Stefania Sarrubba

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Man Serving 30 Years for Failing to Disclose his HIV Status Released

A man serving 30 years for not disclosing his HIV status to sexual partners has been released 25 years earlier.

Former college wrestler Michael ‘Tiger Mandingo’ Johnson left Boonville’s prison, Missouri, yesterday (9 July).

In 2013, Johnson was the protagonist of what many defined a racially charged trial. His case was also one of the most relevant in the ongoing discussion about the criminalization of HIV transmission.

Criminalizing transmission

‘I feel great,’ Johnson told BuzzFeed as he left Boonville Correctional Center.

‘Leaving prison is such a great feeling.’

Police arrested Johnson, a black man, for ‘recklessly’ transmitting HIV to two men and exposing four others to it. Four out of these six sexual partners are white men.

The jury found him guilty of one of the two transmission cases and of all four exposure cases.

Johnson was serving 30 years

What struck many was the way Johnson’s trial was handled, particularly the fact that jurors were reportedly shown images of the man’s penis.

Johnson ended up receiving a lengthier sentence than Missouri’s average for second-degree murder, 30.5 years.

In December 2016, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District overturned his conviction because prosecutors had waited until the last moment to disclose evidence.

To avoid another trial, Johnson took a no-contest Alford plea deal. He was later granted suspended parole.

Black men and HIV

Some argue that Johnson’s case proved that race plays a part in HIV transmission trials in the US.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published research projecting that if current trends continue, one in every two black men who have sex with men in the US would become HIV positive in their lifetimes. This would happen despite them having ‘fewer partners and lower rates of recreational drug use than other gay men’.

On a global level, a disproportionate number of the roughly 1 million people a year who die of AIDS are black.

HIV transmission law in Missouri

Current state law in Missouri punishes HIV-exposure by up to 15 years in prison, or as many as 30 years if HIV is transmitted.

A Republican bill tried to change the law by reducing punishment for knowingly transmitting HIV from a felony to a misdemeanor. If passed, the new law would have taken into account several factors. Among these, whether the accused used a condom or was taking medication.

The bill’s sponsors say they will try again to get it passed in the next legislative session.

See also

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Parents of LGB Kids Still Take Years to Adjust to Their Coming Out

Parents of gay, lesbian and bisexual kids take years to adjust to their children coming out.

A new study has shown that parents of LGB youth struggle for years after finding out about their sexuality.

A study tackling the struggles of LGB kids

The research by George Washington University is the first of its kind to specifically tackle parents of LGB kids.

For the study, the researchers surveyed 1,200 parents of LGB youth ages 10 to 25.

They answered questions like, ‘How hard is it for you, knowing that your son or daughter is LBG?’

Significantly, the study has found little difference between the responses of mothers and fathers whose child had just come out compared to those who had years to process the new information.

Parents still struggle after their kids have come out

‘Surprisingly, we found that parents who knew about a child’s sexual orientation for two years struggled as much as parents who had recently learned the news,’ said David Huebner, a lead researcher for the study.

‘Two years is a very long time in the life of a child who is faced with the stress of a disapproving or rejecting parent.’

The study also highlighted that parents of older children had a tougher time, but both mothers and fathers had similar struggles.

Parents need to speed up their adjustment process

Recent research also showed that nine in 10 LGBTI young people in the UK experience anxiety or depression. Knowing that one’s closest family members aren’t accepting of their sexuality might also impact LGBTI kids’ mental health.

Moreover, Huebner feels strongly that mothers and fathers who have a difficult time adjusting still genuinely care about their children and eventually do come around.

‘Our results suggest interventions to speed up the adjustment process would help not only the parents but also their children,’ said Huebner.

‘LGB youth with accepting families are more likely to thrive as they enter adulthood.’

See also

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San Marino Bans Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation

The enclave state of San Marino has banned discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The citizens of the small state in the Italian peninsula has voted in a referendum. The motion passed with 71.46% of votes on Sunday 2 June.

