via Positive Lite, by Marc-André LeBlanc “This situation is unacceptable. We’re in 2013, for the love of all that is wet and wild! How can we not know the answer to such a fundamental question—are lubes safe?”   Here I am again, standing in front of a giant wall of lube options at a local store. Water-based, silicone-based, Read More >>

  Global coalition of organizations and individuals calls for research agenda to determine safety of sexual lubricants For Immediate Release June 12, 2013 – Over 500 organizations and individuals from nearly 60 countries have endorsed a Global Call to Action on Lubricant Safety. They all demand answers on whether sexual lubricants are safe for vaginal and anal Read More >>

Today IRMA, in collaboration with amfAR and AVAC, is excited to release a re-designed Version 2.0  of the GLAM Toolkit: Advocacy to improve access to safe, condom-compatible lubricant in Africa. The Toolkit is now available in French in addition to English – making it more useful for Francophone speakers in Africa – and the new design makes Read More >>

by Mike PetersIRMA Intern A couple of weeks ago, I returned to Ohio for a weekend excursion.  The director of the Women’s Studies program at my university informed me that I was named Graduate Student of the Year for Women’s Studies and that there was a short awards ceremony that I should attend.  In preparation for this Read More >>

Condoms are getting some help!  Dear IRMA members and readers of this blog – Give OUT Day shines a spotlight on organizations that empower LGBTQ communities across the country, and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is among these charities. We’re using this campaign to highlight the next generation of HIV prevention: rectal microbicides. Though they’re still Read More >>

“Using condoms for your entire sexual life works for some people. And for others, it doesn’t.”  Video via Be The Generation IRMA chair Jim Pickett discusses the need for new ways to prevent HIV, like rectal microbicides. ——————-  *Join IRMA’s robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new Read More >>

As many of our readers  know – in December IRMA, the Microbicide Trials Network, and Population Council launched the video “The Rectal Revolution is Here: An introduction to rectal microbicide clinical trials.” The 14-minute video includes researchers, advocates, and trial participants and discusses the need for rectal microbicides and the role of clinical trials in developing products Read More >>

Have you and/or your organization endorsed the Global Call to Action on Lubricant Safety yet? (lists or endorsers in formation below.) We are going to be closing the call soon, so please make your move on lube safety NOW. Click here to read the Call and to endorse. We must KNOW whether water-based and silicone-based lubricants used during sex Read More >>

Our friends at AIDS Accountability International (AAI), in conjunction with The African Union Commission (AUC), recognised the need for greater African civil society organisation representation in the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) process. So, tt was decided to create the African Common Position (ACP) on ICPD to reflect and include the perspectives, recommendations and expertise of Read More >>

IRMA*, amfAR*, and AVAC* are delighted to announce that IRMA Nigeria (in partnership with International Center on Advocacy for the Right to Health), Stop AIDS in Liberia (SAIL), and an organisation in Zambia** have been awarded Global Lube Access Mobilisation (GLAM) funding to campaign for access to safe, condom-compatible lubricants in their communities. Throughout the world, and Read More >>