Aussielicious

Several years ago I met a guy out and we spent a few weeks catching up. He’d just moved back to Sydney after working as a Jackeroo (farm hand) out in the Australian bush at some of the enormous farming properties out there. Not long after he decided that the city wasn’t for him and moved back out to the bush. My impression was that he was struggling with his sexuality and trying to reconcile being a bit of a cowboy and rugged Aussie bloke with his attraction to men. He’s certainly not alone in that experience. Not too long ago I became friends with him on facebook and talking to him again I thought he might be an interesting interview subject. Like most country guys, he’s a man of few words, so the questions are longer than some of the responses.

A little while ago I posted a video of a man doing a nude fun run for a charity. I went and had a look at his website and thought Joel would make an interesting interview subject as he seems to have dipped his toe into a very varied collection of jobs and past times.

What inspired you to start doing these events for charity?
I first went to the world bog snorkelling championships in Wales, just as a one off, with a few friends.  We had a great day, the locals made us very welcome, and after that I started to look around the UK and abroad to see what other events I could get into to raise a bit of money for good causes.  The next month I went to the Great Gorilla Run in London… and it just kind of snow-balled from there!

Damon is the father of Tom (names have been changed for privacy reasons) whom I interviewed a couple of weeks ago. Tom was shown this blog by a nudist mate when I posted a video that raised concerns about nudity and legal age a few months ago. He then showed his father the blog and the video and they have been in regular contact since.

You are bringing your boys up in a very open minded, some would say alternative, household. Were you brought up in a nudist, liberal house or a more traditional and conservative household?
I was brought up in a traditional conservative household. I have two sisters and I am in the middle. I never saw either of my parents or my sisters naked to my recollection. But ever since I can remember, I have had an intense primal desire to be nude. My father told me that I would always be ripping my clothes off when I was a toddler. But I first discovered nude freedom at summer camp when I was around seven or eight. It was an all boys camp in those days, and pretty much clothing optional, much to my mother’s chagrin as it turned out. It was there I discovered that lots of boys slept nude, not only at camp but at home, and lots of boys did not wear underwear at times and some not at all. The camp was a great experience for me for many reasons – nudity included. I started sleeping naked year-round and often dispensed with underwear. My mother still dutifully bought pajamas and underwear for me. Would put on the pjs to go to breakfast but did not wear them otherwise.

I returned to that camp every year until I was about twenty – and as a counselor myself the last four years, after I turned 17, so I was quite fortunate to live nude a good part of every summer. When it came time for college, I was determined to live as nude as possible, and with some research, found a college within the state with a liberal reputation with a well-regarded pre-law program, I wished to pursue. And I was fortunate to receive a full swimming college to this institution, the same one where my oldest son is now a student as well as on the swim team. Lots of stories to tell here, but suffice to say, was able to live nude to the extent possible from day one in college and have lived that way ever since.

Your wife knew you were gay when you got married. What made you want to marry a woman if you knew your sexuality lay elsewhere?
She was my soulmate and still is in many respects – we loved each other very much and still do. We lak every day and see each other at least weekly. I always knew I wanted to have a family and thought I could somehow make it all work I was wrong but have no regrets – I did what I was thought was right and good at the time and I know she has no regrets as well.

By the way, she is not and never has been a nudist but always accepting and supportive of our nudity.

Explain the idea behind living in a house where you share bunk style room with your boys, your partner, you all live nude, shower together and have few boundaries?
Our sleeping arrangement is quite unorthodox these days but until recent times was quite common. Private sleeping quarters was a luxury for the rich – it was common for families to sleep together and still quite common in much of the world.

When I separated and divorced – my wife and I agreed to the boys were to remain with me. At the time, we were living in a large suburban home with the usual multiple bedrooms and baths. The boys were about two, six and nine at the time. But every night, the boys would come into my room and we would all sleep together in the king size bed. I knew I did not want to stay in that house and built a smaller, enery efficient two bedroom with an additional sleeping loft. But even there the boys wanted us to all sleep together. And I had always told them stories about the quad room I shared in college and how it was a very positive experience for me – they wanted to live as I did in college.

So I set up the bunk arrangement in bedroom with two bunks – a double bed on bottom of each one and a single on top. The extra bedroom became my home office so I was able to work from home – with a futon there should I have had overnight t guests or boyfriend over. The loft became the boys’ study space. And I should add, in warm weather we all sleep outdoors on the screened back porch – nothing like it.

My partner and I are only recently together and he is the first man I have lived with. He started moving in about a month ago and my younger sons are living mostly with their mother during this transition time. He does massage part time and we are adding an extra room that will be his studio as well as our private sleeping space.
Our bath is an open bath with two shower heads. In camp I learned I had no need for personal privacy of modesty in the bath and that is how my sons have been raised (and they all went to same camp for a while as well).

How did you explain to your boys about your sexuality and how did they react?
Never had a need to explain really – they were quite young at the time and my best friend was gay. He and his partner were over the house all the time. Believe I told them I was just like Mark and Mike – it was that simple.

One of your boys appeared on a nudist blog, photographed in the World Naked Bike Ride. He’s under age, what was your initial reaction to that?
I was not surprised really – I figured someone would be taking pictures and was relieved the picture that did appear on the web was discrete.

Were there any reservations on your part about letting him take part?
Actually no – it is for a cause that is most important to us and it was an affirmation of the way we live. They were thrilled to be part of it and we look forward to doing it again this year.

