Ep. 6 ”Let’s Talk About Sex”

You do it. Your parents did it. Even the Puritans did it…so why are we so puritanical when it comes to talking about sex? In this episode, we’re bringing it all out of the bedroom and discussing how openly talking about sex is a necessary first step to talking about HIV. Sex positivity, health exploration, eliminating stigmas and taboos—they all start here, with the birds and the bees. 

Our guests are: 

Nathan Hale Williams, an actor, film and television producer, and entertainment producer known for writing and co-directing the film 90 Days, as well as directing the 2021 short film adaptation of All Boys Aren’t Blue. He discusses the social challenges that limit critical conversations about HIV and his tactics for authentically portraying the experiences of people living with HIV in his work. 

Dr. Cedric Pulliam, the Director of Global Public Policy at Prevention Access Campaign, where he works to advance global LGBTQ+ and human rights policies. He explains the impact U=U can have on international HIV strategy and the intrinsic relationship between sexual health and health equity. 

Goody Howard, a world-renowned sexologist who normalizes sex-positivity through sexual skill workshops and professional development programs. She articulates the roles both men and women must play in sexual health education, as well as how to incorporate pleasure into conversations about safe sex. 

This podcast was created and fully funded by Gilead Sciences, Inc. GILEAD, the GILEAD logo, and the & design are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc. © 2023 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. IHQ-UNB-4253 Date of Preparation July 2023. 

References:  

DHHS. Panel on antiretroviral guidelines for adults and adolescents. Recommendations for the use of antiretroviral agents in adults and adolescents with HIV. Updated March 23, 2023. Available at: https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/sites/default/files/guidelines/documents/adult-adolescent-arv/guidelines-adult-adolescent-arv.pdf. Accessed July 20, 2023. 

Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, testing, treatment, service delivery and monitoring: recommendations for a public health approach. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240031593. Accessed July 20. 2023.  

Ford OG, Rufurwadzo TG, Richman B, et al. Adopting U = U to end stigma and discrimination. J Int AIDS Soc. 2022;25(3):e25891. doi:10.1002/jia2.25891 

Wansom T, Guadamuz TE, Vasan S. Transgender populations and HIV: unique risks, challenges and opportunities. J Virus Erad. 2016 Apr 1;2(2):87-93.  

CDC. Preexposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection in the United States – 2021 Update – A Clinical Practice Guideline. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/risk/prep/cdc-hiv-prep-guidelines-2021.pdf. Accessed July 20, 2923. 

Barré-Sinoussi F, Abdool Karim SS, Albert J, et al. Expert consensus statement on the science of HIV in the context of criminal law. J Int AIDS Soc. 2018 Jul;21(7):e25161. doi:10.1002/jia2.25161. 

Apcom.org. Getting to zero: Leveraging U=U for communty empowerment and eliminating stigma. Available at: https://www.apcom.org/getting-to-zero-leveraging-uu-for-community-empowerment-eliminating-stigma/. Accessed July 20, 2023.