I wrote my master’s thesis on online social networks (OSNs), so I know a thing or two as to just how powerful—or incriminating—they can be.

As Facebook was first launched in America, I’ve been on Facebook longer than the Euros. I also realized long before them that adding someone you just met to your network isn’t the wisest thing to do. I’m sure you too have realized by now that things can get a tad complicated when things don’t work out two weeks or a month later…

Do you delete them? What if they delete you? Do you watch what you say? Are they actually wasting time following everything you do on there? And if so, should you be more careful with what you say to your friends? Are you wasting far too much time following what they do? Not to mention the possibility of finding out things about them you had rather not known. What do you do with this information?! Do you bring it up or do you pretend you don’t know? It can get quite complicated.

Personally, I have an unspoken rule not to add new flings to any of my online social networks, including instant messaging and especially not Facebook. Of course, I have made exceptions and have been reminded not to do it the hard way. It’s not Globosexuals policy to give personal accounts, but let’s just say one incident involved coming across a comment along the lines of “Lots of Pussy. Pussy galore,” with far too many exclamation marks. I was instantly repulsed and never wanted to see the guy again.

But, what about adding old flings; Flings B.F. (Flings Before Facebook)? This means all the people you ever dated before 2004, or 2006 if you’re outside of the US. Remember dating B.F., when guys actually called to ask you out rather than send text messages? I miss those days…

Elizabeth Bernstein, bonds columnist for The Wall Street Journal asks precisely that in today’s WSJ. She also warns against it.

I normally burn my bridges, but in the very seldom cases that I’ve remained friends after the split I still haven’t added the guys to my online social networks. This is because our friendship existed outside of such things like Facebook; and I’d like to keep it that way.  

But what do you think? For this week’s poll of the week we ask:

International organization Human Rights Watch said Iraqi militias have launched a crusade against homosexuals and men who are not “manly” enough by torturing and murdering them. Ninety gay men have been killed alone since January of this year, while hundreds of others have been targeted and murdered since 2004.

In a 67-page report titled They Want Us Exterminated: Murder, Torture, Sexual Orientation and Gender in Iraq and released today (17 July), the organization outlines recent cases where men have been targeted as recent as January of this year in Baghdad, where assaults are more prevalent, as well as Kirkuk, Najaf and Basra. Members of the Mehdi Army militia group are believed to be leading the gruesome operation, HRW states in the report.

“Murders are committed with impunity, admonitory in intent with corpses dumped in garbage or hung as warnings on the street.” Men suspected of homosexuality are kidnapped from their homes, interrogated and abused in order to obtain the names of more homosexual men. Abuse has included death by gluing the men’s anuses and then force-feeding them laxatives.  

Heterosexual men seen as too feminine or as not masculine enough are also being targeted “suggesting how concerns about an Iraq where men are no longer masculine drive the death squads.”  

Interestingly enough, the report states that the terrorizers do not know or use the word “gay” but instead resort to terms like “soft,” the “third sex” and “puppy,” a term implying immaturity and a lack of humanity.

The killings have also sparked a modern day witch hunt, as parents and brothers threaten their family members with honor killings when their sons or brothers’ “unmanly behavior” threatens a family’s reputation.  

HRW urges Iraq’s leaders to put a stop to the hate and violence against these men.

- JD

In May, Kenyan women rallied together to boycott sex in an effort to resolve last year’s post-election disputes, which resulted in violent ethnic protests and the deaths of 1,500 people.

The movement, which lasted about a week, involved various women’s groups and Raila Odinga, wife of one of the political leaders involved. In a story by the Financial Times the women involved said they were prepared to pay prostitutes to withhold their services for a week to make the campaign more effective,” as men threatened to go to prostitutes if their partners participated in the boycott.

The result? Well, the women from the organizations involved said it was a “success,” indicating the fact that President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga eventually met to discuss which party should run the government’s agenda in parliament.  

However, Africa the good news reported that in spite of the women’s efforts, Kenya’s leaders remained “divided as ever,” as Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement accused Kibaki’s Party of National Unity of preventing a resolution.

 This brings us to this week’s Poll of the week:

 
- JD

No, it doesn’t come in the shape of your leg.

Brazilian company PetSmiling is the world’s first to produce a sex doll for dogs and was launched in Saõ Paulo the 8^th Pet South America conference last week (22 – 24 July). Now Fido doesn’t have to use your leg, cushions or small stuffed animals to relieve himself.

The DoggieLoverDoll comes as a soft rubber female “dog” (it looks like a futuristic artificial cartoon dog) with a silicone vagina and an “easy to clean reservoir.” The doggy sex doll also comes with a tube of water-based intimate lubricant to “increase the useful life of the doll.” How romantic.

The dolls come in small, medium and large to accommodate various pet sizes.

