World AIDS Day may be far behind us, but that doesn’t mean we should all pack up our red ribbons and forget about HIV awareness. People are still living with HIV. There’s still stigma against those people living with HIV. To make matters worse, people continue to spread misinformation about HIV.

Our job isn’t done yet. With that said, you might be asking to yourself, “How can I solve this problem? Donate money to an AIDS charity? Volunteer at a clinic? Get tested? Know and disclose my status? Communicate with my partner(s)?”

Yes, all of those are good things! But here’s an idea to start with—stop being suck a dick to people living with HIV.

We received an e-mail from a young man named Rory. You might otherwise recognize him by the name of JelloSlapper, a former Manhunt Man of The Week and our fourth place finisher in the Man of The Year countdown.

With the support of AIDS Calgary, Rory has started a new video series to promote awareness and share his experience as a 23 year-old man living with HIV. Click through to watch the first installment.

- Dewitt

Continue Reading

A few days ago, a colleague at Manhunt headquarters approached my desk and innocently inquired whether I’d be writing about Sean Cody‘s recent bareback threesome. I replied that, while I occasionally write about bareback scenes in order to encourage a dialogue about safer sex, I generally try to avoid posting too many clips without condoms. There are exceptions to this rule… But, arguably, those are a more subtle approach of encouraging the aforementioned dialogue.

Truthfully, I never want to come off as preachy on this topic. The words of the “disclaimer” on our bareback posts are carefully chosen: “We here at Manhunt Daily encourage you to make responsible decisions in your sexual activities, however you may interpret that. Please head over to Manhunt Cares for more information on safer sex techniques.”

Key words? Responsible decisions. However you may interpret that. The fact of the matter is that you’re all adults (or at least you should be if you’re reading this). You can have sex however you want to have sex. Make it romantic. Be rough. Fist one another. Cuddle vigorously. Give someone an enema facial.

However, whatever you’re doing, make sure it’s an informed decision. Get tested. Know your status. Communicate with your partner(s). If you use condoms, make sure they’re the right size. These are just a few small steps to ensuring your sexual health, but there are so many others.

Educate yourself. Know the facts. That’s really the most important step.

Now, after I said I don’t want to be preachy, this is starting to sound a bit preachy. Sorry! I actually opted to write this post after briefly doing my research and coming across a whole other “disclaimer”:

“In order to create this film our models underwent strict screening for HIV and other STDs. Our studio used the RNA by PCR test, which is the most effective test available. Unprotected sex is not something we recommend or endorse, even if you’re in a relationship.”

That’s the message shown before Sean Cody‘s bareback threesome. They’re obviously just looking out for their subscriber’s safety, right? Kind of like how they’re looking out for their models’ safety (to their best ability) by getting them tested in the most “strict” and “effective” way possible…

But do elements of this disclaimer rub you the wrong way? Do they take it too far by saying you shouldn’t have sex without a condom, even if you’re in a committed relationship? Or do you agree with the overall sentiment of their message?

- Dewitt

Photo credit: Sean Cody

Click through to see more pics and discuss this topic:

Continue Reading

Because your jizz should only be trapped by the finest prophylactic money has to offer. What stupid ass is going to be spending that much money on a rubber? Their last name can only be Kardashian.

It’s like spending a grip on toilet paper. It’s just going to get fucked up anyway.

- J. Harvey

I remember the first time I got tested for HIV. It was my first year in college, and it should have happened sooner than it did. You see, if you can believe it or not, I was rather promiscuous in my youth. I had a thing for older guys, and they had a thing for me. None of these encounters occurred without a condom, so the idea of getting tested seemed unnecessary to me.

It wasn’t until a confrontation with one of my regular hook-ups that I realized the fault in this logic. It’s important to know your status, even if you don’t think you’ve ever engaged in any risky behavior. With that thought in mind, I hopped in the car with my “sex friend” and headed to the local LGBT health clinic.

The actual test was painless. A small prick on my finger, and the results would be ready in less than a half hour. I mean, how frickin’ easy! As someone who’s extremely afraid of needles, it was comforting to know that I didn’t have to get blood drawn. Just one small prick. That’s all.

And then came the hard part—waiting. Those fifteen to twenty minutes stretched on for what seemed like days, as I met with a counselor and relived my entire sex life. What about that one time the condom broke? What if I was one of those rare cases of contracting HIV through oral sex? What if the test came back positive? What if the test came back positive?

That last question circled around in my brain over and over again, until someone returned with the results. The rest of the story is a blur. A sigh of relief, a handful of condoms, a dinner date at Boston Market (my pal was super classy), and a naughty celebration back at his place, during which we went through a good portion of those aforementioned condoms…

This is my convoluted way of asking if you’ve ever been nervous before, during or after an HIV test. It’s also another drawn-out introduction for the lads of It Gets Betterish, who sparked all these memories with the latest installment of their web series. Click through to watch it, and be sure to head over here for a list of testing resources.

- Dewitt

Continue Reading

What does World AIDS Day mean to you? Each year on December 1, people worldwide unite in the fight against HIV, showing support for people living with HIV and remembering those we’ve lost along the way. This year’s theme is “Getting To Zero” – zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths.

Although this may seem like a very ambitious goal, recent reports have shown that we’re on the right track. Due to a significant expansion in access to treatment, we’ve increased the number of people living with HIV to a record-breaking 34 Million. Please join the Manhunt family in celebrating this small victory with the American Foundation for AIDS Research’s (amfAR) Making AIDS History campaign.

In order to increase global awareness, it’s important that we all listen to and understand the stories of people living with HIV, as well as share our own experiences in the fight against HIV. Click through to hear a few of those stories, or head over to Manhunt Cares for additional information on advances in HIV treatment.

Should the spirit move you, feel free to chime in with your own stories!

- Dewitt

Continue Reading