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Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM)
This group accounts for over half of all new infections each year in the State of Alaska and 45% nationwide. Especially at risk at those under 25, ethnic minority men (Alaska Native, African American, and Hispanic), and men who seek sexual partners in online chat rooms and at Adult Bookstores. The Four As has several programs aimed at this population:
Adam and Steve
This is program designed for young gay and bisexual men ages 18-29. The program was adapted from the Mpower model designed by the Centers for AIDS Prevention Studies at the University of California-San Francisco. Young men are at high risk for HIV and in recent studies it has shown that up to two-thirds of young gay and bi men under 29 had engaged in unsafe sexual practices in the six months prior to the studies.
A series of principles guide this multi-level project. They include:
- Personal and community empowerment
- Diffusion of new behaviors through social networks
- Peer-influence
- Placing HIV prevention within the context of other compelling issues for young gay and bisexual men
- Community building
- Using gay positive approaches
The project is run by a Core Group of 10-20 young men from the community with the support of paid staff. This Core Group, along with other volunteers, design and carry out all Project activities. The Project relies on a set of four integrated activities:
- Formal Outreach Every week a team of staff and volunteers from Adam and Steve visit a number a bars where gay and bisexual men congregate. They distribute appealing HIV materials including condom and lube packets, invitations to events, monthly calendars of group activities, and informational brochures. The program impacts over 3,000 people a month with this outreach effort.
- Informal Outreach This includes a variety of social activities designed by and led by paid staff and volunteers. Smaller activities designed to attract 10-20 young men include such activities as movie nights, weekly volleyball games, roller skating, sledding, art projects, to name a few. Larger activities have included a three day "Summer Camp," cookouts, Bachelor Auctions, Speed Dating, and cookouts. Larger activities are designed to draw 30-50 men. All informal outreach activities are alcohol and drug free and include promotion of safer sex through creative skits and discussions. It is the hope that young men will leave informal activities and talk to their friends about what they have learned and that hosting informal activities will create a foundation for a safe and healthy young men's community. Each month over 150 young men attend Project activities and over 30% of these men are ethnic minority men.
- Ongoing Publicity Campaign This campaign attracts young men to the Project through word of mouth, emails, specially printed materials that include safer sex information, prevention flyers and posters, and other targeted strategies. The program impacts over 500 young men each month through the publicity campaign and over 5,000 others who see prevention flyers and posters.
- Urge This peer-led three hour meeting of 8-10 young men is held monthly and offers a safe forum for young men to discuss relationships, safer sexual practices, and offers skills building exercises. Participants are also trained and motivated to conduct informal outreach with their friends.
This program is advised by a Community Advisory Board of 12 people who are influential in the local GLBT and prevention communities. The program is supported by generous funding from the Gill Foundation, Pride Foundation, and through a partnership with the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Anchorage. We also receive technical assistance and support from the Centers for AIDS Prevention.
Check out the Adam and Steve website for current information and upcoming events
or call (907) 263-2081.
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