PetSmiling owner Marco Giroto said he got the idea for the doll when his own Maltese would hump his guests’ legs. In tests, the doll was said to help pets achieve a “better quality of life,” based on research showing dogs that used the doll had less anxiety, barking and territorial attitudes. When humping legs and other objects, PetSmiling said that dogs cannot reach ejaculation, but that with DoggieLoverDoll they can.

“In other words, the dogs live a better life, satisfying their repressed sexuality, in some cases for many years,” the company stated. Giroto has already received orders from the US, Germany and Japan.

How much do you want to bet dogs won’t be the only ones humping these things? But most importantly —when are they going to make a doggy dildo for all ma’ bitches?

- JD

Professor Karim Nayernia, creator of stem cell sperm.

It could be lab-created sperm.

Newcastle University scientists have created human sperm from stem cells for the first time ever in history, the Financial Times reports.

In five to 10 years, the practice will enable infertile men to have children, scientists said.

Project leader Karim Nayernia said the specimens produced “looked fully mobile and functional under the microscope” although more research will be needed before the in vitro designed (IVD) sperm is used to fertilise human eggs. 

The process included cultured stem cells, from a male embryo, with “special chemicals.” Some of the cells divided, or underwent meiosis, and then grew into mobile sperm with a head and tail.

The research originally began with mouse stem cells and adult stem cells in Göttingen, Germany, but moved to Newcastle in 2006 because embryo experiments are banned in Germany.

Apparently, IVD sperm can only be produced from stem cells with male XY chromosomes, Nayernia said. Female XX chromosomes do not progress further than the early-stage sperm.

Nayernia said the goal now is to make human sperm from induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, which “produces embryo-like stem cells from skin or other adult cells,” within the next six months.

- JD

AP Photo/Darryl Bush

While America was celebrating its independence, London was celebrating lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals with the sixth annual Pride London this past weekend.

In support, the new (and openly gay) Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant sent hand written personal letters congratulating three British diplomats throughout Europe for publicly showing support for gay rights—even when their actions drew anger and criticism from the government and homophobes, the Guardian reported. Bryant also made the Globosexuals.com headlines last week when he announced new guidelines for identifying forced marriages.    Bryant sent a personal letter to Ric Todd for flying the rainbow flag alongside the Union flag last year in support of Warsaw Pride 2008. The rainbow flag has long represented the gay and lesbian community since 1978 when San Francisco resident Gilbert Baker created the iconic rainbow-striped flag.  Todd was also congratulated for translating LGBT rights into Polish this year.   

Stuart Williams was praised for sending a support message to the Rainbow Friendship rally in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital. Robin Barnett, ambassador to Bucharest, also received praise for attending the gay rights march in Romania’s capital last month.

A few days earlier, India decriminalized gay sex on 2 July, The Economist reported. The decision overturned a 19th century colonial law that stated sodomy was punishable by 10 years in prison. The law also pertained to child molestation and beastiality. The overturning decision was a result of a 9-year legal campaign led by The Naz Foundation (India) Trust, a non-governmental ogranization based in New Delhi that brings awareness of issues such as AIDS, sexual health and sexuality. The campaign, which was also supported by the Health Ministry of India, began when four members were arrested on suspision of running a gay “sex racket” and charged with conspiracy to commit sodomy and possession of “obscene literature” (really AIDS awareness material). The charges were later dropped.

Meanwhile back in America, President Barack Obama held a White House meeting for 250 leaders of the gay and lesbian community on 29 June, where the president pledged to push for change to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the military’s policy on homosexuality. Under the mandated federal law, anyone who “demonstrate(s) a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts” is prohibited from serving in the US’ armed forces.

The LGBT community is anxious to change the mandate as the policy not only puts an emotional strain on relationships, it also bars a service man’s gay partner from accessing military benefits, such as free education, health benefits and notification in case of death.

This paradox only goes to prove what The New York Time’s chief political correspondent Adam Nagourney stated that, “even as cultural acceptance of homosexuality increases across the country, the politics of gay rights remains full of crosscurrents.”

So for this week’s Poll of the week we ask:

- JD

“First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Betty with the baby carriage”— or at least that’s how it’s supposed to work. But for more than 1,540 Britons that’s not always the case.

The Daily Mail reported forced marriages in the UK have risen ten-fold in the past four years. This year alone 770 suspected cases where individuals are pressured into marriage against their desire have been reported, with 1,540 cases expected by the end of the year. That’s an increase of more than 913 percent, the paper reported.

The incidence is said to affect mainly young women between the ages of 13 and 30. Young Asians are most affected, with more than 70% coming from Pakistani origin, more than a third of cases involve women under the age of 18 and one in six under the age of 16.

In efforts to combat the practice, the UK government has created guidelines for schools, police, doctors and other officials “to help them identify and respond” to forced marriages,  BBC reported (time: 07.09). The 105-page document is now available to download this summer, when forced marriages are most likely to happen, authorities said.

