MANHUNT Daily

Can You Be Sued For Lying When You Give Blood?

Several months ago, we asked if you've ever lied to donate blood, by saying that you've never had gay sex. Most of your answers fell into two distinct categories. Some folks said things along the lines of, "I don't want anything that doesn't want me." Others argued that a little fib doesn't hurt anyone, particularly in a case where it could save a life.

Well, a Canadian man named Kyle Freeman fell into the latter group of logic, and now Canadian Blood Services is suing him for not telling the truth. Freeman is healthy, HIV-negative and wholly admits to his lie. He's also suing them back for discrimination. Well, this could get interesting!

- Dewitt

HIV Vaccine Gives Hope

For the first time in the history of HIV/AIDS research, a vaccine has been developed that has shown to be partially effective in stopping infection. The vaccine was developed in Thailand in an experiment involving more than 16,000 people.

The vaccine is able to prevent infection about 31% of the time. It's not 100% effective, but it's a start many thought would never come. The idea of a vaccine for HIV was one that many scientists had ruled out, and this finding will likely give new vigor to the search for a more effective vaccine.

While this vaccine is not the cure or anything close to it, it could likely lead to a more effective vaccine in the future. For that reason, this find is truly groundbreaking.

- Andy

Ukraine Says No To Elton John Adoption

Elton John was all eager to adopt an Ukrainian boy who is HIV-positive but an Ukrainian official is not having it due to Elton's "single" status and his old age. Except we all know he's not really single, just not legally allowed to be married.

Elton met the boy while doing his charity work and went on to say that his partner always wanted to adopt, "'David always wanted to adopt a child and I always said 'no' because I am 62 and I think because of the traveling I do and the life I have, maybe it wouldn't be fair for the child. But having seen Lev today, I would love to adopt him. I don't know how we do that but he has stolen my heart."

According to an Ukrainian officials adopted parents must be legally married and be less than 45 years older then the child. So it looks like Elton may not be eligible, unfortunately. It really doesn't seem fair, maybe he can try to pull a Madonna? Use your fame and fortune for something!

- Andy

Universal Circumcisions? The CDC May Recommend It

The CDC is pondering whether to recommend universal circumcisions for boys in America as a way to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS. It has been shown that circumcised men are at lower risk (but not necessarily gay men) of contracting HIV than men who still have their foreskin.

Obviously this would be a controversial recommendation as the exact benefits of circumcision are still debated. Many also think it's wrong to surgically remove a natural part of the body without consent of the person. I personally think circumcisions are overrated, but my opinion isn't really based on health-related issues.

Also, shouldn't curbing HIV be about safe sex and not a false sense of security in being circumcised? What do you guys think?

- Andy

IML's Bareback Ban: Hot or Not?

Last week, International Mr. Leather (IML) founder Chuck Renslow issued a press release stating that they "will no longer allow participation in the IML Leather Market by any entity which promotes barebacking or distributes/sells any merchandise tending to promote or advocate barebacking."

The internet has been buzzing about this decision, with safe-sex advocates applauding the move. On the other side, frustrated pro-bareback bloggers have been calling attention to a CDC study on the declining rate of HIV infection, insisting that there's no connection between watching bareback porn and having bareback sex. Some have even said that if IML is so concerned over participants' health, they'd consider a ban on smoking--an activity that they believe will kill more people in the leather community.

But let's get back to those safe-sex advocates, who point out that the CDC study refers to overall numbers. They argue that other studies suggest that men who have sex with men, particularly of the younger variety, are most affected by new HIV infections. Others have reflected on the role pornography and pop culture played during their developmental years, highlighting a need for better health education for LGBT youth.

I could go on for days recounting some of the arguments floating around, but perhaps we should engage in our own little debate. What do you think about IML's decision to ban bareback vendors and merchandisers?

- Dewitt

Photo credit: Beth Rooney

For the full press release from Chuck Renslow, follow the JUMP:

Pedro Out Now On DVD (Plus Will Clark vs. Dustin Lance Black!)

