GAY MEN GROWING TOGETHER

An experiential workshop for gay and bi men to enrich their lives, build authentic community, and integrate spirituality into their lives

“At this millennial moment in culture, gay men’s truly radical act is no longer simply to claim our sexuality, but to reclaim our hearts within it.” - David Nimmons, The Soul Beneath the Flesh: The Unseen Hearts and Habits of Gay Men

Many gay men are seeking more authentic connection in their lives; indeed, they sometimes feel alienated from the very community they helped to create. Not surprisingly, queer men report high rates of isolation, addictions, fear of ageing, feeling spiritually adrift, and anxieties about relationships.

This workshop holds, however, that as queer men we are complete, resourceful, and resilient with an inherent capacity to heal ourselves and nurture others. We do not need “fixing”, but we do need safe spaces to acknowledge our vulnerabilities, find intimacy in our lives, experience unconditional acceptance, and reconnect spiritually.

This workshop draws upon an array of techniques, including conscious breath work, respectful touch, body awareness, active listening, various spiritual practices, and heart circles to explore means of reconnecting with our real selves, with each other, and with our place in the cosmos.

Exploring, sharing, and celebrating together, we can discover our potential for living fully and abundantly as queer men.

Time: 9:00 am until 5:00 pm
Date: Saturday, 9 February 2008
Place: Centretown Community Health Centre
420 Cooper Street

Bring something for lunch. Kitchen facilities are available.
Attendees: Minimum of 12 registrants is required with a maximum of 24.
Facilitator: Barry Deeprose

Snowblower 08 presents this workshop without cost, but
pre-registration is required

Registration or more information: gaymengrowingtogether@gmail.com or call (613)233-7629

Stuff to do

Some Snowblower events
check out the snowblower schedule here for lots more: http://www.snowblowerottawa.ca/

1. Gay Men's Coffee - Saturday Feb 2, 9, 16, 2008 10 - noon at Cafe Supreme located at Bank and Cooper. During snowblower the first coffee is free. gay bi and trans men welcome

2. Check your Bum - Feb 8, 2008 7 - 9pm Pink Triangle Services - 301, 251 Bank St. Dr Paul MacPherson, A gay doctor will lead us through all the things we need to be aware of!

3. Queer Dreamcatcher (limited to 15 due to cost of materials-filling up!) - Saturday, Feb 9, 2008 1 - 4pm Pink Triangle Services - 301, 251 Bank St Learn about and make your own dreamcatcher. Registration limited, you must register ahead of time. All supplies provided

4. Dating and HIV - Friday Feb 15, 2008 7 - 9pm Pink Triangle Services - 301, 251 Bank St., Dating and HIV, Have you met a great guy and then couldn't get to telling him you're positive? Have you met a great guy and learned he was positive? Do you want to meet someone for more than a quickie? This evening is for you. HIV positive guys and HIV negative guys discuss dating and what keeps some of them apart. To help set the discussion we have the following three people leading us off; Jay Kornstra, Ernie Gibbs and Ricky Barnes.

5. Gay Men Growing Together - Feb 9, 2008, 9 - 3pm Centretown Community Health Centre, 420 Cooper, - An experiential workshop for gay and bi men to enrich their lives, build authentic community, and integrate spirituality into their lives. Bring Lunch!

Bum Sex

Lots of guys into guys are into ass fucking. It can be a lot of fun if you know what you are doing and are prepared. I found this link that has a pretty good sex guide online for gay men. Check it out they have a lot of stuff there. The link is at the bottome of this post.

Some quick things to remember

1. Using a condom when you are fucking someone or they are fucking you will reduce the chances of you getting HIV/AIDS big time as well as all those sti's.
2. Use a water-based lubricant. Oil based lubricants can break down the latex in a condom causing it to break or weaken.
3. Relax. If you are tense, your muscles tight, it will hurt more.
4. Go in easy and slow. Stop with your cock inside a little bit and let the other person get comfortable with your cock up his bum. Take your time, especially if its his or your first time.
5. Both of you can relax, the second time is almost always easier
6. Tell the guy to push out like he is going to shit, that opens him up more so he can take your cock easier.
7. When you are all the way in, this may take ten to twenty minutes because you are being considerate right, stop and relax again. If he has some pain it may start to calm down, then start slow in and out, short smooth strokes. As he gets use to it you can pick up the pace.
8. If the condom breaks or comes off, pull out and get another one.
9. When you're finished slowly pull out, remove the condom and throw it in the garbage.
10. Wash your hands and dick with warm soapy water, (try to avoid antibacterial based soaps, they aren't really needed). You may even want to have a shower together.

For more detail and good stuff check this online guide....

This section is written in three parts, the first explains your ass and why being fucked can be such an incredible sensual and mind blowing experience. The second explains how to get used to the feeling of having something in your ass, and the third is how to try having anal sex for the first time.

Gay sex guide link

Are you a Poly Boy

For some in the queer communities marriage or monogamy is not for them. Its not right or wrong to desire sex and or relationships with more than one person just as it is not right or wrong to be in a monogamous relationship. That is what makes this such a dynamic world.

