GATE is implementing a global project on trans men and HIV, focused on strengthening and generating knowledge to further their engagement in the international HIV response.
Currently, there is very little awareness or inclusion of trans men in HIV platforms and this community is mostly ignored in HIV research data, all of which GATE intends to address with this new project.
The formation of this project began at the World AIDS 2018 Conference in Amsterdam, during which a group of trans men and trans masculine people working in the areas of sexual health and HIV research and service delivery met to discuss their frustrations at the persistent exclusion of trans men from the international HIV response.
This led to a silent protest during the Closing Plenary of AIDS 2018, and an announcement, by GATE’s Director of Programs, of our intention to form a working group on trans men and HIV. We are pleased to announce that this project has now commenced!
GATE aims to produce critical knowledge on trans men and HIV, to propose abstracts and sessions for AIDS 2020 and HIV 2020, and to develop a strategy for increasing the meaningful engagement of trans men in health discussions. This work will be carried out in dialogue and cooperation with other trans groups, including trans women, gender diverse and trans men groups, and will make positive changes to increase awareness among donors, global health organizations and policy makers on the realities of trans men regarding HIV, including challenges, gaps, and best practices going forward.
Download our 3-page information resource:
The first official global statement about trans men being excluded from the global HIV response was written during the World AIDS 2016 Conference in Durban, South Africa.
Read the Durban Declaration:
GATE wishes to include trans male/masculine identified individuals from all regions around the world. Monthly Skype meetings are planned to discuss strategies to strengthen and generate knowledge to further include trans men in the international HIV response.
Get in touch if you are interested in joining:
More Resources
This is a short list of online resources that are accessible for free. Many of these projects are trans-lead initiatives or had leading trans representatives engaged. This list is not exhaustive, but should provide an initial idea of trans masculine inclusive projects.
Quick Links:
Sexual Health in General
CliniQ – Inclusive Trans Sexual Health & Wellbeing
Cruising: A Trans Guy’s Guide To The Gay Scene:
GRUNT – Keep it Safe, Keep it Hot, Trans Men Into Men
Sexual Health and More for Gay, Bi and Queer Trans Men:
Archives of Sexual Behaviour Journal
Fontanari et al. (2019) – A Retrospective Review of Medical Records of Laboratory-Tested Sexually Transmitted Infections of Transsexual Men from Southern Brazil:
Transgender Health Journal
Harb et al. (2019) – Motivators and Barriers to Accessing Sexual HealthCare Services for Transgender/Genderqueer Individuals Assigned Female Sex at Birth:
HIV & PrEP
AIDS Care Journal
Scheim & Travers (2017) – Barriers and facilitators to HIV and sexually transmitted infections testing for gay, bisexual, and other transgender men who have sex with men:
AVAC - Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention
Appenroth et al. (2021) – No Data No More: Manifesto to Align HIV Prevention Research with Trans and Gender-Diverse Realities:
Journal of the International AIDS Society (JIAS)
Reisner et al. (2019) – High risk and low uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV acquisition in a national online sample of transgender men who have sex with men in the United States:
Scheim et al. (2016) – Inequities in access to HIV prevention services for transgender men: results of a global survey of men who have sex with men:
PubMed Central (PMC)
Fisher et al. (2017) – Facilitators and Barriers to Participation in PrEP HIV Prevention Trials Involving Transgender Male and Female Adolescents and Emerging Adults:
Reisner & Murchinson (2016) – A global research synthesis of HIV and STI biobehavioral risks in female-to-male (FTM) transgender adults:
Reisner et al. (2016) – Syndemics and gender affirmation: HIV sexual risk in female-to-male trans masculine adults reporting sexual contact with cisgender males:
Rich et al. (2018) – Sexual HIV risk among gay, bisexual and queer transgender men: findings from interviews in Vancouver, Canada:
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
Shawn Demmons – Why are trans men invisible in HIV prevention & care?:
Sexes
Appenroth et al. (2022) – Similar Sexual Behaviour yet Different Outcomes: Comparing Trans and Gender Diverse and Cis PrEP Users in Germany Based on the Outcomes of the PrApp Study:
Transition-Related Healthcare
American Journal of Men's Health
D’Angelo et al. (2021) – Health and Access to Gender-Affirming Care During COVID-19: Experiences of transmasculine individuals and men assigned female sex at birth:
HPV & Cervical Cancer
BMC Infectious Diseases
Reisner et al. (2017) – Comparing self- and provider-collected swabbing for HPV DNA testing in female-to-maletransgender adult patients: a mixed-methods biobehavioral study protocol:
Fenway Health
I’m on the FtM Spectrum* – What do I Need to Know About HPV and Cancer:
R. Rollston – Promoting Cervical Cancer Screening Among Female-to-Male Transmasculine Patients:
Pregnancy & Trans Men
HIVE - A Hub of Positive Reproductive & Sexual Health
UCSF – hiveTRANSMEN – Preconception and prenatal care for trans men (living with HIV)
Lane et al. – Thinking About Having a Baby? A Guide for Trans Men* Living with HIV
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2021) – Access to fertility services by transgender and nonbinary persons: an Ethics Committee opinion
European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care
Sims & Appenroth (2021) – Contraceptive technology research & development: a call for inclusion of trans and gender diverse individuals assigned female at birth (contact mappenroth@gate.ngo for access):
Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Hahn et al. (2019) – Providing Patient-Centered Perinatal Care for Transgender Men and Gender-Diverse Individuals – A Collaborative Multidisciplinary Team Approach
Resources in Additional Languages
Sexuality Policy Watch
Radi (2018) – Mitología política sobre aborto y hombres trans:
Economía Femini(s)ta (EF)
Radi (2017) – De los derechos humanos a la eugenesia: sobre la salud sexual y reproductiva de las personas trans*: