In the last year, AIDS Services of Austin (ASA) has pioneered in the area of
offering support services for HIV-negative gay and bisexual men in and around
the AIDS epidemic. The Staying Negative Program of ASA continues to provide
support groups for HIV-negative men, supplying a safe place to come together
and discuss how they are affected by this epidemic. Gay men living in a
community saturated with HIV issues have lost friends and loved ones, have had
their sexuality compromised, and some experience a sense of survivor guilt so
chronic that it goes unnoticed. Gay and bisexual men deserve an opportunity to
talk about these issues and reclaim our ability to think for ourselves about
AIDS and HIV, sex, and relationships.
The Staying Negative Program is proud to announce a new type of support group
for HIV-negative gay and bisexual men. In late July, Sex, HIV, and
Homophobia: An Eight Week Support Series will start its first run. It will
be a closed, 10-12/person, eight-week support group that provides gay men with
a safe outlet to discuss issues around sex and HIV that are seldom honestly
talked about in our community. Addressing and taking charge of the way our sex
lives have been impacted by HIV and homophobia can be a tremendously valuable
endeavor. It is also something that doesn’t have to be done alone. If you are
interested in one of these new support groups, call Ken Shults at 406-6165.
This article appears in July 12 • 1996 and July 12 • 1996 (Cover).