"Polyamory has been defined as the philosophy and practice of loving more than one person at a time with honesty and integrity. Synonyms for polyamory are responsible, ethical, and intentional, non-monogamy. Because those descriptions are somewhat clumsy, the term Polyamory was coined in the late 80's by a pagan Priestess, Morning Glory Zell, and defines a range of different lifestyle alternatives. In most cases, but not all, this involves some sexual or at least intensely intimate sensual behavior." - Polycat.org

It seems to me poly relationships are right for many gay, bi and trans identified men. Often you see ads in profiles, on-line cruise sites where a couple is seeking a third. The couple have been together for ten, twenty or more years and now one or both of them want to share their life with another person within a relationship going beyond sharing a third for sex as in a open relationship concept.

Having this other person(s) interact with one or both partners of an existing relationship is the formation of a polyamorous situation. To find out more about this kind of relationship, check out the Polycat site. They have a lot of useful and supportive information.

Being a Poly Boy can be fun if done openly and honestly. Its called cheating otherwise!

Gay Men's Sex! - Rimming

Hi Guys

This is the first of a series on gay sex.

Rimming is safest when you use a barrier like a dental dam or slit a condom length wise and use it. Putting a little lube on the asshole may make it more sensitive!

Pleasure!
Rimming (eating ass, kissing - licking - tonguing your partner's asshole) is either really gross or one of the ultimate highs of man to man sex. It all depends on your perspective. The very thought of it repulses some men while for others it's a total turn-on. You can address this by doucheing beforehand, eliminating any odors and cleaning out any potential messy stuff.

Your asshole is rich in sensory nerves that can drive you, or your partner, wild when stimulated. Some guys find the most pleasure in being rimmed, while others love doing the rimming. The positions are many and varied; lying down, '69ing, on your knees... there are even "rim seats" designed just for the purpose.

You can lick across the ass in soft, wet strokes, or encircle it, going round and around languorously. You can flick the tongue-tip rapidly, or insert it inside as far as it'll go, pushing and stroking back and forth. Try brushing your lips gently over the spot, or hard on the anus, as if trying to draw it out. This is especially nice if you push your tongue inside. When you are being rimmed, push down and relax your asshole as if shitting, it should expand a little outwards, giving more area to caress and even nibble or bite (but not too hard).


Problems!
An asshole is an asshole no matter what you do and you can't sterilize it. No amount of cleaning will fully protect you from a variety of STIs and parasites if they are present in your partner's ass. Its a good idea to make sure its clean, just use some soapy water after you do number 2.

Parasites may cause symptoms of upper abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea and fever. HIV transmission through rimming is very low risk but you can get STIs, such as gonorrhea, hepatitis (A and B), chlamydia, human papiloma virus (HPV) , herpes and genital herpes and syphilis.

If you rim!
Ask your doctor to check you out for parasites (stool exam or blood test). Remember, you may not know you have been infected. Its a good idea to get tested regularly for STI's.

Consider limiting the number of men that you rim. Your risk of STIs and parasitic infections increases with your number of rimming partners.

Get your Hepatitis A and B vaccinations! If you rim, this is probably the single most important thing that you can do to protect yourself.

Get more information on safer rimming at ACT Toronto here.

STI Info at Ottawa Public Health

In SPOT Ottawa

Ottawa Public Health in partnership with The AIDS Committee of Ottawa have begun a new project that should help us notify sexual partners anonymously that you have an STI and they should be checked out. It comes out of San Francisco and has been a successful in helping reach people about the need to be tested.

If you have tested positive for an STI you can go onto the InSpot site and send an e-card anonymously to the person or persons you have recently had sex with.


Tell your partners they may have been exposed to an STI. Use InSpot Ottawa.

GETTING PRIMED: Transmen and Sexual Health

THIS IS FREE WORKSHOP OPEN TO EVERYONE.

Trans is an umbrella term for all kinds of identities - there's no way we could offer you an inclusive list without forgetting someone. For this reason we use trans men to refer to people who were assigned female at birth but who are living as men or as male. There is no one way to be a trans man. Some of us pass, and some of us don’t.

This is a workshop for those of us who are trans men and those of us who are allies with trans men in our professional and personal lives. We'll talk about sex, love, health and lots more.

Monday Februay 11 th, 6 to 8 p.m. Centretown Community Health Centre

This workshop is part of the 2008 Snowblower gay men's health festival. To see the complete list of workshops offered visit the website ...

This is an official SNOWBLOWER 2008 event
On Facebook too!

Link to Primed, The Back Pocket Guide for Transmen & The Men That Dig Them

gay men and people with HIV aren’t the only groups affected by community-acquired MRSA.

Gay men and people with HIV aren’t the only groups affected by community-acquired MRSA. The media have gone nuts on this. Lifelube helps expose the hysteria and AIDSmap puts it in perspective.

The media have not reported on the fact that straight participants in sports are a large community for transmission of the bacteria. If you contract the bacteria it is from skin to skin contact and in the vast majority of cases, simple washing with soapy water is enough to deal with it.

For the "straight goods" check out LifeLube and AIDSmap.

This is just another example of homophobia in the mainstream media.

Click the CDC's flyer on MRSA

Snowblower 2008

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