5 THINGS TO KNOW

Having older brothers increases men’s likelihood of being gay.

If you’re a guy with an older brother, there’s an increased chance you’re gay. Scientists have noticed this pattern in previous research, but now they think they have a biological explanation as to why, and it starts long before birth. The results were published in the journal PNAS on Monday.Read the full article HERE.  

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Program at Florida State University paves the path for becoming an LGBTQ+ ally.

This past Tuesday, Dec. 5, the Allies and Safe Zones 101 workshop offered a three-hour basic training in allyship and basic LGBTQ+ issues. The Allies and Safe Zones program promotes acceptance and support of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and Pansexual (LGBTQ+) individuals. Read the full article HERE.  

5 THINGS TO KNOW

How childhood abuse affects a man’s sexual orientation for the rest of his life.

Sexual abuse will not orient you, it will disorient you. In my psychotherapy practice, I’ve been addressing the many-faceted issue of straight men who have gay sex. It may seem easy to conclude that such men are gay or bisexual and simply in denial… Read the full article HERE.  

5 THINGS TO KNOW

Body dysmorphia still runs rampant in the gay community.

Every morning, Jamal Jones rolls out of bed, shuffles over to his bathroom, and flips on the light switch. The 29-year-old Washington, DC, resident is slim-framed, by all accounts handsome. On those mornings, he can see the sleep in his eyes, the stubble growing on his chin… Read the full article HERE.  

5 THINGS TO KNOW

What do the new ‘gay genes’ tell us about sexual orientation?

Two gene variants have been found to be more common in gay men, adding to mounting evidence that sexual orientation is at least partly biologically determined. How does this change what we already knew? Didn’t we already know there were “gay genes”? Read the full article HERE.  

HEALTH

CDC reports HIV diagnoses occur sooner after infection.

HIV is being diagnosed sooner after infection than previously reported, according to a Nov. 28 press release issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the release, there was a 7-month improvement over a 4-year period, from a median of 3 years and 7 months in 2011 to 3 years in 2015. Read the full article HERE.

BUSINESS

United HealthCare is trying to avoid covering PrEP – again!

In August, United Healthcare was heavily criticized for denying coverage of Truvada to a bisexual client because, the company claimed, he engaged in “high risk homosexual behavior.” In addition to apologizing for the “insensitive language,” United Healthcare announced that it was updating its policy and would no longer require pre-authorization for Truvada. Read the full article HERE.