How does HIV spread in Europe?

The image to your right is a map of how HIV is transmitted in Europe. Seriously.

Researchers from major European research centers, led by the University of Athens, did testing to determine how international travel and migration patterns affect the spread of HIV in the EU. I have absolutely no idea if the information is surprising at all, as I'm not familiar with HIV across the pond. The findings seem to indicate that the southern European countries tend to "export" the virus more due to tourism. (Though Italy seems to defy that trend.)

In other words: people going south for vacation find a booty call, probably have a little bit of alcohol, and condom use is likely lower. Findings included:

• Major exporters: Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Serbia (the last due to people fleeing)
• Importers and exporters: Israel, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK
• Importers: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg

I mean, it's neat information, and kind of a good warning to make sure that you are protecting yourself every time you have sex (unlike consuming calories, things done greater than 10 miles from your house do count), but practically it's not much. I'm sure an interesting prevention effort could be mounted based on the data, and it shows a need to target vacationing populations... but I think I'm getting a little tired of micromanaging a disease that we already know knows no bounds and tends to defy the conventional rules of transmission. You can't set rules on something that likes to break the rules.

In other HIV news:

• Hope has been found in a vaginal ring that, in lab studies, acts as both as a contraceptive (preventing pregnancy) and a prophylactic (preventing infections). Unfortunately, it's a vaginal ring and use for men who have sex with men -- the predominate group (numerically) getting HIV in the Western world -- is probably unlikely. It will be good for Africa and will leave AIDS as one of those things that just sick, perverted homo's get.
• A chemical in green tea -- ECGC -- looks like it may decrease the likelihood of transmission when applied internally due to its action on an enzyme in sperm. Likely, they'll test it on women and leave the rest of us out in the cold until it's been proven to work in the "general population."

Whoa. I guess I'm a little bitter this morning. Sorry.

(Anti-)Gay Moscow

The (I suppose) world-famous Eurovision contest was held in Moscow this week. Who cares? I know I don't, but the queer blogosphere was enamored with it. The back story is far more interesting.

Moscow has denied LGBT folks the right to Pride, again, this year. Activists believed that bringing Eurovision to the city would "open it up" a bit and bring international focus on the treatment of LGBT folks in the Russian capital. And boy did the Russian government fuck this one up. A small cadre of activists demonstrated outside the musical Olympics, shouting and chanting for equality and equal treatment. Rather than allow the peaceable demonstration to go on, they were broken up and arrested. Europe is noticing and the international attention that was supposed to spin Russia positively has been tarnished, instead; and Mayor Yuri Luzhkov looks like a real winner, calling the demonstration "Satanic" and homosexuals as "weapons of mass destruction."

Thus giving the queer blogosphere more to talk about -- especially the wording on the back of the police's uniform ("OMOH"). I would say so.

One more bucket list item illegal.

It's not really on my bucket list, but now that it's illegal, I really, really want to do it.

Nude hiking through the Swiss Alps, that is.

The canton of Appenzell Inner Rhodes by democratic majority (apparently they do old-school "raise your hand and vote" governance there) voted to illegalize nude hiking through their land. My first question, of course, was: this is a problem? My second question became: where else can this be done so that I, too, one day may partake.

From the Dickinson Press (via the AP):

Only a scattering of people on Sunday opposed the ban on the back-to-nature activity that took off last autumn when naked hikers — primarily Germans — started showing up in eastern Switzerland.

The cantonal government recommended the ban after citizens objected to encountering walkers wearing nothing but hiking boots and socks.

"The reactions of the population have shown that such appearances over a large area are perceived as thoroughly disturbing and irritating," the government said in a statement.

A similar legal move is expected in neighboring Appenzell Outer Rhodes with legislation being prepared against "this shameless behavior."

German Web sites promoting the activity describe it as "a special experience of nature, free and healthy" and said nude walking in the Alps has roots in antiquity.

Oh, those Germans and their nudism!!! Seriously, though, very sad that I can't ever do this. On the flip side, the fine is a measly 200 francs ($176), so maybe it's worth it!

I'm trying really hard to make a Sound of Music joke here -- if for no other reason than to make fun of Queen City Survey's Dan and his love of the movie -- but I, shamefully, have nothing to say. It's very sad, I know. There's something about being on the hill with a lonely goatherd [insert yodeling]. But it's just not coming to me. I'm sure my witty readers will have plenty of jokes, though.

Sweden Approves Equal Marriage!

Congratulations to Sweden, who became the fifth European country to legalize equal marriages! The law passed with an overwhelming 261-22 (66 abstaining) vote in the Parliament! The law goes into effect on May 1. It does not eliminate that country's 15-year old civil union law, however. Rather, it adds to it.

Fox News is funny about it: "the old law [civil unions] stopped short of calling them marriages, which gay rights activists said was discriminatory." So many things wrong with that second phrase.

