Shinnecock Indian Reservation] around 8:25 Sunday night. The child was in cardiac arrest, police said. He was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later. According to court documents, Jones, who was not related to the boy, punched him over and over with closed fists and grabbed him by the neck. Documents say he confessed to the crime, telling troopers, 'I was trying to make him act like a boy instead of a little girl. I never struck that kid that hard before. A one-time mistake, and I am going to do 20 years.' He told troopers he planned to marry Roy's mother, who is a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation. They lived together on tribal land in Southampton."According to the felony complaint, Jones said, "I never struck the child that hard before" and "One mistake, I'm going to do 20 years." Beating an infant to death is a mistake? Jones was arraigned and plead not guilty to a charge of first-degree manslaughter, reports WCAX. And claimed yet another underage casualty to hypermasculine thug culture.
watch video @ http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=7588244
Thursday, July 29, 2010
A Pill to prevent HIV? Could it be?
On the closing day of the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria, some promising news on Tenofovir, a powerful antiretroviral previously reported on R20. A study presented by the Centers for Disease Control found that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir is safe for men who have sex with men (MSM). Tenofovir is found in Viread, Truvada and Atripla.
PrEP is one of the most promising prevention tools on the immediate horizon. With PrEP, HIV-negative individuals take antiretroviral drugs to prevent becoming infected with the virus. The first PrEP studies are testing tenofovir alone (Viread), while several later studies are testing tenofovir plus emtricitabine (Truvada). For that study, CDC-4323, Lisa Grohskopf, MD, from the CDC and her colleagues enrolled 400 HIV-negative MSM...The study was not designed to determine whether tenofovir could prevent HIV transmission, only whether or not it was safe compared with a placebo. All of the men were tested for HIV regularly and received rigorous HIV prevention counseling and condoms throughout the study. Grohskopf and her colleagues found that men taking tenofovir had no more side effects than men taking a placebo.
The promising PrEP results follow a breakthrough tenofovir microbicide study that found significant reduction in HIV transmissions in women who used the vaginal gel. The gel could theoretically be used in anal sex, but that has not been tested. Tenofovir is one of so-called HIV "morning after pills". The post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a cocktail of usually 3 or 4 anti-retoviral medications that must be taken after possible exposure to HIV and for up to 30 days. There are anecdotal reports that some gay men are taking "T" after a weekend of drug use and unprotected sex. More on PEP HERE and HERE.Meanwhile: A "substantial" proportion of gay men say they "would reduce condom use" if pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) proves to be effective at preventing HIV, according to study released last month and presented at AIDS 2010.The Centers for Disease Control is very bullish on the PrEP findings, especially the prevention possibilities for Black MSM. Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, talked with R20 at AIDS 2010 and we'll publish that interview soon.
PrEP is one of the most promising prevention tools on the immediate horizon. With PrEP, HIV-negative individuals take antiretroviral drugs to prevent becoming infected with the virus. The first PrEP studies are testing tenofovir alone (Viread), while several later studies are testing tenofovir plus emtricitabine (Truvada). For that study, CDC-4323, Lisa Grohskopf, MD, from the CDC and her colleagues enrolled 400 HIV-negative MSM...The study was not designed to determine whether tenofovir could prevent HIV transmission, only whether or not it was safe compared with a placebo. All of the men were tested for HIV regularly and received rigorous HIV prevention counseling and condoms throughout the study. Grohskopf and her colleagues found that men taking tenofovir had no more side effects than men taking a placebo.
The promising PrEP results follow a breakthrough tenofovir microbicide study that found significant reduction in HIV transmissions in women who used the vaginal gel. The gel could theoretically be used in anal sex, but that has not been tested. Tenofovir is one of so-called HIV "morning after pills". The post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a cocktail of usually 3 or 4 anti-retoviral medications that must be taken after possible exposure to HIV and for up to 30 days. There are anecdotal reports that some gay men are taking "T" after a weekend of drug use and unprotected sex. More on PEP HERE and HERE.Meanwhile: A "substantial" proportion of gay men say they "would reduce condom use" if pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) proves to be effective at preventing HIV, according to study released last month and presented at AIDS 2010.The Centers for Disease Control is very bullish on the PrEP findings, especially the prevention possibilities for Black MSM. Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, talked with R20 at AIDS 2010 and we'll publish that interview soon.
Monday, July 19, 2010
RuPaul's Drag U TONIGHT!!!!!
Applause for Miss NYC
AIDS Conference sends strong message to Obama
The activists were calling attention to the decreased funding of HIV/AIDS programs by the G8 leaders, as well as the "slowing and scaling back their commitments toward Universal Access to HIV care, treatment and prevention." No arrests were reported.
The AIDS 2010 protest mirrors the massive May 13 New York City action when hundreds of activists blocked traffic and laid down on Madison Avenue to protest the Obama Administration's record on HIV/AIDS funding.
Last week the Obama Administration unveiled the nation's first National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Although the strategy shifts focus to "concentrate HIV prevention efforts at the highest-risk population"—including men who have sex with men (MSM) and black Americans—the strategy entails no new additional spending.
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