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

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That’s no exaggeration. Manhunt has created a first-of-its-kind, interactive community report on gay and bisexual men’s sexual behavior.

This is DEFINITELY the report to check out for those of you who are easily bored by facts and figures. The results, which are based on a recently-published study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, are presented on a site that’s as fun to play with as it is informative – kind of like a series of online carnival games about how we’re having sex. You can ask Mr. Jizzy your cum questions, play with the “Jack In Your Box,” and pop some Viagra and see what happens (spoiler alert – it’s a boner).

All of the information comes from the almost 25,000 Manhunt members who took our Research Institute’s annual sex survey. Yes, Manhunt is your favorite place to meet guys, but we’re also into promoting sexual health and research through Manhunt Cares. The sex survey site is the result of taking all that data we learned and making it fun. Learning is always cooler when there’s cartoon penises.

We asked you guys about EVERYTHING on the survery. You told us what you do, where you’re doing it, and who you’re doing it with. That was just the beginning. You can now see for yourself what everyone else is doing, too.

The information the survey uncovered was full of surprises, and definitely dispels certain stereotypes about how gay and bisexual men have sex. For instance, did you know that less than 40% of men engaged in anal sex in their most recent sexual event? That sort of defeats the whole “gay men are all about the butt sex” notion. Other fun facts? 63.3% of dudes had anal sex with their first partner again. 25% of men surveyed didn’t kiss their partner on the mouth the last time they had sex. And the average age of men when they gave their first blowjob was 18!

What are you waiting for? Head over to http://www.mensnationalsexstudy.com/ and check it out. Warning: You may find yourself spending an extended period of time on the site. It’s that much fun.

For more information on the community report’s origins and about Manhunt and Manhunt Cares’ efforts to promote sexual health and information, check out the press release on Manhunt Cares here.

- J. Harvey

Kudos to Alicia Keys and the slew of celebrities involved in Keep A Child Alive‘s “Buy Life” campaign, but there’s a lot more to World AIDS Day than famous people in coffins. Yes, we understand these individuals are staging their “digital deaths” to raise funds for a very good cause. But there’s one person whose involvement is much more important today…

Duh, we’re talking about you. Manhunt Cares has partnered with GMFA, the Gay Men’s Health Charity, to promote their latest campaign “Count Me In”. The campaign asks men to show their commitment to stopping the spread of HIV by agreeing to a five-point action plan:

• I will know my HIV status.
• I will not assume I know someone else’s HIV status.
• I will take personal responsibility for using condoms.
• I will value myself and my health.
• I will stay informed about HIV and how it is spread.

Read more about the campaign over here, and be sure to visit Manhunt Cares’ testing resources page for information on organizations near you.

- Dewitt

To watch a video about the “Count Me In” campaign, follow the JUMP:

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Pos-pos sex isn’t something we talk about every day. This may sound like a giant “duh”, but an individual’s sex life doesn’t come to an end when he becomes HIV-positive. Of course, it’d be ridiculous to assume all HIV-positive men are using condoms in the bedroom with other pos guys, but what resources are available for guys who want to manage risk, stay healthy and have great sex?

Enter the WRAPPED OR RAW campaign, from Australian organization Positive Life NSW. The campaign acknowledges that, in 2010, gay men are continuing to develop new ways to manage the risk of HIV transmission, including pos-pos sex. The organizers believe other HIV campaigns and resources need to recognize this, while continuing to promote a community-wide message that condoms and lube are effective means for HIV prevention.

“We know that most men in Sydney use condoms most of the time,” says CEO Rob Lake. “In fact, the recent PASH Study reported 59.5% use them all the time with casual partners. We also need strategies that acknowledge the education needs of the other 40.5%”.

The WRAPPED OR RAW site provides a forum for HIV-positive men to share their stories, talk with each other and leave comments. It emphasizes disclosure and communication, while offering information on other health risks such as LGV, Syphilis, Hepatitis-C and HIV-reinfection. Overall, what do you think of the campaign? Should more organizations acknowledge choices made by pos guys about using condoms in pos-pos sex in their print and online resources?

- Dewitt

If you’re in the New York area, we highly recommend heading over here to get a ticket for High. We swear we have no ulterior motives in telling you this (despite the fact that Manhunt Cares will be sponsoring the event). Based on the description, it actually sounds quite intriguing:

“High is a provocative, funny and unapologetic show designed to get people talking. The evening’s centerpiece is the NY premiere of “Through a Glass, Darkly,” a 45 minute highly theatrical rock opera about relationships torn apart by crystal meth.”

For those who may be worried, rest assured that the show ends on a note of ”hope, healing, self-realization and renewal”. NYCGMC’s mission is to utlilize song for the purposes of shedding light on and encouraging dicussion about issues that effect our community. A thirty-minute panel will follow the production, including members of organizations which are leading the way on awareness and prevention. Be sure to check it out!

- Dewitt

For a taste of the Gay Men’s Chorus previous performances, follow the JUMP:

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