This is another major victory for the local LGBTI community. Until 2004, homosexuality in the country was punishable by three to 12 months of jail time.

The attitude towards the community has changed over the last few years.

In November 2018, San Marino also passed civil union laws for same-sex couples.

The LGBTI community in San Marino

Article 4 of the constitution will now include a new clause among all the specifications on which the principle of equality applies before the law.

The clause ‘without any discrimination on the base of sexual orientation’ will be now part of the article.View image on Twitter

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TheFlagandAnthemGuy@FlagAnthemGuy

#SanMarino is now the 11th country to constitutionally ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.

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It has become the eleventh country in the world to include LGBTI rights into its constitution, following into the footsteps of UK, Sweden, Portugal, Malta, Bolivia, Ecuador, New Zealand, Mexico, South African and the Fiji Islands.

See also

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Bisexuals Are on the Rise in the US — and it’s Due to Young Women of Color

More Americans identify as bisexual in a trend led by young women of color, new study shows.

According to the latest biannual General Social Survey (GSS), more than 3% of people in the US identify as bisexual. Significantly, those attracted to and/or dating both genders in 2008 were just 1%.


Sociologists D’Lane Compton and Tristan Bridges have commented on the survey, pointing out that the number of bisexuals seems to increase every year. On the other hand, the number of those identifying as gay or lesbian is stationary.B

They also highlighted that the rise in bisexuals is almost entirely due to women. As more and more young women identify as bi, men dating both genders haven’t increased in number.

More specifically, the upswing has been concentrated among young women of color — black women, especially.

The two sociologists further noted that the data collected by GSS mirrored those by a Gallup survey.

‘Gallup reported that much of the change in LGBT identification between 2012 and 2016 could be accounted for by young people, women, college-educated people, people of color, and those who are not religious,’ the two wrote.

The GSS survey also shows that the number of those identifying as gay or lesbian has decreased between 2016 and 2018.

Homosexuals were nearly 2.5% in 2016, whereas this percentage dropped to slightly more than 1.5% in 2018.

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Police Violently Raid Popular Gay Club in Ukraine

A gay club in the city of Dnipro in Ukraine has been violently raided by police.

Potemkin, a popular club for gay men in the city in central Ukraine, was the target of a police raid on 20 April.

What happened?

According to Nash Mir, one of the most prominent local LGBTI organizations, police burst into the night club at 1am.

Once inside the club, police officers forced everyone to lie down. At the time, about 30 visitors were at the club, alongside several members of staff.

Police then confiscated mobile phones. Moreover, some of the staff complained about other items disappearing from the cloakroom.

Eyewitnesses claim police officers behaved in a homophobic way, yelling slurs at them. Moreover, police allegedly forced two foreigners to sing the national anthem of Ukraine.

Officers also allegedly inflicted injuries to one of the club’s visitors.

The club’s owners and some visitors filed applications on illegal actions of the police to Sobornе Police Department in Dnipro.

What were the reasons for the raid?

The official website of Dnipro police presented an explanation for the raid.

Police explained they called a search within a pre-trial investigation initiated under Part 2 of Article 302 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine which criminalizes the creation and the management of brothels and trading in prostitution.

The article, however, didn’t address the alleged homophobic conduct during the raid.

They confirmed they removed equipment, laptops and mobile phones, as well as condoms.

Gay sex between consenting adults isn’t a crime

‘We strongly condemn these obviously homophobic and illegal actions of the police in Dnipro city,’ spokesperson for Nash Mir Andriy Maymulakhin said in a statement.

‘At the time when there is no shortage of genuine criminal offence in Ukraine, including hate crimes based on sexual orientation, the police actually engaged in the fight against gay sex between consenting adult men.’

