Gay Men, Other MSM and Transgenders

1
Gay Men, Other MSM and Transgenders

• Dédé Oetomo
• GAYa NUSANTARA Foundation
• doetomo_at_gmail.com
• Joint WHO/UNICEF/UNAIDS Consultation on HIV
  Testing Counseling in Asia the Pacific
• Phnom Penh, 4-6 June 2007

2
Inadequacy of MSM

• originally refers to behavior
• has been used to refer to identity
• glosses over two important groups gay men
  (male-to-female) transgenders (waria, kathoey,
  kothi, hijra, etc.)
• has been used as a euphemism for gay men

3
Issues of visibility

• Most visible MSM/TG outreached (but also
  harassed!)
• (Other) MSM do not form communities of MSM ?
  how to reach them?
• Gay men form virtual communities
• Male sex workers form loose communities
• Transgenders form hierarchical communities

4
Access to counseling testing services

• Available through community-based organizations,
  specially designated clinics (issue of class,
  invisibility)
• Available through private doctors

5
Issues of confidentiality and informed consent

• Part of ongoing community knowledge building
  (including other sexual health well-being
  issues)
• Part of peer values
• Reduction of stigma
• Affirmative approach to sexuality

6
Challenges to health personnel

• be accepting (not only tolerant) of different
  gender identities and sexual orientations
• appropriate body language
• respect to dignity of clients

7
Challenges to programs

• Reaching invisible gay men and other MSM
• Gay men ? internet-based intervention, discreet
  ad campaigns
• Invisible other MSM ? using social mapping
  techniques in identifying clusters of MSM
• Dealing with married MSM ? partner notification,
  husband as counselor(?), support groups(?)

8
Human rights issues

• Raids, roundups, harassments and other
  gender-based violence, often connected to police
  corruption
• Undermines public health work
• Anti-sodomy laws (in former British colonies)
• Heterosexism and homophobia/transphobia

9
Its not impossible to work with gay men, other
MSM and transgenders, but it takes creative
approaches.