Benjamin Law to host forum for gay Asian men as part of early Mardi Gras program
Image: Benjamin Law on the set of the SBS TV show based on his memoir, The Family Law. (Supplied photo)
AUTHOR, screenwriter, and journalist Benjamin Law will host a free community forum for Asian gay men to discuss issues including sex, HIV, relationships, and PrEP this week.
Organised by ACON, the forum is part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras’ Queer Thinking series and will be held tomorrow night (Wednesday, February 10) at Oxford St’s Colombian Hotel.
All gay man from Asian cultural backgrounds or heritage, as well as their friends and partners are invited to attend the forum, which will provide a space to have questions about PrEP answered and to share personal stories about relationships and sex.
Law recently received media attention following the critical praise of the TV adaptation of his memoir, The Family Law. He said the LGBTI community has always been diverse.
“Perhaps it’s obvious to point out, but there’s even more diversity when you scratch the surface of the individual letters in the acronym,” he said.
“Asian gay men are obviously close to my heart – my heart beats inside one, after all – so I’m stoked and proud to be able to exploring an important issue like PrEP use in a forum like this.”
PrEP, or “pre-exposure prophylaxis”, is a daily pill that HIV negative people can take to prevent transmission of the virus.
While Truvada — one of the PrEP pills — is pending approval for use in Australia, same-sex attracted men have already started importing it from overseas.
In December, the NSW Government announced an expansion to the current PrEP trials, which will enable 3700 people at high risk of acquiring HIV to be enrolled in a subsidised PrEP program expected to start in March.
According to ACON’s sexual health director Karen Price, the forum will provide Asian gay men with essential information about PrEP.
“Lots of gay men, including Asian gay men, are eager for information about PrEP,” she said.
“This forum will provide a valuable space for Asian gay men to discuss the impact of PrEP on their sexual lives and relationships.”
Light refreshments will be served.
Asian Gay Men’s Sex, Relationships and PrEP Community Forum
WHEN: 6pm-9pm, Wednesday, February 10
WHERE: The Columbian Hotel, Oxford St, Darlinghurst, Sydney
COST: Free
INFO/RSVP: [email protected]
The Star Observer is a proud media partner of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
For all of Star Observer’s Mardi Gras coverage, click here
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