He also added: ‘We want to separately emphasise that to prosecute so-called “distribution of pornography” and “running brothels” (Articles 301 and 302 of the Criminal Code respectively) is an anachronism in the modern democratic world and an instrument of selective pressure if this affects the voluntary actions of adult individuals.’

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100,000+ Attend LGBTI Pro-choice March Against World Congress of Families

LGBTI advocacy groups and transfeminist organizations gathered in Verona, Italy, today (30 March) to protest the World Congress of Families.

Organizers estimated that the march reached more than 50,000 people. Many took to the streets of the city in Northern Italy with placards and banners.

The demonstration aims to support the LGBTI community and all women whose rights have been threatened by the WCF.

Now in its 23rd year, the Christian Congress has raised concerns across the country and internationally for its vocal opposition of LGBTI rights and reproductive rights.

A platform to spread discrimination

‘We’re more than 50,000 according to official estimations’ says Mattia Stella, President of Pride Vicenza.

‘It’s impossible to tell where the parade ends.’

He joined many other LGBTI people and allies for the demonstration.

‘I’m here today with thousands of other people to state there’s no such thing as one kind of family. And that gender equality should be a priority for every country claiming to be democratic,’ he told GSN.

‘Events such as the WCF are providing platforms to spread hate and discrimination.’

He furthermore added: ‘We’re not here only for ourselves, but also for the future generations. We hope they won’t have to go through this medieval-like era someone is imposing upon us.’

Anti-LGBTI speakers at World Congress of Families

A three-day convention, the WCF opened its doors on 29 March.

Significantly, the counter-protest took place on the same day where Italy’s far-right Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini is set to speak.

Among this year’s speakers, there are also international figures infamous for opposing LGBTI rights, such as Lucy Akello.

As Shadow Minister for Social Development, Akello supported a law in Uganda mandating the death penalty or life imprisonment for gay people.

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Trans Men Forced to Buy Hormones Illegally as Testosterone Becomes Unavailable

Italian trans men have been left without testosterone shots crucial for their hormonal therapy since September 2018.

The Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (AIFA) is the public agency that regulates drug distribution in Italy. In February 2019, it updated its list of temporarily unavailable drugs.

The list now includes many of the most popular testosterone-based medications, crucial in hormonal therapy for trans men. The most popular being Testoviron, a testosterone-based injectable solution by German pharmaceutical giant Bayer.

Buying drugs online can be extremely dangerous

Many see no other way than to buy those meds they desperately need online from countries such as India, Russia, and Ukraine. These cheaper drugs purchased illegally might have potentially negative effects on people’s health.

In a reportage published by Italian magazine L’Espresso, the situation is described as an ‘emergency’.

Trans men need to take testosterone enhancing medications for their whole life. Stopping taking hormones would impact trans men’s physical as well as their mental health dramatically.

Many trans men dread getting their period back. This happens when a stronger testosterone shot, such as the now unavailable Testoviron, is replaced by those containing lower levels of testosterone, such as Sustanon by Aspen Pharma. This is the main substitute for Testoviron.

Except now Sustanon, too, seems to have disappeared from the chemist’s shelves.

‘Many people resort to websites selling testosterone illegally on the Internet or at local gyms,’ Michele Formisano, president of Italian trans advocacy group CEST, told GSN.

‘It’s hormones we’re talking about. They often have no idea of what they’re about to inject themselves with. Particularly, many young trans men who are yet to see an endocrinologist end up buying meds carelessly.’

He furthermore added: ‘This is an issue across the board. It doesn’t affect trans men exclusively. Cis men with tumors or genetic diseases need Testoviron for their hormonal therapy as well.’

‘Production issues’

A spokesman for AIFA explained the Italian demand for testosterone-based drugs is higher than most countries, such as the Netherlands.

However, importing the drug from the Netherlands will imply a ‘packaging issue’, Domenico Di Giorgio told L’Espresso. The package insert would be in Dutch and therefore the drug would not be marketable in Italy.