Milk's screenwriter Dustin Lance Black has been a busy man since the critically praised Harvey Milk biopic. Recently, he's been spotted speaking at several events and even made an appearance at New York City's Gay Pride Parade. But prior to that, the filmmaker released yet another biopic based on the life of Pedro Zamora, a Cuban American and HIV-Positive cast-member of MTV's The Real World.

Some of you may be too young to remember Zamora, while some of you may have been past the "I want my MTV" phase when his season aired. Either way, his story is an important one. Pedro is out now on DVD, and I'd highly recommend checking it out.

And while we're still talking about Dustin Lance Black, did you happen to see Will Clark's incredibly bitchy newsletter regarding Porno Bingo? Heritage of Pride specifically asked him to not announce that Black or Cleve Jones would be attending the event, and now he's in a tizzy because they cancelled on him for announcing both guests. I appreciate that Clark is trying to do something good here, but I'd appreciate it even more if he'd stop being such a drama queen. Check it out after the JUMP. 

- Dewitt

For an excerpt of Will Clark's newsletter, follow the JUMP:

Down Low Culture Does Not Increase HIV Infection Among Black Women

You've probably heard it before. Men on the "down low" are responsible for the rise of HIV infection in the black community. They run around having unprotected sex with other men and then go home to sleep with their wives. It's not rocket science, right? Too bad it's not true.

A study led by lead researcher Lisa Bond, PhD has shown that men who identified as down low were no more likely to spread HIV to their female partners than individuals who didn't identify with the label. Reporter Trenton Straube interviewed Bond for POZ magazine, tackling issues of bisexuality, race, unprotected sex and more. 

"We need to shift our focus away from the down low," Bond told the magazine. "It’s been used quite extensively to demonize black gay and bisexual men, and we need to shift our focus on to more meaningful issues that do drive the HIV epidemic among HIV communities of color and particularly among black gay and bisexual men. And those are much bigger issues like poverty and racism and homelessness and crime incarceration rates."

You can read the whole interview here. Now do you still think that "down low" men are to blame?

- Dewitt

Sweden Asks You To F**k And Tell

A Swedish safe sex campaign has gotten creative by issuing 100,000 uniquely numbered condoms and encouraging individuals to share how they used them. The promotion incorporates several homosexual themes, such as a groom sleeping with his best man and two football players heading off the field for some private time. If you can read Swedish, check out the blog with each condom's reported story.

- Dewitt

To watch a video from the campaign, follow the JUMP:

Have You Ever: Lied To Give Blood?

To this day, the FDA and American Red Cross have banned any men who have slept with another man even once since 1977 from donating blood or being listed on the National Bone Marrow registry. The policy is blatantly discriminatory and outdated, even more so when you consider that they don't ask whether someone has had unprotected heterosexual intercourse.

Presumably, the Red Cross isn't peeking into your bedroom, so many men who have had man-to-man encounters are inclined to lie for the sake of doing a good deed. On the other hand, several of us are outraged by the policy being in place and refuse to donate our blood until the ban is lifted. Where do you stand?

- Dewitt

Photo credit: David Norris

Naked HIV-Positive Man Invades Seattle Church

When one of the gay parishioners of Seattle's Unity Church of God in Christ prayed that a naked man would enter his life, he probably didn't expect a naked HIV-positive man to shatter through the window and smear his blood all over the walls.

Okay, so we're kidding about the whole prayer part, but the latter bit wasn't a joke. A 46 year-old man, possibly high on PCP, chose an unconventional method of entering the Lord's house, breaking more than some stained glass in the process. According to reports, "a picture gallery was torn from the walls, a trophy case was broken open, mirrors were shattered - and blood was smeared on walls, fixtures and furniture."

Members of the congregation began cleaning up the blood until they discovered that the man was HIV-positive and had hepatitis C. The church has forgiven the man for the "really really devastating" incident upon learning that his brother killed himself on their property 29 years ago on that same Sunday.

Yowsers! Do you think he's been planning this ambush over all these years? I don't really understand why he'd take out his frustration on the church for his brother's suicide, but I guess I don't know the full story, eh?

- Dewitt