Via Star Observer: 
Widespread homophobic violence and the exclusion of gay and bisexual men at the top levels of the global response to HIV and AIDS are halting efforts to fight the epidemic, according to experts at the International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa. Researchers, activists and health officials said one of the major barriers to halting HIV and AIDS epidemics among men who have sex with men (MSM) is continuing human rights abuses towards gay and bisexual men, particularly in parts of Africa and the Middle East. In much of the world, gay and bisexual men are actively excluded from HIV services, or the fear of homophobic violence means they are unwilling or unable to access those services. READ MORE