AIFA also told GSN that the lack of testosterone-based meds might be due to a production issue, such as the malfunctioning of machinery.

Di Giorgio further explained patients are unaware of other legal solutions, such as going to their local public healthcare facility (ASL) and filling out a form.

Whoever needs a specific drug can fill out a form, which then is sent to a hospital pharmacy and, finally, to AIFA for approval.

Public healthcare facilities

However, not all ASLs deal with cases of gender dysphoria, particularly in southern Italy.

‘There are very few public healthcare facilities treating gender dysphoria here. Therefore, many trans men choose to see endocrinologists privately,’ Formisano added.

‘Public health endos often don’t know or don’t want to deal with this.’

An endocrinologist working for an ASL might refer a patient to a gender dysphoria specialist who often works in a different region.

In many cases, Rome is the closest destination for trans men from the south. Accessing testosterone-based medications would mean sustaining expensive travel costs to get to the capital city.

Alongside a lack of experience in treating transgender patients, ASL staff often misgender and discriminate against trans men and women.

‘In many ASLs, you need to explain your situation to untrained staff,’ Formisano said.

Many maintain this happens because the staff there isn’t properly trained on LGBTI issues. This leads to a breach of trust between healthcare professionals and patients.

One of the consequences is for trans patients to neglect their healthcare and resort to dangerous alternatives.

A trans advocacy group is offering support

‘We’re providing trans men with legal support in the event public endocrinologists refuse to fill out the form to import testosterone,’ Formisano also said.

‘Some of us have stocked up on testosterone. We need to take it every 15, 21 or 28 days, according to the specific therapy we’re on. We need to take hormones our whole life.’

Many trans advocacy groups are protesting and launching campaigns to raise awareness on the issue.

AIFA told GSN that Sustanon will be back on the shelves at the end of April, whereas Testoviron will become available in September 2019. That would make a year after it first went missing.

‘A year for a trans man on hormonal therapy is an eternity,’ said Formisano.

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Brexit Might Be the End of LGBTI Protection, Human Rights Lawyer Warns

The Brexit process is threatening the rights of the LGBTI community, British lawyer Helena Kennedy warns.

After Prime Minister Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal was defeated by a historic margin in parliament, her government survived the no-confidence vote. However, the situation still feels uncertain ahead of the official Brexit date, 29 March 2019.

In an interview with Reuters, Kennedy explained the lack of a government commitment to the Human Rights Act might be a sign the law will be replaced or repealed after Brexit.

The Human Rights Act incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into the British statute book. It protects citizens on the ground of sexual orientation and gender identity.

‘If you’re a gay man or woman, a person who’s bisexual, a person who’s transsexual, just beware, this is what they have in mind,’ said Kennedy.

The human rights lawyer is also an opposition Labour member of the House of Lords. Moreover, she has always championed LGBTI rights. In 1996, she won a landmark ruling that made it illegal to discriminate against transgender people at work.

Human rights are also at risk thanks to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), a Northern Irish party that supports the government in key votes. The DUP also opposes marriage equality and legalizing abortion in Northern Ireland.

‘Take your signal from the fact that the DUP has been able to exercise so much power in this government.’

Kennedy furthermore added: ‘Look at this small group of people, who are deeply reactionary, homophobic, misogynistic.’

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US Bisexual Veterans More Likely to be at Risk for Depression and PTSD

Recent research shed a light on the alarming reality of bisexual service members and veterans.

According to MedicalXPress, US service members and veterans who identify as bisexual may be at higher risk for mental health issues than their gay, lesbian or straight peers.

Bisexual individuals represent the largest segment of the LGBTI community. Interestingly, both bi men and women are overrepresented among those who have served in the military, MedicalXPress further reports.

The research is led by Katie McNamara, a US Air Force captain and third-year doctoral student at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.

McNamara has identified a lack in research covering bisexual vets.

