Gay Day

Gay Men Talk PrEP, “Chem Sex” and HIV Drug Smuggling

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The most stunning facet of the MSM pre-conference (“Gay Day”) at AIDS2016, the international conference happening now in Durban, South Africa, was that so many of the gay men in attendance had the courage to show up at all. Held Saturday, the gathering featured hundreds of gay HIV advocates, including those from countries in which they risk dire consequences for being open about their sexuality – or for even providing services to other gay men.

In his first installment of video coverage from AIDS2016, blogger Mark S. King gets personal with these advocates about their lives back home. He also chats with a “chem sex” expert from the United Kingdom about the surprising rates of crystal meth use among gay Londoners, and even engages in a little PrEP drug smuggling with a German who is taking the prevention medication even though PrEP has yet to be approved in his home country.

Chris Beyrer, the openly gay president of the International AIDS Society, the conveners of the massive AIDS2016 conference, also has some strong words about the language around “ending AIDS,” while hailing PrEP as the most powerful and effective new prevention tool since the condom.

Queerty is featuring Mark’s coverage this week, which continues with planned marches, activist protests, and trips to the eye-popping Global Village. “The Global Village represents everything inspiring and creative about AIDS activism from around the globe,” Mark says. “It’s like ‘It’s A Small World’ for AIDS. I can’t wait to show it to you.”

Related: Ten Things Poz Guys Want Negative Guys To Know

Find out more about the work of MSMGF, the sponsors of the MSM pre-conference, or get more information about AIDS2016 or HIV/AIDS at the most comprehensive HIV resource on the net, TheBody.com.

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