When your boys make new friends, do you make an effort to talk to their parents to explain your lifestyle so that they aren’t caught unawares and how do they generally react?
Almost all their friends are from the private school they attend – a fairly liberal school, some may describe as alternative. That said, academic and discipline standards are quite rigorous. It is a small school and were are all well known – I am on the board as well. Everyone is well aware of our living naked. And I might add, many parents tell me they always saw nudists as a strange bunch until they actually met me lol !!

If your sons have friends over, do the friends typically join in the nudist arrangement when they stay?
Almost all do, assuming they have their parent’s permission, after I speak with them. I do not let them do so otherwise.

Do you think society will return to a more liberal or innocent attitude towards nudity, like the YMCA’s in the 60′s and 70′s for example? Or are we doomed to have lost that freedom forever?
I would hope that freedom may return. Social and cultural trends always change and the current level of modesty and prudery is bound to change and loosen at some point. But when is anyone’s guess !

Raising your boys in such an open environment would it sadden you to see them take up a more textile lifestyle?
Whatever choice they make – I want it to be however they are most happy and comfortable – naked or textiled. They have always had the choice to be clothed at home and tell them that – I have no qualms whatsoever if they were to choose to do so.
My partner wasn’t a nudist before we met but took to it right away as we started to date. I told him moving in, clothes at home were not an option for either one of us. The boys live in a textile world outside the home – we set the example by living naked and giving them that freedom to do so.

As a father you obviously take photos of your family. How do you ensure those photos aren’t going to be posted anywhere less than suitable? For instance, if the photo of your son in the World Naked Bike Ride had ended up somewhere with a sexual overtone, what would your reaction be?
I maintain strict control over pics I take and do not allow the boys to take pics of each other or their friends naked. I monitor their computer and social media usage and check their phone usage as well. They know the consequences if they do something not appropriate – living nude does not in anyway relax standards for manners and appropriate personal behavior.

Do you have anything you would like to say to the readers of Aussielicious?
With an introduction by Brenton,, would be happy to meet and chat with other nudist dads – know you are out there !!

This interview came about after I had to delete a video that featured some young guys in it several weeks ago. “Tom” contacted me saying he’d seen the video and saw nothing wrong with it. Tom is a 19 year old college student who has been raised by his gay father, along with two younger brothers. They are all very enthusiastic nudists living a relatively unconventional lifestyle. I’ve changed names in this interview as they wanted to be anonymous. As long term readers will know, I’ve often wondered what it would have been like to have been raised in a nudist. I wasn’t raised to be ashamed of my body but my parents more conservative attitudes did rub off and I was very prudish for a long time. The photographs used in this interview are not the family being interviewed. Part two of the interview will be posted soon, and it will be with Tom’s father.

Have your parents always been nudists?
Dad has been a nudist since college. Mom is not and never as been a nudist. They divorced when I was around 10. My youger brothers and I live with Dad but see Mom all the time as she lives very close.

Growing up, how did your parents explain to you that not everyone walks around nude and that some people might not understand or like it?
Yes – we were certainly open about being nudist to family and friends but we were definitely told if we wanted  the freedom of being clothes free at home we could not be telling everyone about how we lived – they had their way of living and we had ours.

How open were you with friends growing up that you were a nudist?
We were very open – we all went to a progressive private school where it was common knowledge and certainly not an issue. My brothers are still at that school.

Was there a stage when you or your siblings hit puberty when you felt self conscious about being nude?
We all love living nude – I honestly never recall being self-conscious – to us it is quite natural and normal. Everyone is going to ask about erections I know. We are told to be proud of them, they are part of what makes us men, and they are no reason to be ashamed.

When you came out, did it make it easier knowing your father is also gay?
I never really had to come out – I always figured I was just like Dad and he said he could tell I was gay at a very young age. . My brothers are straight.

You have two younger brothers. Is it interesting to see them growing up and going through puberty and seeing how they handle it as nudists, now that you are out the other side of it?
It has been really beautiful to see the process of  their bodies  as they grow and  and how proud they are of becoming men.

Would you say that nudists are a bit more open minded about life in general?
Oh yeah – I think it really helps you to live without judgment and accept people for who and how they are.

You attend a very liberal university where it’s not uncommon to see nudity on campus. Do you think you would be comfortable going to a more mainstream or conservative university and having to wear clothes?
No way ! On nice days it’s not uncommon to see kids sunning themselves nude outside the dorm, playing frisbee  and just hanging out. I am in a men’s only dorm and me and a few other guys are naked 24/7 there.

You’ve managed to help convert several of the guys on campus and in your dorm to social nudity. Do any of them have a problem with hanging out nude with gay and bi guys?
Labels like gay, straight, bi don’t mean a whole lot like they used to – nobody seems to cares around here – I am lucky.

As a society we seem to be getting more prudish with showers at gyms becoming cubicles instead of open showers and guys going to extraordinary lengths to not be seen nude even in locker rooms. Why do you think that is?
Guys tell me they have never seen their father naked. They had their own bedrooms and bathrooms and no one ever saw them naked growing up after they were 3 or 4 or did they see anyone else. Most schools do not require showers anymore .Guys don’t even change their underwear to go back to class. It’s gross and weird to me. But then I don’t own any underwear !!

Nude beaches are stereotypically the domain of older people, what do you think holds younger people back from being nudists?
Maybe because they think people will hit on them but we been to beaches in FL, NJ, and California where we met other kids.

