Gay Men From Around the World Share Struggles and Solutions at International AIDS Conference

Mark S. King at the 'Out With It' AIDS 2018 preconference meeting (Credit: Theodore Tsipiras)

Several hundred gay and bisexual men attended a preconference before the official opening of the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018), the world's largest HIV conference, taking place in Amsterdam July 23-27. The full-day session, titled Out With It, took place July 22; it was designed to showcase innovative, community-led solutions for gay and bisexual men working across the globe. Attendees were encouraged to sharpen their skills and learn about new technologies to better create programs, campaigns, and interventions to increase the sexual health and well-being of gay and bisexual men.

The preconference was sponsored by MPact Global Action for Gay Men's Health and Rights (formerly the MSM Global Forum, or MSMGF), whose goal is to "bring global attention to local concerns," according to their website. The site also states that "MPACT is directly linked to more than 120 community-based organizations in 62 countries who are fighting for the sexual health and human rights of gay and bisexual men around the world."

What interested blogger Mark S. King, however, was the wide variety of experiences of the attendees when it comes to living their lives as gay men back home. In his first video report from AIDS 2018, Mark finds out what gay life is really like for men around the globe. Some of their answers might surprise you.

Be sure to check out all of Mark S. King's videos from AIDS 2018.

Kenyon Farrow is the senior editor of TheBody.com and TheBodyPRO.com.

Follow Kenyon on Twitter: @kenyonfarrow.