NAPWA

The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAOAustralian Federation of AIDS Organisations. AFAO is the peak non-government organisation representing Australia's community-based response to HIV/AIDS. AFAO's work includes education, policy, advocacy and international projects. ) and National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) today launched the updated HIV Positive Gay Sex booklet aimed at engaging HIV positive gay men and some HIV negative gay men in Australia on issues related to HIV serostatus, gay sexuality and sexual contact.

NAPWA President Phillip Medcalf said the release of HIV Positive Gay Sex came at a crucial time:

“It is an important time for HIV Positive Gay Sex to be re-launched and simultaneously for a campaign for HIV + gay sex to be put into the community to raise awareness,” Medcalf said. “The recent research in the Futures III report, documenting the lives of positive Australians, reveals that dealing with disclosure and negotiating fulfilling sex lives for HIV positive gay men remain sensitive areas. This requires continued understanding and awareness on the part of all gay men. NAPWA is pleased at the timeliness of the release of the updated HIV Positive Gay Sex .”

AFAO National President Bill Whittaker said that the HIV Positive Gay Sex booklet was significant given that recent data from various surveys suggest an ongoing need to engage with HIV positive men around the issues of safe sex and sexual health.

“HIV/AIDS in Australia faces a potentially dangerous period for a number of complex reasons,” Whittaker said.. “One of these is the continuing practice of unprotected anal intercourse with casual partners by both HIV negative and HIV positive gay men in Australia and the consequent risk of new HIV transmissions”, he said. “HIV Positive Gay Sex aims to reduce this.”

Recent research has highlighted that HIV positive gay men continue to face stigma and discrimination. Despite this, most HIV positive gay men continue to play a vital role in preventing HIV transmission. HIV Positive Gay Sex aims to provide support for the maintenance of safe practices by HIV positive gay men.

HIV Positive Gay Sex includes updated medical information and more specific safe sex guidelines. It also addresses in more details issues such as anonymous sex situations, disclosure and negotiation in safe sex situations, those issues particular to seroconcordant and serodiscordant relationships and the use of recreational drugs in relation to sex.