“There is no culture and there is no religion where forced marriage should be acceptable… there are some people who think this is a question about Islam—it’s not. Islam does not recommend or accept forced marriage,” Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant said.

Bryant said they have had great success over the years with the number of incidents reported to the Forced Marriage Unit rising. He said last year they helped intervene in 420 cases. “This sounds like a bad thing, but it means that we’re able to intervene and have been able to help.”

The booklet details various instances for professionals where there are tell-tale signs, such as the following:

-         When an elder sibling has married very young or has suddenly

-         When a student suddenly leaves school or is taken back to their or their parents’ home country.

-         If the child becomes self-harming.

-         When the youth is constantly accompanied by parents. For example, if a girl becomes pregnant and the parent’s will not allow the doctor to see the young girl on her own.

The guide offers useful legal information as to what to do if you suspect someone has been forced into a marriage. The guide states that forcing someone to marry is not a criminal offence. However, in forcing someone to marry against their will, other offences are committed which can be prosecuted, such as threatening behavior, assault, kidnap, and others. It also offers helpful numbers in various countries.

Bryant also said that because the Forced Marriage Unit is a combination of the Home Office and the British Foreign Commonwealth Office, they are able to work in many countries throughout the world to make sure young girls are not forced into marriage.

Know your rights!

- JD

Every once in a blue moon, there comes a song that is made perfect for stripping or simply dancing alone in front of the mirror.

“New In Town,” by Little Boots is that song.

The chorus is sultry and ideal for snaking your waist, thrusting your pelvis and popping your booty to a disco-80s mix that’s just right.

But that’s not all. The lyrics are spot on. For all my Globosexuals, you know exactly what she’s talking about. Yes, you can always depend on the kindness of strangers to show you a really good time without spending a dime—or penny, in this case. And the only reason they did it was because, they “know how it feels to be alone, when strangers only make you feel the cold, you never ever felt so far from home.”

We tip our hats to all the randoms who have offered to show us around the city while on vacation. You didn’t have to; but you did—and we’re so glad you did.    

Favorite Line: “Is it all you’re hoping for? Does it live up to your every dream? Or do we disappoint?”
Listening suggestion: Lost, in the city streets.

 - JD

I love June for so many reasons.

(1)   My Birthday month

(2)  It’s summer hot (except less apparent in the UK)

(3)  The longest day of the year.

And now, United States President Barack Obama has officially proclaimed June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. I’m not a lesbian, gay, bisexual nor transgendered, but I have many friends who are and this is a good month for LGBT communities around the world.

And last week, Shanghai hosted its first gay festival, co-organized by whom other than, American Tiffany Lemay. The festival was held from 7 to 14 June and included film screenings, art shows, panel discussions, open mic, drag show, a closing party, lots of drinking, lots of dancing and of course lots of glitter. People from “Beijing and Hong Kong among other places” attended the festival.  

Although much more low-key than other gay festivals around the world, the mostly private events were not without controversy. Authorities forced the cancellation of a play, a film screening and a social mixer and tried to shut the entire festival on Saturday 14 June, according to the New York Times.

According to China’s leading homosexuality scholar Zhang Beichuan, there are 30 million homosexuals (20 million gays and 10 million lesbians), but the government says there are only between five and 10 million. According to China Daily, China only “removed homosexuality from its list of crimes in 1997 and in 2001 recognzied it as natural phenomenon rather than a mental problem.”

Lemay, who’s been living in Shanghai for six years, said she’s noticed a change in public attitude toward homosexuality, but it still has a long way to go. Homosexuals continue to be discriminated against for education and employment rights.

It’s still a good first step—a good dance step.­­

- JD

The first case of human immunodeficiency virus (H.I.V.) in the porn industry, since 2004, was confirmed on Wednesday June 10, The Los Angeles Times reported.

An adult film actress working in Southern California’s adult film industry tested positive for HIV on June 4 and then worked on a film on June 5, according to Adult Industry Medical (AIM) Health Care Foundation. AIM is a non-profit organization offering health services for industry workers and was founded by a former porn star. The actor who acted in the film with the woman has been tested and the results were negative.

The incident ignited concerns that the industry lacks the necessary measures to prevent the spread of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.   

Since then, the New York Times reported that 22 actors in porn films had contracted the human immunodeficiency virus (H.I.V.) since 2004. It has also fueled a major controversy where Los Angeles health officials are blaming AIM for not cooperating with state investigations and for failing to protect industry workers and their partners.

“We have an industry that is exposing workers to life-threatening diseases as part of their employment,” said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of public health for Los Angeles county in the NYT article.  

Health officials have said that not requiring adult film stars to use condoms during intercourse is a “violation of safe-workplace regulations” and have pursued legislations requiring condoms during sex scenes.

Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles, said that the porn industry is “sending a terrible message to young people that the only kind of sex that’s hot is unsafe sex.”

So for this week’s Poll of the Week, we ask:

 –JD