'Experiences of Condom Fit and Feel Among African-American Men Who Have Sex With Men'

(Reworded, below.) (I often go back and change things in my attempts to "get it right" and correct errors. I'm not infallible like the Pope or George Bush.)

"Experiences of Condom Fit and Feel Among African-American Men Who Have Sex With Men"

I find the concept of "MSM" odd (to me it connotes an almost casual choice). It's as if "homosexuals" and "bisexuals" don't really exist, in this case in the African-American culture. * (Just as they don't exist in Iran.) From The Body:

African-American men who have sex with men (MSM) are a particularly high-risk group for HIV and other STDs in the United States. The researchers conducted the current study "to offer an empirical understanding of characteristics associated with the fit and feel of condoms" among this population.

Data were collected from 178 adult African-American MSM attending a community event in Atlanta. Most participants reported that condoms generally fit properly and felt comfortable. However, a substantial number reported problems, including: condoms felt too tight (21 percent); condoms felt too short (18 percent); condoms felt too loose (10 percent); condoms felt too long (7 percent).

Significant associations were found between men's reports of condom slippage and breakage and their perceptions of condoms' fit and feel. These perceptions were also related to the men's reports of seeking condoms for size-specific properties.

"The fit and feel issues that men in this sample identified may be among those that contribute to their likelihood of using, or not using, condoms consistently and correctly," the authors concluded. "A better understanding of these factors will be beneficial to both condom manufacturers and sexual health professionals who share a common goal of increasing consistent and correct condom use and reducing the incidence of HIV and other [STDs] among this and other communities."

(Photo not from The Body. Click to enlarge.)

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* But believe me, they do.

"Inside Iran's Secret Gay World"

In case you're tired of watching re-runs and Christmas specials, catch this 22-minute documentary produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. earlier this year. As you know, the government of Iran doesn't even acknowledge that homosexuality exists there, even as they go about torturing and executing homosexuals. Here's the website of the Iranian Queer Organization (formerly the Persian Gay & Lesbian Organization), which is seeking outside support.

Gays in Iran

They're there.

For a country that is said to have no homosexuality, Iran goes to great lengths to ban it. Gays are punished by lashing or death if it is proved that they have had homosexual relations. Two gay teenagers were executed in 2005 in Mashad, a northeastern city.

Fear of persecution is so strong that some gay men and lesbians have sought and received asylum in Western countries. . . .

But Iran has also taken the unusual step of encouraging sex change operations for those with homosexual tendencies. While religious authorities here view homosexuality a clear sin, transsexuals are considered ill and in need of the help that such an operation can provide. . . .

I don't get it. Why can't homosexuality be an illness too (as it was in the U.S. until relatively recently)? That would at least be a step forward, don't you think? We'll see what happens. Meanwhile gays will be gays, death sentence or no.

Check out a gay Persian website here.