‘There’s quite a bit of research on military and veteran mental health and LGBTI health, but very little that combines the two. And before this project, there was absolutely nothing specifically focusing on the sexual minority subgroup of bisexual military-affiliated individuals,’ she explained.

McNamara teamed up with professors Jeremy Goldbach, Sara Kintzle and Carl Castro of the USC Military and Veterans Programs, as well as Air Force clinical social worker Carrie Lucas, PhD.

In terms of active duty service members, 2% of men identify as gay and 2% identify as bisexual. As for women, 7% identify as lesbian and 9% identify as bisexual.

Research also shows bisexuals (28%) are less likely to be out than gay (71%) and lesbian (77%) soldiers. This means they are less likely to have a community of like-minded individuals and allies to rely upon.

McNamara believes there’s a connection between this lack of support and the mental health of bi vets.

Bisexual veterans, in fact, are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from severe depression. They are also 2.3 times more likely to suffer from PTSD than their straight peers.

Furthermore, bisexuals are also three times more likely to suffer from depression than their gay and lesbian peers. Research highlighted they’re nearly twice as likely to experience PTSD than gay and lesbian vets.

McNamara set out to conduct a thorough statistical analysis using a multi-city sample.

‘Even when I controlled for a wide range of specific demographic and military-related variables that might put some populations at higher risk for certain mental health issues, the results still indicated that bisexual veterans fare more poorly in terms of mental health outcomes,’ she said.

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Mexican Mayor Assisting LGBTI Migrants Slams Trump’s ‘Tactic of Intimidation’

A Mexican mayor who provided assistance to LGBTI migrants has said Trump’s demand for a wall is a ‘tactic’.

Jesús Antonio Pujol Irastorza is the mayor of Mexican border town Nogales, a port of entry to the US. The city borders Nogales, Arizona.

Daniel Hernández, one of four openly gay members of the Arizona Legislature, represents Nogales in the Arizona House of Representatives.

‘It is practically one city divided by the border,’ Pujol said of the towns known as Ambos Nogales, or Both Nogales.

‘Many have relatives, friends who live there, and many people live there and then come to work here.’

LGBTI migrants in Nogales

About 45 LGBTI migrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico arrived in Nogales in November 2018 from Tijuana.

Pujol’s administration provided them with food, clothing, and blankets. They also offered rooms in two hotels and access to one of the four migrant shelters in the city.

‘We received them like any other migrant, like any other person who comes, seeks help,’ Pujol told the Washington Blade.

‘We received them, we took care of them.’

Better economic conditions and fleeing discrimination

Pujol further said that seeking better economic conditions in the US is still one of the main reasons to flee their countries. However, many migrants had suffered racism and other discrimination in their home countries or states, he explained.

Some members of the group arriving in Tijuana last year and identifying as LGBTI said they had faced discrimination from the caravan.

US Army troops who were deployed around Nogales installed barbed wire on top of the border fence in anticipation of the migrants’ arrival.

Shipping containers temporarily blocked two of the six vehicle lanes on the US side of the Nogales port of entry.

Pujol described the Trump administration’s decision to deploy troops and install razor wire along the border fence ‘a tactic of intimidation’.

‘It is a tactic to go to certain people who want to build this wall…to say, look Congress, look Senate, we need to build this wall because groups of 5,000, 10,000 people who want to stay in the country are coming,’ Pujol said.

After the government shutdown

The partial federal government shutdown over Trump’s demands for border wall funding ended on 25 January.

Trump’s administration then began its controversial pilot ‘remain in Mexico’ program. It will force some migrants who ask for asylum at the San Ysidro port of entry south of San Diego to remain in Mexico as they await the outcome of their cases.

Pujol said Nogales normally receives migrants, but not in the large numbers arrived in Tijuana last year. Furthermore, he added Trump’s policies have not deterred migrants from traveling to the border.

‘They are not afraid of what has been happening with the wall, with the new barbed wire,’ said Pujol.

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