MR
W W W JUSTOUT C O M
SEPTEMBER O 2009
NORTHWEST NEWS
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of couples to help better future gay men’s
health programs that explicitly target gay
A recent study by the online journal couples,” said Mitchell.
There are myriad factors involved with
AIDS reported that over 50 percent of HIV
transmissions in the United States are con why HIV infection has increased so drasti
tracted from the afflicted’s main sexual part cally within recent years, notes Mitchell,
ner. In the past, research for dyadic data—or including drug and alcohol use and abuse;
information about a couple—has been rel depression; inconsistent condom use; in
egated to culling information from only one fidelity; unknown HIV status for self or
partner in a relationship, limiting attempts partner; optimism about AIDS/HIV treat
to better understand couple dynamics and ments; using the Internet to find sex part
how partners influence one another in their ners; complacency about HIV risk; and HIV
Q and homosexuality-related
sexual behaviors.
stigmas, to name a few.
Now, Jason Mitchell, an
Portland and Seattle
Oregon State University
were chosen as the major
Ph.D. student, has under
taken a study aimed at
foci of the study due to
collecting data from both
both cities boasting some
sexual partners to help
of the highest rates of
detect how much influ
same-sex households per
ence one has on his partner
1,000 households in the
given a particular behavior,
nation. This is the first
and how men within the
study of its kind pertaining
relationship differ or are
to gay couples in the Pacific
similar.
Northwest.
The project is aptly titled
“The direct catalyst
“The Boyfriend Study.”
for my research grew out
The d ir e c t c a t a l / s t for m y
Mitchell just finished
of my passion to improve
re s e a rc h g re w o u t of my
his third year as a Public
p a s s io n to im p ro v e g a y
gay men’s health, programs
m
e
n
's
h
e
a
lth
p
r
o
g
r
a
m
s
a
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Health doctoral candidate
and quality of life,” said
q u a lit y of life says Ja son
at OSU.
Mitchell. “I’ve known
M itch e ll, a n OSU p u b lic
“My advisors have been
h e a lth d o c t o r a l c a n d i d a t e
many gay couples who have
very supportive and fore
struggled with the typical
warned me how much work dyadic research relationship issues, but also in the context
entails,” explained Mitchell. “Let’s just say, of expressing their own needs, desires, and
now I fully know.”
values with their partners.
Mitchell hopes to recruit 140 gay couples
“When you combine these struggles
in the Pacific Northwest, mainly from Port with the lack of healthcare equity, general
land and Seattle, to take part in an anony inequality for human rights and gay mar
mous electronic survey that asks a variety of riage, and constant struggle for positive
questions on demographics, sex and some and respectful visibility, it is no wonder gay
typical relationship factors, including com couples face an uphill battle. W hat’s most
mitment and trust. The study, which began impressive is the amount of support that gay
in mid-June, is currently in the recruitment men give each other, the love they have for
and data-collection stage. So far, 33 couples their relationships, and their ability to take
from Portland and Seattle have completed ownership to create the type of life they ul
the questionnaire, but Mitchell notes that timately want to live.”
there has been reluctance from some men in
Mitchell is urging the gay community
the gay community to assist in the study.
to get the word out about The Boyfriend
“The number one challenge has been Study.
trying to coordinate everyone’s busy lives
“The LGBT community needs to con
or that the couple is going through a rough tinue to support one another,” he said. “Now
time,” said Mitchell. “Putting that aside, here’s a chance to share your relationship
some guys are just uncomfortable answering information anonymously in an effort to
questions about their relationship, despite help improve future health programs for gay
the fact it’s completely anonymous.”
couples.”
Mitchell hopes to answer some impor
tant questions in terms of how best to fine-
Participants in The Boyfriend Study must
tune current and future health programs and he 18 or older; fluent in English, have been in
campaigns that target gay men. Regardless a sexual relationship for three months or longer,
of what the results indicate, local public and both partners must have negative or un
health organizations in both cities will re known H IV status.
ceive a report detailing the study’s findings.
To participate, \m a il theboyfriendstudy@
“I can’t stress enough the importance of gmail.com, or call 310-663-3965 to schedule
collecting information from a wide range an appointment.
By RYAN J. PRADO
Street