“Losing the Phobia:” Understanding How HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Facilitates Bridging the Serodivide Among Men Who Have Sex With Men

The use of HIV serostatus information has played a pivotal role in partner selection norms. A phenomenon known as serosorting is the practice of selecting a partner based on a perception that they are of the same HIV status in order to avoid transmission from one partner to the other. An understudied aspect of serosorting is that it has a divisive effect—one accepts or rejects a potential partner based on a singular characteristic, the partner's HIV status, and thus excludes all others. This division has been formally referred to as the HIV serodivide. In this study, we explored partner selection strategies among a group of HIV-negative, young men who have sex with men (n = 29) enrolled in a PrEP demonstration project in Northern California. We found that trends in serosorting were in fact shifting, and that a new and opposite phenomenon was emerging, something we labeled “seromixing” and that PrEP use played a part in why norms were changing. We present three orientations in this regard: (1) maintaining the phobia: in which men justified the continued vigilance and exclusion of people living with HIV as viable sex or romantic partners, (2) loosening/relaxation of phobia: among men who were reflecting on their stance on serosorting and its implications for future sexual and/or romantic partnerships, and (3) losing the phobia: among men letting go of serosorting practices and reducing sentiments of HIV-related stigma. The majority of participants spoke of changing or changed attitudes about intentionally accepting rather than rejecting a person living with HIV as a sex partner. For those who maintained strict serosorting practices, their understandings of HIV risk were not erased as a result of PrEP use. These overarching themes help explain how PrEP use is contributing to a closing of the HIV serodivide

LGBT in Appalachia: A Queer Quartet

Cynthia Burack will address two phenomena that are related to the ex-gay movement of recent years. The first is the formation of a compassionate Christian conservative agenda that combines commitments to helping LGB people and pregnant/post-abortive women repent and renounce their sinful identities. The second phenomenon is the movement’s own internal struggle over change of sexual orientation, a struggle that was well underway by 2011 when Exodus came to West Virginia. Carol Mason will extend scholarship on “the rural queer” by examining the potentials and pitfalls of LGTBQ people claiming normalcy in Appalachia. She’ll look at recent film productions from AMI, the Appalachian Media Institute, for clues as to how young queers in Kentucky navigate the troubles and triumphs of claiming normalcy in a place long depicted as America’s deviant backwoods. Richard Parmer will discuss the advantages and risks of using a nature-based argument for GLBTQ political projects, both generally and in Appalachia. He’ll explore where fundamentalists\u27 explanations and arguments about the natural fit into the Christian Right\u27s ideology, including its role in relation to conservative readings of scripture. He’ll also consider to what extent, if any, counter-arguments about what is natural can affect the Christian Right\u27s anti-gay position. Jeff Mann will read a short segment of a personal essay examining the ways that queer nonconformists brought up in fundamentalist-steeped Appalachia are shaped by and react to that often hostile element in their native culture

Exploring the Shift From HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Awareness to Uptake Among Young Gay and Bisexual Men.

Introduction: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the form of a daily oral medication is highly effective at preventing HIV. In the United States, awareness about PrEP has steadily increased over time among individuals vulnerable to HIV, however awareness has not translated into widescale uptake. Estimates are that fewer than 20% of 1.2 million Americans for whom PrEP is indicated are utilizing it. We sought to understand how individuals moved from PrEP awareness to PrEP utilization. Methods: We conducted a series (n = 31) of in-depth interviews with young people, predominantly gay and bisexual men, ages 18-29 years old between February 2015 and January 2016, as part of the evaluation of a multi-year demonstration project funded to test innovative approaches to improve sexual health outcomes and curb the HIV epidemic in California. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. We conducted a thematic analysis. Results: We present a continuum of PrEP awareness that spans three phases-basic, moderate and advanced. Participants rarely reported becoming well-informed about PrEP over the course of an initial exposure to PrEP information. Learning occurred after multiple exposures to PrEP information through numerous intersecting forms, messengers and formal and informal communication channels. Positively framed messages delivered by formal messengers emphasizing PrEP as a sensible HIV prevention strategy and explicitly communicating a regard for sexual wellness were overwhelmingly persuasive and facilitated movement to the advanced awareness phase. Once participants reached the advanced phase of PrEP awareness, uptake was possible. Conclusions: Our analysis provides insights into how PrEP awareness led to PrEP uptake among young gay and bi-sexual men. Building demand among those in the basic awareness phase took longer than those in the moderate phase. Individuals involved in formal and informal PrEP education can set reasonable expectations about whether, when and how eventual uptake may occur when keeping the continuum of PrEP awareness framework in mind. Many young, gay and bi-sexual male prospective PrEP users will benefit from positively framed messages that emphasize personal well-being, including social, sexual and emotional benefits of PrEP use

Adherence to PrEP Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men Participating in a Sexual Health Services Demonstration Project in Alameda County, California.

BackgroundYoung men of color who have sex with men face a continual increase in rates of HIV infection. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an important prevention method for these young men.SettingThe Connecting Resources for Urban Sexual Health (CRUSH) demonstration project provided sexual health services, including PrEP, to young men who have sex with men aged 18-29 years. We report on adherence and factors influencing it.MethodsParticipants were offered HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing, prevention counseling, PrEP, and when appropriate, sexually transmitted infection treatment and postexposure prophylaxis. Participants taking PrEP had erythrocyte tenofovir diphosphate and emtricitabine levels measured through dried blood spot testing at 4, 12, and 24 weeks to estimate medication adherence. Participants also completed surveys to assess demographic and psychosocial measures.ResultsFrom February 2014 to November 2015, CRUSH enrolled 257 participants. Ninety-three percent started PrEP, 81% of whom initiated it at their first visit. Twelve percent required postexposure prophylaxis before starting PrEP. Adherence at protective levels was initially high with 87% demonstrating levels consistent with at least 4 doses per week at week 4, compared with 77% at the 48-week follow-up. African American race, exposure to violence, and having survival needs were associated with significantly lower levels of adherence [odds ratio (OR): 0.33; confidence interval (CI): 0.11 to 0.97, P < 0.04; OR: 0.79; CI: 0.59 to 1.04, P < 0.10; OR: 0.51; CI: 0.24 to 1.05, P < 0.07].ConclusionsMost young men who initiate PrEP adhere at levels that confer protection against HIV infection. Interventions should account for differences in life experiences, particularly addressing the structural challenges facing young African American men

Adherence to PrEP Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men Participating in a Sexual Health Services Demonstration Project in Alameda County, California.

BackgroundYoung men of color who have sex with men face a continual increase in rates of HIV infection. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an important prevention method for these young men.SettingThe Connecting Resources for Urban Sexual Health (CRUSH) demonstration project provided sexual health services, including PrEP, to young men who have sex with men aged 18-29 years. We report on adherence and factors influencing it.MethodsParticipants were offered HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing, prevention counseling, PrEP, and when appropriate, sexually transmitted infection treatment and postexposure prophylaxis. Participants taking PrEP had erythrocyte tenofovir diphosphate and emtricitabine levels measured through dried blood spot testing at 4, 12, and 24 weeks to estimate medication adherence. Participants also completed surveys to assess demographic and psychosocial measures.ResultsFrom February 2014 to November 2015, CRUSH enrolled 257 participants. Ninety-three percent started PrEP, 81% of whom initiated it at their first visit. Twelve percent required postexposure prophylaxis before starting PrEP. Adherence at protective levels was initially high with 87% demonstrating levels consistent with at least 4 doses per week at week 4, compared with 77% at the 48-week follow-up. African American race, exposure to violence, and having survival needs were associated with significantly lower levels of adherence [odds ratio (OR): 0.33; confidence interval (CI): 0.11 to 0.97, P < 0.04; OR: 0.79; CI: 0.59 to 1.04, P < 0.10; OR: 0.51; CI: 0.24 to 1.05, P < 0.07].ConclusionsMost young men who initiate PrEP adhere at levels that confer protection against HIV infection. Interventions should account for differences in life experiences, particularly addressing the structural challenges facing young African American men