Typical 19 year olds masturbate a lot, what do you do for privacy living in a share nudist house and even sharing a bedroom?
We live very simply and very green in a small house with not much privacy.  Dad, my bros and I all usually sleep in a bunk rooom together. We only have one bathroom – kind of open European style with two shwer heads – open door policy.   We even have a bider to make sure we are always real clean. In warm weather, we sleep out out on the back porch. Warm weather I love to jack off up in the tree house – I can hang out up there for hours. I do it in the outdoor shower too. But most often, there is a small loft area in the house, accessible by a ladder, where I hang out and do it.

Would you say it’s important to you to when you are looking for someone to date, that they are interested in nudism too?
Be great if he was nudist too but that’s real hard to find – just be cool with me as I am.\

Do you have anything you would like to say to the readers of Aussielicious?
Naked is cool  – just do it !!

You are one of the most motivated and energetic people I’ve ever come across. What drives you and have you always had this boundless energy?
I have always had a drive to be successful and help people. What drives me is knowing that I can always “better” myself. Even at the gym I can ALWAYS ascend to a new level. The idea of ALWAYS being able to accomplish/learn more on a daily basis is what really excites me to WANT to work hard.

You got your big break on MTV’s Real World. What is the motivation to go on a show and be followed constantly for 24 hours a day?
There were a couple reasons. I had just started my company Scott Herman Fitness, LLC and wanted to get more exposure for my site and jumpstart my modeling career. Also, at the time I was dating a girl who I really liked thought that if I could show the world the kind of person I was, her family, who I had never met, would accept me as she came from a very wealthy “ old school” Italian family.

You’ve said you wanted people to assume you are meat head homophobe and then prove them wrong. Why?
Because I feel that when you display the “ visual” characteristics of a sterotype to the point where people have already labeled you it; when you prove them 100% wrong it makes a MUCH bigger impact.

You became very good friends with Katelynn, a transexual woman, on the show and you are fighting hard for equality for the LGBTQ community. What motivates you to fight for a cause that ultimately doesn’t affect you?
Because personally, I could only hear so many stories of young kids being bullied and killed before I felt like I needed to make a difference. I think that too many people over the course of time have “ looked the other way” and now the playing field is FILLED with horrible disgusting people who need justice brought down on them. I hope that my actions will help encourage others to stand up for what is right, especially when they see this hatred first hand on their own city or town.

Have you always been so open minded and do you think that’s a generational thing or the way you were brought up?
I grew up idolizing my Dad and my superheroes. Being a protector of the weak was “what I wanted to be when I grew up”.

With all your support for the gay community do people make the assumption that you must really be gay yourself and how do you respond to that?
People say I am gay all the time, “ like to take it hard” , and the list goes on. At the end of the day, I have my friends, my family, and for the first time in a long time a girlfriend. As long as those people support me in my life’ s journey, I can easily ignore the haters and continue to help others in need.
On a sidenote, being CALLED gay doesn’ t bother me, just like if an LGBT member was called “ straight” they wouldn’ t care. It’ s not an insult, BUT should be a question that people don’ t ask right off the bat. I feel like people should be getting to know each other more as human beings before they get right to sexual orientation.

Winner of Best Abs, your own fitness industry, boundless energy and positive outlook, how do you inspire others to achieve their goals?
I would like to think that I inspire others by just everyday encouragement. My facebook community page (www.facebook.com/ScottHermanFitness) is the most positive place online where ANYONE can go for help and support to reach their fitness goals.
I also believe in leading by example and just like how the superheros in my comics inspired me to be big and strong, and want to help others; I know that if I continue down my path I can have that same impact on my community members with my actions and honestly my photos/videos because as people see visually that I am ALWAYS in good shape, it subconsciously convinced them that they can be fit all year round as well for the rest of their life.

What would you say to someone like me who as they get older realizes how lucky they were to have a fast metabolism and took it all for granted and is now faced with that disappearing?
I would say it is never too late to get BACK into the gym and my EXACT words would most likely be. “ Stop making excuses and get your ass to the gym!!!!!!!!”

As a super motivated guy to a guy who is not particularly good at self motivation (ie horrendous at it) do you have any tips for getting people revved up?
You need to set goals. It gets tuff sometimes to WANT to wake up every day and just start cranking out work. I basically wake up, roll over, and get to it. But after about 15minutes on my community page of seeing people interacting with each other and being positive/helpful, that is what motivates me to want push SHF to the next level.

How are you enjoying the modeling work you are doing?
I love the modeling that I am doing now but am at the point where I want to take that to the next level with a huge campaign. I have always wanted to model Calvin Klein and have a huge billboard in Times Square. I know I will one day, however unfortunately it’ s hard being patient when you expect everything to happen yesterday!

Do you have any favorite photographers that you aspire to work with?
To be honest, I aspire to work with any photographer who has NEW ideas.. not just.. “ Ok.. take off your clothes, put on this pair of underwear, and flex your abs.”

What is your dream life for you?
My dream life is having SHF a GLOBAL Multimillion dollar company that I run with my friends from the comfort of my own home where I spend time with my wife and kids and occasionally drive my 84 Camaro that I have had since highschool which sits totally restored in my garage when I am busy helping others reach their fitness goals.

Is there anything else you want to share with the readers of Aussielicious?
Well I would first like to thank all of you for your support over the last year. If it wasn’ t for the loyal community members I wouldn’ t be here and I want YOU GUYS to know that I don’ t take that for granted. I will always do my best to stay humble and to remember my roots because I believe that as SHF becomes more successful I will have lots more opportunities to give back to the community and if I get in the habit of doing it now, I always will.
If you have fitness goals, the SHF Community is here to support you. Just bringyour positive attitude and we will do the rest! Be sure to tell your friends too!

