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 >>

[Citizen News Service and IRMA are collaborating to amplify rectal microbicide research and advocacy, as well as IRMA-led initiatives, throughout AIDS 2012.] via Citizens News Service, by Bobby Ramakant It is indeed promising to note the momentum rectal microbicides research and development has attained, more so when there is a global call to end AIDS at the Read More >>

via Citizens News Service, by Somya Arora According to the Microbicides Trials Network (MTN), HIV continues to disproportionately affect racial minorities and men who have sex with men (MSM). MTN estimates that 5 to 10 percent of the world’s population engages in anal sex and globally, MSM are 19 times more likely to be infected with HIV Read More >>

“The fact is, lots and lots of people have anal sex, and rectal microbicides just make sense in this context. This isn’t about being gay or straight or kinky or conservative. This is about the fact that people have sex in many different ways for many different reasons and everyone deserves to protect themselves and their partners Read More >>

“Rectal microbicides are a very important new prevention technology. They bring attention to anal intercourse and provide protection for those who practice it, regardless of their sexual identities.” Olumide is an IRMA advocate from Lagos, Nigeria. He works at TIERs (The Initiative for Equal Rights) for the rights of LGBT people and sexual health rights. He loves Read More >>

via AIDS Foundation of Chicago This is an open letter to the Food and Drug Administration, urging the priority review of the drug Truvada for use in PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). The AIDS Foundation of Chicago and 25 other organizations signed this letter to counter the AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s protest of the FDA regarding this review. To read Read More >>

via The Huffington Post, by David Ernesto Munar Lives will be saved when the Food and Drug Administration puts its stamp of approval on a groundbreaking preventative approach called pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, recently found to reduce HIV infections. With PrEP, people who are not infected with HIV take a daily pill, usually used to treat the Read More >>

By Aldona Martinka, IRMA Intern Today is my last day at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, where I had the pleasure of interning this summer. I am one of the last summer interns remaining, and the empty intern “sweatshop” surrounds me. I had the opportunity to work with AFC and IRMA, as well as with Mapping Pathways Read More >>

IRMA chair Jim Pickett was part of a forum on PrEP in Seattle a few months ago called “The Magic Pill?” hosted by the wonderful Gay City Health Project. Here is his talk – live action AND slides – in two glorious parts! [If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be Read More >>

Once again, the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) has recognized the important work IRMA is doing, providing us with $25,000 in their latest round of 2009 grants (see blurb below.) Many, many thanks to EJAF for their ongoing support – it is deeply appreciated. We really couldn’t continue without them. And IRMA can’t do this work without Read More >>