MSM in Pacific calls for increased support

[Foward post from Jan Wijngaarden, msm-asia, 30 October 2008]

30 October 2008

Pacific men who have sex with men need
increased government & regional institutional support -
PACIFIC SEXUAL DIVERSITY NETWORK

The Pacific Sexual Diversity Network (PSDN) today called on Pacific governments and regional institutions to address issues affecting men who have sex with men (MSM) and other vulnerable populations in the response to HIV/AIDS in the Pacific.

In order to effectively achieve this, the PSDN (which currently includes organisations from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, PNG and Vanuatu) believes that organisations such as itself and other groups that represent vulnerable populations should be included as active participants in all national and regional HIV/AIDS meetings.

The PSDN, a network of sexual minority organisations in the Pacific, is currently undertaking advocacy and organisational capacity training in Sydney through the Australian Leadership Awards Fellowship program, which is funded by AusAID.

Through the program, which started this week and runs until November 7, the PSDN is working with the AIDS Council of NSW (ACON) to develop strong leadership and organisational skills, to be used to advocate for greater resources and recognition of the issue of HIV among MSM and other vulnerable populations across the Pacific.

"Across the world, MSM and sexual minorities are significantly more vulnerable to HIV. In the Pacific these groups include fa'afafine, leitis, akavaine, vakasalewalewa, mahu, raerae, palopa and takatapui. It is vital that Pacific governments and regional donors include these groups in their response to HIV in our region", said Ken Moala, Secretary of the PSDN.

He added that "legal barriers, stigma and discrimination, and gender inequality all make MSM and sexual minorities more vulnerable to HIV. For the Pacific to effectively respond to the HIV epidemic these factors must be addressed".

Despite these needs, MSM projects and organisations have little to no funding from governments or donors in the region to respond to HIV prevention and sexual health issues in their communities.

"There must be resources made available urgently to fund this work. And this requires leadership from national governments as well as donors and other institutions in the Pacific," Moala said.

As part of the ALAF program, the PSDN in partnership with ACON will be developing an advocacy strategy that will outline the range of issues facing MSM and sexual minorities in the Pacific and make recommendations to key stakeholders such as governments, regional institutions, churches, community leaders, health care workers and civil society.

For more information contact Mr Ken Moala on +0404 756 651.

Here comes the Glam Reaper

[Posted by Rob Sutherland on msm-asia Google Group, 02 October 2008]

IT'S QUEER EYE FOR THE GRIM GUY

21 years after the infamous Grim Reaper AIDS prevention campaign, the brutal ten pin bowler has been given a much-needed makeover - meet the Glam Reaper!

The new HIV prevention campaign is an initiative of ACON, the leading health promotion agency for NSW’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. ACON also provides information and support for people with HIV or at risk of acquiring HIV, including sex workers and people who use drugs.

With a tagline of "HIV Remains With Us”, the new campaign reinvents the original Grim Reaper concept with a more contemporary approach to HIV prevention. To see the original Australian Government advertisement released in 1987 click here.

ACON CEO Stevie Clayton says while the original campaign had a profound impact on creating awareness of HIV, it also came out at a time when we knew little about HIV and when there was great fear about HIV, leading to the demonisation of gay men and stigmatisation of people with HIV.

“HIV campaigns have evolved significantly since then as has our understanding of HIV and the communities affected by HIV,” she says. “We now know that gay men and people with HIV are not the problem – they are part of the solution.

“This new campaign uses humour to help people understand that while our knowledge of and attitudes towards HIV have come along way, some things have stayed the same. Basically, in 1987, condoms and lube were the best way to prevent HIV transmission. Over 20 years later, condoms and lube are still the best way to prevent HIV transmission.”

The foundation of the campaign is a 1min 42 sec video that features Sydney drag identity Mitzi MacIntosh as the Glam Reaper. Various community members from specific social groups and sub-cultures feature as the ‘ten pins” who prevent themselves from getting bowled over by embracing the safe sex message.

Written by Michael Idato, produced by Andrew Worboys and featuring narration by the original Grim Reaper voiceover artist John Stanton, the video was released on the internet over nine months ago as part of the campaign’s online viral marketing phase.

Stage two of the campaign launches this week and will include the placement of advertisements in local GLBT media and on gay web sites over the next two months. Posters will also be distributed throughout local sex-on-premises venues, licensed venues, selected nightclubs, gyms and at community events. Posters and resources will also be made available to sexual health centres, cafés and other private businesses. The video also screened before every session at Queerscreen’s recent Queerdoc festival (Sydney’s queer documentary film festival).

Ms Clayton says the project has been a real community effort with lots of people contributing their time and expertise for free. “We thank everyone involved for the great work they’ve done and for helping to build our community’s health and wellbeing.”

The new campaign video can be viewed on Youtube and MySpace.