You can find Scott at the following links.

ScottHermanFitness.com

YouTube.com/ScottHermanFitness

facebook.com/scotthermanfitness

twitter.com/Scott_Herman

Ryan Clifford is the man behind Naked Power Yoga, whose DVD and Calendar I’ve been plugging. For those of you questioning the teasers and their yoga content, look at it the same way you look at the Dieux Du Stade calendar and DVD. Do they have actual rugby in them? No. But we still drool. The Naked Power Yoga will have lots of yoga in it and I for one, can’t wait to see it.

This interview has been a long time coming, being a topic that they gay world, and the world in general, is very slowly getting exposed to but still very ingnorant of. When the opportunity arose to do an interview with a female to male transexual it was not going to be passed up.

As an introduction (try and keep up here) Brosh Matthews was born a girl, and was a lesbian, is now living as a man, a gay man, but in a relationship with a woman. Got that? Right, here’s the interview. You’ll find it fascinating and informative and Brosh’s candid answers are very much appreciated.

How old are you? 27

How old were you when you realised that something was different?
I never sat very comfortably in my female body, and used to resist pretty strongly all the female-gendered things (like clothing) that were imposed on me as a kid. However it wasn’t really until I was 22 that I actually put all the pieces together and realised that what I was feeling was because I was trans and there was something I could do about that. The big ‘light bulb’ moment came for me when I had to have emergency surgery because of a problem with an ovary, and afterwards, I found myself telling everyone that it had been my appendix. I was like – why am I telling everyone it’s my appendix? And then it suddenly dawned on me that it was because I was kind of in denial that I actually had ovaries, and then suddenly a whole lot of stuff made sense.

Is there any way you can describe the feeling to us of being a boy in a girl’s body?
Not easily! I suppose if you and your readers stop to think about it – you all just ‘know’ what sex (male or female or something else) you are. It’s instinctive. So in my case, I just knew I was male in the same way. But then what happened for me, of course, is that they way I understood myself to be,  the person I saw myself to be, did not match up with the way everyone else saw and treated me (ie they treated me as a woman, because that’s how I looked). I guess – imagine if you were regular height, but everyone treated you like you were a dwarf, or if you were fully mobile, but everyone treated you like you were in a wheelchair – it’s just weird, it doesn’t match up with how you see yourself in the world. But then of course there’s that extra layer, that when you actually look at your body, that doesn’t match up with what you expect to see either. So there bits there that just feel like they shouldn’t be, and there’s other bits that feel like they’re missing. So you do what you can to to make your body match with how you feel – and the result it that everyone else begins to see and treat you the same way you see yourself and so that weird ‘mis-match’ gets better and (by and large) goes away. (Told you that wasn’t easy to answer!)

How old were you when you started living as a man?
I started transitioning to being male when I was 22. I was already dressing pretty androgynously, and then as the tesosterone started causing physical changes I changed my name, dressed more masculinely and started behaving in social settings as a man (stuff like which toilets I went into!) to match the changes.

You don’t have a penis do you?
Not in the conventional sense. Taking testosterone causes what was the clit to grow quite a lot, and I think of that  now very much as being my cock. What I’ve got actually looks like quite like a regular penis, but it’s teeny-tiny.

Is that a personal choice or has medical science not yet perfected the art of building one?
Basically, there are two types of surgeries available to construct a penis – a metoidoplasty (or meta) and a phalloplasty (or phallo).  You can’t get either of them in Australia, you have to go overseas.The meta surgery costs around $15k. It involves removing the girl bits, adding balls, and tries to accentuate the growth. Some surgeons will also extend the urethra so that you can pee standing up. It still means that you have a tiny cock that you can’t really use, but it gets rid of the female parts and keeps sensation in the cock. The phallo costs more like $100k and involves 3 or 4 seperate, really major surgeries (provided there’s no complications). A phallo removes the girl bits, creates balls, a ndfull sized cock (usually by taking a big graft of flesh from the forearm, belly or thigh)  which, depending on the surgeon, you  might be able to pee out of. The penis can’t get erect and in many cases there can be limited to no feeling in the penis. It also, in my opinion, doesn’t look very realistic. Some guys get one of these surgeries done because they are just too uncomfortable with having non-standard equipment. For me, I like sex, and so I’m not willing to risk equipment that works just fine and enables me to come, for equipment that might not work and the risk that I might not be able to come again or as easily in the future.

If it were possible and a more successful procedure, would you have it done?
Definitely. If surgery could deliver me a cock that looked realistic and had guaranteed sexual sensation in it, then I’d be lining up to get it done, never mind the cost or the pain. I hope medical science works it out in my lifetime, but if they don’t, then I’ll just live with what I’ve got. It’s taken a while but I’ve learnt to be comfortable with my body as it is, and have found that most people aren’t too worried about my equipment either.

How do your family cope with their little girl becoming a man?
They don’t really. My family are very strict Christians, so with the exception of my sister, who is a lesbian, none of my family have anything to do with me. Most families kind of go through a sort of grief – they feel like they’re losing their child/sibling/etc, but in many cases they work through that and see that the person they love hasn’t ‘gone’ anywhere and is in fact happier now. In my particular situation it’s complicated because of my family’s strict religious beliefs.