Other European countries that allow equal marriage: Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain. Two other countries in the world -- South Africa and Canada -- also have equal marriage laws in place. Please note that the U.S. does not even fall on the "civil unions" or "domestic partnership" (which include the UK, France, Germany, Brazil, Iceland, Israel, Luxembourg, Croatia, Czech Republic, Colombia, Australia, Andorra, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uruguay, Denmark, Finland, and Hungary) list of countries.

Sigh. I guess it's better than being on the "homosexuality is punishable by death list" (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Chad, etc.). In fact, we're a lot like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina -- some recognition, depending on what part of the country.

Huh. Weird.

London National Picture Gallery: Gay Icons Exhibit

The London National Portrait Gallery will host an exhibit entitled "Gay Icons" from July 2 to October 18:

Gay Icons explores gay social and cultural history through the unique personal insights of ten high–profile gay figures, who have selected their historical and modern icons.

The chosen icons, who may or may not be gay themselves, have all been important to each selector, having influenced or inspired them.

You win a drink from me if you can name who is in the picture above.

To my London/Europe friends: Please go and report back!!!

No more Mrs. Nice Guy

I think it's funny that they are blaming the "radical feminists" on this, and not, you know, the growing presence of women in male-dominated arenas, and perhaps the need to respect them.

From LifeSiteNews:

Officials of the European Union have issued a booklet for EU Parliamentary staff, saying that the use of "Miss" and "Mrs" for women, as well as such terms as "statesman" and "fireman," are to be banned on the grounds that they are "sexist."

Any honorifics that distinguish between a married and an unmarried woman in any language are to be banned as well, including "Madame" and "Mademoiselle," "Frau" and "Fraulein," "Senora" and "Senorita." Instead, staff are asked not to use any form of honorific and merely to address women by their names.

"Gender-specific" terms, such as "statesman," are to be replaced with gender-free alternatives, such as "political leader."

What is the possibility of a website just making up information and running with it? Can we do that?

Gay Predictions for 2009

From The Edge: Boston, we get our first gay list of predictions for 2009...

10. NJ Gay Marriage -- the legislature's for it, the governor's for it, the people are for it... what else? QC.com Comment: We may also see some surprises in New Hampshire and Iowa this year as well...

9. Major League Baseball Player Comes Out -- this is one of the most shockingly well thought out things I have ever read, actually...

8. Anderson Cooper Comes Out -- If not, Perez Hilton will throw a shit fit.

7. Cher Comes Out of Retirement -- Yea, yea, yea.

6. Europe Gets An Openly Gay Head of State -- Also, congratulations to Portland Mayor Sam Adams on being the first openly gay person to be the mayor of a major city... and may be the highest ranking non-national elected official to be out (that is, not House or Senate).

5. Milk Wins an Oscar or Two -- It should; this isn't really going out on a limb.

4. The Leader of an African Country Has HIV -- This hasn't happened yet?

3. Obama Starts Slowly Phasing Out DADT -- Grr... If it isn't 2011 by now.

2. Dick and Lynne Cheney Endorse Gay Marriage -- I would actually not be surprised if this happened; and it may be the single catalyst for changing the movement forever. Though I argue it may be a few more years before it happens.

1. Their number one is personal to the author, so I ask you, my dear readers...

What's your prediction for gay in 2009???

Queerty also has a good list...

POLITICS: In Flander's Field...

(Via Joe.My.God)

To my friends who are staying in that area of the world...

Please explain to me what's going on in Belgium. They've been without a national government for three months? They are splitting up??? The Washington Post explains:

The campaign here is a modern-day separatist movement for a globalized world. This is not a war of guns and guerrillas in jungle hideouts or suicide bombings on city streets. It is a conflict debated daily in the news media, parliaments, cafes, bars and establishment clubs of a country confronting the schisms now facing nearly every European nation: the struggle over national identity following mass immigration from Asia and Africa, the preservation of native culture and language, and economic competition in an era of global markets.

Belgium has been without a national government for more than three months now. King Albert II has staged a rare royal intervention -- unsuccessful so far -- to bring
about negotiations between the Flemings, who live in the economically prosperous north, and the Walloons, of the financially floundering south. But the two regions, which have separate governments, can't agree on how to govern together.

That's right, kids, we're getting a new country... in Western Europe. Perhaps. Quick quiz: when was the last time, excepting the re-unification of Germany, that we got a whole new Western European country??? Best I can figure, it was the original creation of Germany and dissolution of Prussia...

Of course, I think Wallonia sounds like a silly name for a country. But I'm not a big fan of "Herzegovnia" (hell, I dont' know how to spell it), and I think "Tajikistan" just is absurdity. And don't get me started on "Micronesia."

In honor of the possible country of Flanders, I feel it is my duty to repost this, by Lt. Col. John McCrae...

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

I have this overwhelming desire for poppyseed muffins all of a sudden.