Is it safe to assume you have lost friends because of your choice to follow your true gender identity
Nope. I haven’t lost a single friend over it. All of my mates have been nothing but supportive – it doesn’t matter if they’ve been gay, lesbian or straight. Some of them have had plenty of questions, but they like me the person, and then can see that I am much happier and more confident as a person in my ‘new’ body.

You are now living as a gay man, does that mean you have always been attracted to men?
Nope. It’s a funny thing – before transitioning I was a lesbian. I’d never had sex with a man, only women. After being on testosterone for about a year, I suddenly discovered I was sexually attracted to men. It was a bit daunting have sex with a guy for the first time at the ripe old age of 23. I don’t know why the change happened – it might have been the effect of testosterone on my brain, maybe i’m kind of hired to be ‘same-sex attracted’, so that as my sex changed, so did my attaction, I have no idea. But I just went with it, I’m pretty open minded. It’s something that happens to quite a few trans guys actually, they go from being lesbian women to gay men. Personally, I call myself queer – I am mostly attracted to men, but still hook up with women too.

What is the percentage of people living with gender confusion?
There’s probably quite a lot of people who feel a bit confused about the gender. But if you mean how many trans people are there in the world, the answer is that there’s lots. There’s been a bit of research into this area and estimates vary from 1 in every 30, 000 to 1 in every 2,500 people.

Buck Angel has been a fairly visible face of female to male gender reassignment, as has Chaz Bono (formerly Chastity). Do you believe they are good role models or publicity for the community?
Yep, I do. When I look at the gay rights movement, it started with visibility. With more people coming out as gay and lesbian and being willing to talk about stuff. As visibility went up, people’s ignorance (generally) went down and over time we’ve seen greater equality for gay and lesbian people. Trans people still face a massive amount of ignorance and discrimination, and mostly I think that’s because there hasn’t been much visibility around trans people. It’s one of the key reasons that I’ve chosen to be out about being trans, and it’s a reason that I think the visibility that comes from both Chaz and Buck is a good thing. I’m particularly grateful that Buck has shown both trans guys and the wider world that it’s perfectly okay to be a man with non-standard equipment – and enjoy using it. Buck is also pretty good at getting health messages out to transguys and educating gay men about sex with transguys, and I think that’s pretty helpful.

Chaz Bono has now completed his transition and the media spoke of surgery. Can you please describe to us the steps needed to go from being female to male if constructing a penis is not routinely part of the transition?
Almost all transguys will, at the very minimum take testosterone. It’s usually a jab in the arse once a fortnight or so, and the magical little hormone does a lot of stuff – changes your body and head shape, makes your voice drop, changes the way you smell and the texture of your skin, makes you get hairy and/or bald depending on your genetics, speeds up your metabolism, makes you more horny – does most of those things that makes men, men. Most transguys will also have chest surgery – get rid of any chest development that has happened and reconstruct the chest to a masculine shape. A few guys will also have surgery to get rid of their uterus and ovaries – for a lot of other guys though this is no big deal because testosterone stops them from working.

As a man, living with a vagina, do you wonder/fantasize about what it’s like to penetrate someone instead of be penetrated?
Absolutely. Sometimes I have sex using a strap-on cock, and fucking someone like that feels really ‘right’, whilst at the same time being kind of frustrating because it’s not ‘me.’ My tiny cock is big enough for me to get sucked off, too, and so again, that feels really right and makes me think about what it’d be like to have a full sized cock to use. This is probably a good time to point out that just because a transguy doesn’t have a cock, doesn’t mean that he’s going to be a bottom. There are plenty of guys  (straight or gay) around that are tops, that don’t like being penetrated, and in some cases, who won’t use their equipment at all because it feels too weird for them as men.

How do you personally deal with seeing someone new and explaining your situation to them?
I’m assuming there would be a fair percentage of guys that are not comfortable with it. Disclosure is always a tricky thing, I’ve had some interesting discussions with poz guys who have to deal with a similar problem. When do you disclose to someone? How do you do it? In some ways I really like stuff like Grindr and online hook up sites, because I can put it straight up there on my profile and if guys don’t like it then they can just ignore me. It’s actually trickier in person, because I don’t really want to start straight out with ‘hi, my name is and i’m trans’.. but working out the timing is difficult. Certainly it’s a conversation that needs to be had pre getting naked, but then do you do it before any snogging happens? Only when you’re about to go home/into a toilet cubicle? When? I don’t have a stock answer, I play it on a case by case basis. On my online profiles I say that I’m a transguy and tell people to check out Buck Angel if they don’t know what that means – that’s easy. In person, I usually say something like ‘hey, so you should probably know that I’m a transguy.. if we start fooling around you’re going to find that i’ve got some non-standard equipment and I just wanted to let you know.’ I’ve actually never had a negative reaction in my life. Sure, some guys have said, no thanks, not for me, but they’ve always been pretty polite about it. I don’t take offence – everyone has their own tastes – height, weight, hair, whatever, so I’m relaxed if what I’ve got is not for everyone. There will always be someone else who is into it or at least willing to give it a try. And some guys are really, really into it (lucky for me).

Do you have any other messages you’d like to pass on or misconceptions you’d like to clear up?
The only one that immediately jumps into my head is don’t assume a transguy is a bottom just because he doesn’t have a penis!  Actually just don’t assume anything about a transguy (or girl) – ask. We’re all different.

Two interviews in two days is more than I would normally post, but these answers landed in my inbox today, months after initially contacting Reese and I thought it best not to wait.

Combine a body sculpted in the gym with cheeky boy next door looks, a cock built for fun and an arse to die for/in with a blatant sense of exhibitionism and you get Reese, breakout gay-for-pay super star of Randy Blue. He was kind enough to answer my questions and share his photos with us. Enjoy.

How old are you?

I’m 21 + 6 twenty first birthdays.

How tall are you?

I’m 6′ 1″ Minus five inches.

I’m definitely more of a Top I do about one bottom scene a year… Is it because I’m addicted to taking it up the ass and the doctor told me to restrict my hole being stretched to help relieve some of my addiction? The world my never know!

Well, I used to want to be a 300 lbs bodybuilder… On that journey I did amateur bodybuilding competitions and at one of the competitions I was spotted by a photographer which got my foot into magazines then went from print to video.

My first photographer and I come up with names that started with my real middle initial R. Once I had the list of names that started with R we picked Reese and the last name was a old classmates of the photographer Rideout.

Ya I would say I’ve always been a bit of an exhibitionist, when I hear that word I think of one particular thing I did back in high school which was I had to eat my lunch with my pants down… so before I took a bite I dropped my pants then chowed down… was it for attention? or did I just want to show off my sexy 19inch thighs for the world? I know the answer.

There’s probably some small percentage created by ones body mass of gravitational pull just as with any object… so in that sense… Yes there is a attraction between me and the other person I happen to be doing a scene with… And a heck of a lot of Viagra ;)

Reactions as follows: “Well… um… maybe I can get hard? I don’t know? Just get sucked?… Ok probably just that I can do? Do I have to cum? I’ll try? How much are you paying again?”

It’s now became a little bit of both. I’ve always had a passion for Shaping the body and now I also have a Fiscal responsibility to keep in damn fucking good shape, no matter how hung over or fried… I have to get the job done and it’s usually after a lot of lifting Iron then running through the park with my puppy by my side.

They’ve all been fine with it, mostly because I’m fine with it. If I were unsure they would be unsure. But I’m very grounded about my current career choice. I know who I am and where I’m going so I’m cool with being the Best Gay Porn Star in the world (quoted from a fan – James). I’m also selling art and making silly videos for my reeserideout.com page.

Yeah they do know, I’ve talk with my siblings face to face yet my parents are on the don’t ask don’t tell policy although I know they know. My parents know I’m being taken care of by this industry and that’s the bottom line, right?

Have you had a favorite scene and co-star?

My favorite scene was just shot a little bit ago and should be out soon! It’s me as a American Psycho-esque type character and it sure spins a great twist at the end! Cayden Ross sure is a nice guy and is a hot and up in cumming porn star!

Well I’m always one of the best to break in the anal virgins… I start slow and let them get used to my cock before I start to work my way into a little pounding. Cause I sure know that if something is not up there that often it can be very painful, but that’s just me.

Good observation! I guess I’m good with keeping track of time… 10 minutes each side and I’m also good with Physics in accordance to the way light projects itself around limbs, under arm pits and in the
crack!

You have to take in consideration how open you are, how often you are in-shape, do you have a thick skin, and reliability is huge just as with any job. You can’t care when people find out you have to own up to it. I guess I’m very lucky in the way that I’m working with the best porn company of all time whether it be Gay or Straight, Randy Blue is the best company ever… ever!

Just do it! You wont know until you try… I wish I was full on gay, because… fuck then I would be picking out who I want to do and loving every second of my dick in their ass. I just sit back stay in-shape and wait for Randy to say hey Reese we need you to fuck so and so. I’m usually not even told of who my scene is with because Randy knows I don’t mind, I find out when I show up on set, the other guys excited to shoot with me. For me it’s all about the performance.

Remember, check out Reese’s work at Randy Blue and at Reese’s own site, and don’t forget to click the images here to see them larger!

Recently a DVD landed in my letterbox after a brief email conversation with a man called Loren Johnson. Loren runs Raw Tantra, a tantric yoga site devoted to helping men achieve more awareness of their own sexual power and energy. Sexual Kung Fu is the DVD and after a brief viewing, I’m keen to give it a try.

What is it about tantra that fascinates you?

Sexual energy is one of the most powerful forces we have access to.  The DNA, and most of the cells in the human body, must replicate themselves in order for us to stay alive and be healthy.  This process works best when we experience arousal because our original cells were created out of orgasmic energy.  Just like people, when love and arousal are present, communication between cells is optimal which leads to optimal health, happiness, vitality and of course better sex.  Tantric yoga is a spiritual science that offers a wide range of possibilities from simple sexual fitness to full blown enlightenment and infinite ecstatic states in between.

All spiritual science, especially the ones dealing with the power of sexual energy, have been kept strictly secret for centuries.  Only in modern internet times has the veil been lifted.  There are some great books on the subject (like Multi Orgasmic Man and Sexual Reflexology by Mantak Chia).  What I found to be in short supply in pursuit of this knowledge was video media.  Next to the direct personal transmission from a master, the multi sensory input of video is most effective at transmitting correct methods of practice.  Video also allows practitioners to learn at their own pace and in the comfort of their own privacy.

Do you think that men, especially gay men, are too focused on racing to the finish line sexually?

Most people are goal vs process oriented when it comes to sex unfortunately.  This takes us out of the present moment where the pleasure of the experience is.  It also causes us to rush something we should take our time with.  The longer we last sexually, the more energy our internal organs can absorb which is more healthy and more enjoyable.  Its like when food is not properly chewed, it is not fully tasted or digested.

Great yogis have referred to this type of yoga as back door enlightenment.  This is because most of us come to the practice wanting a bigger, better functioning sex organ and were happy if we get some added health and peace of mind along the way.  I experienced all of these very shortly after beginning practice.  For example, in only 6 months, I gained almost an inch to my penis not to mention the ability to have sex for extended periods of time.  As pleased as I am with these results, these are only side effects of practice. The real power comes from evolution of energy and consciousness.  We begin working with our sexual organs and sexual energy because that is the original force we are born out of.  This unlocks tremendous life force energy that gives one sexual prowess, physical vitality and peaceful awareness.

For the most part yes. I figure since we are born nude, we might as well be comfortable that way.

A lot of people are skeptical about tantra. Were you brought up in an open minded environment where ideas about sexuality and sexual health and alternative lifestyles were openly discussed?

It is human nature to be skeptical about what is unfamiliar.  I was fortunate that my dominant parent was open minded enough for me to come to terms with my sexual nature.  This open-mindedness transferred to me so that when I was exposed to the potential of tantra, I gave it a chance to see where it could take me.

Considering the flexible nature of the penis, it is actually one of the easiest parts of the body to make larger.  By stretching the cells of the penis, they expand so that they fill with more and more blood throughout time thereby granting one larger and larger erections.  This is a well documented phenomenon, just like foreskin restoration by use of weights and tuggers.

However, beginning any new workout for any part of the body, gentility should be exercises to avoid strain or soreness.  But make no mistake, the penis and entire sexual organ is much stronger than one might think.  I don’t necessarily advocate this extreme practice, but there are famous masters throughout Asia that have been captured on video pulling cars and even planes with special ropes tied only to the sex organ.

Men are ready for this material. Prostate disease, ED and poor libido have reached a point of statistical inevitability worldwide.  The promise of health complications, like blindness, that arise out of long term use of male enhancing pharmaceuticals is less than comforting.  Weighing the options, a larger penis, an open heart-mind and the other positive side effects of tantric yoga and sexual kung fu are much more desirable not to mention more effective.

PROLONG VS PREVENT -There is a strong misconception about Tantric sex that one never has an orgasm.  One of the 1st things we learn is the difference between orgasm and ejaculation.  When the simple techniques of extending the sexual experience become effortless, the body and energy field go into states of multiple orgasm without necessarily ejaculating physically.  The effect of this is greatly enhanced enjoyment as well as revitalization of the body and brain.

I always recommend that this work be approached with a spirit of prolonging the orgasm vs preventing it because the longer we last sexually, we derive more vital energy and experience more pleasure.  After we have prolonged the experience with the techniques, edging the orgasm, the body has had a chance to “digest” the sexual energy and then there is minimal loss of energy if we do finally ejaculate.
If we have the attitude of preventing the ejaculation altogether, that sets up tension in body and mind right from the beginning.  Therefore, be at ease in the process instead of focusing on the goal and simply attempt to prolong the experience for the sake of optimal sex and the health you will derive from it.

Sexual Kung Fu is translated as the skillful practice of sex.  For the first time in known history we have the freedom to be open about sexuality.  The great cultural fear-shame-doubt (they are all the same thing) around sex has resulted in an overall lack of awareness and skill.  Considering that sexual energy is such a powerful force that we all must deal with, it makes sense that we do so in a skillful way.

I am hoping that I can produce the partner series by next year.  The solo material I have created thus far gently stretches the comfort boundaries for most, but the partner work really has the potential to break the mold.  Therefore, it needs very careful consideration to be done correctly, a task which I take to heart.

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for this interview of myself. There are some great questions in there. So let’s dive in and get them answered.

How do you set up a shot when you photographing a model? Do you consider light and angles and all that? OR do you just wing it… how do you frame a shot?

When I meet some people, I have a flash of inspiration as to how I would photograph them and other times it’s more of a vague concept and I need to find the right person to shoot in it. I usually have an idea for the style of the shoot, be it candid, heavily posed or more relaxed but one of the things I have found is that sometimes you just can’t predict when the good stuff is going to happen.

I know you like your beaches, which do you consider to be your most loved, here in Aus and overseas?

I’m a biased man, Australia’s beaches are some of the best in the world. I grew up on City Beach in Wollongong and loved it, great surf, sometimes wild, but on the calm days we’d walk out on to the point and jump off the rocks and swim in. I admit I haven’t experienced a lot of international beaches, but the nude beaches in Barcelona and Sitges have a special appeal. They were full of eye candy.

I’m planning on moving to Sydney from the US by the end of the year. If you were looking a new job and housing what resources would you use? Any other advice for a yank?

For accommodation, probably use something like gayshare.com.au and for work, there are agencies for every kind of work. Maybe stay in a hotel and explore the city and get a feel for the area that has the right vibe for you!

Jeremy is a former escort, starting in the business at the age of 19 and working for 10 years. He was kind enough to take the time to answer some reader questions and some of mine. I hope you find it informative.

What exactly did escorts do to get/keep an erection before Viagra?
You have to be someone who can *find* the horny in a situation.  90% of my appointments always started with a massage (I am qualified) – there is a sensuality to a massage if done properly, regardless of the person you are massaging.  That is an excellent way to get the erection started – maintaining it just takes a little of self motivation along the way

Have you ever formed an ongoing (non sexual) friendship with a client? .
No.  The vast majority of clients are “professional” clients.  They know what they can expect and more importantly, what is expected of you.  I only ever had one client who wanted “more” – that required a conversation that was very delicate in nature and you just have to remember that the client is a person who may not necessarily understand the nature of the business.  Once the ground rules were explained further, he was fine.  Actually, he turned out to be a great client.  I only ever saw him once maybe every three months, but he was always a pleasure.

What got him into the business? Surely he didn’t just answer an advertisement.
LOL – no I did not.  I got into the business one night at a night club.  I had a man make a pass at me – a very good one actually – but I wasn’t interested.  He wasn’t my type but he seemed like a really nice guy.  I tactfully said no but was happy to chat with him.  After an hour he just turned to me and said “There is a lane down the street.  I really want to blow you – and Ill give you a hundred bucks”.  i was a very broke student at the time so I said yes – which surprised me more than him – and the rest was history.

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How did you get comfortable with the idea of having sex with those physically unnattractive to him? (Overweight, underweight, older, etc.)
Here is the secret – EVERYONE has SOMETHING that is attractive about them – it is LITERALLY whether we wish to see it or not.  For some it can be the eyes – others the smile – for some it is their cock.  I had one client who had a birth defect that left him with a crooked spine and one leg shorter than the other.  He had endured a lot of operations and had a great many scars, BUT he had a gorgeous cock.  I mean, one of those that just LOOKED good.  I called it the Goldilocks cock.  Not too big.  Not too thick.  Just right and visually perfect.  Now – for the first few appointments I focussed on the cock because it was a HOT dick.  That is how I formed the connection with him.

Professional sex workers are always able to find SOMETHING about someone that is attractive – in many cases these are actually great people who are our clients – and we can be attracted to the personality. If you are relaxed with someone, the rest is easy.

The most unattractive client I ever had was a hot, professional guy in his late 20′s who had the model perfect body, amazing looks, HUGE cock – but was so fussy and so rude I couldn’t get hard.  I ended up politely handing ALL his money back and getting dressed and leaving.  He was GORGEOUS – but the most UNATTRACTIVE PERSON who had ever booked me.

Was it ever really inconvenient to respond to a call?
So many times it wasn’t funny.  There was ALWAYS the 3am phone call – but that is just about timing.  Let’s talk on the toilet – ill with the flu – out to dinner with friends – in the middle of a family dinner – just leaving the dentist – for these times I was always “fully booked but happy to reschedule for another time” – 90% of the time it was fine.

How often do they come across a client who has a visible STI? eg a herpes lesion, and how do they react in such situations
You always react CALMLY.  Part of being a sex worker is the ability to communicate well and connect with someone.  I always made it MY choice to undress a client.  Mainly because it got the sex part of the booking off to a good start for them – but it also gave me the chance to check them over.

When I did find something, I would always make sure I had one hand ON the client – shoulder, arm, hand etc – forming the connection……. I would politely point out what I thought the problem was – hand back ALL the money – and let them know that I would be VERY happy to see them again when they had been checked out and taken care of.  And let me tell you, not ONE person was ever offended.  They were all very grateful for both the respect and concern I showed them.  And they all came back and many became repeat customers BECAUSE I showed them respect and concern.

How do you get past the fact that you may just have zero attraction to a client?
Like I said – Unless you are a moronic bastard, you can find SOMETHING attractive in someone.  You find that thing and use that to make the connection with the client.  I had one client sadly who was that person people liked to joke about the guy falling out of the ugly tree – he was also incredibly awkward – that was very hard.  The only thing I could do was grit my teeth and do my best.  It was one of the few times I put the ever present porn video / dvd that I carried in my bag on so *I* would have something to focus on.  But that is the worst thing that can happen.  And that is why you carry some porn.  It is often a ‘horny’ thing for them and an emergency life ring for the worker.

What is the kinkiest thing a client has ever asked for and did you do it?
The kinkiest thing a client asked me to do was to piss on him whilst riding him like a horse, i.e. He was on all fours neighing like a horse, me on his back in the ‘saddle’ so to speak holding onto REAL reins in one hand, and a bottle of water in the other, whilst letting the golden stream go all over him.  And he LOVED it.

The thing I was asked for but refused was a client who wanted me to crap on him.  He offered me 5 thousand dollars to do it.  But I wouldn’t.  I thought to myself if I do this, then that’s it.  I would not be able to respect myself.  So I said no.

Fulfilling a clients request to humiliate them was one thing, to do something that intentionally humiliated myself… that is another.

How do you set your boundaries of what you are prepared to do? Is it a personal comfort level or dictated somewhat by an agency?
In an agency setting, you lay out what you will and won’t do in the interview.  Then they sell you on what you will do, and protect you from the things you won’t.

As a private operator I set my own boundaries, but I let mine be somewhat more flexible.  But they paid for it.  The more out of my comfort zone, the higher the price.  Like when I blew the judge under his robes IN his court chambers.  That one didn’t come cheap.  In fact, it paid my rent and bills for a month.

When you have a high profile closeted client, as I know you have had, is there a discussion about confidentiality, is it assumed or is there a contractual clause with the agency you worked with?
All of the high profile clients usually avoid agencies, because of the prickly issue of third party verbal agreements.  With a private operator, you are entering into a verbal contract between two adults conducting a business transaction on a handshake – and that is a legally valid contract.  It usually meant that the phone call was VERY long because they would tell you they were high profile but not who they were.  When they got to a point in the conversation where they were prepared to make the booking, you would usually get an address but no name.  Now, these were usually five star hotels or houses in VERY nice suburbs, so you knew that there was a measure of truth to it.  It wasn’t until they opened the door that you ever knew exactly who it was.

I have had several high profile sportsmen, a couple of television celebs, and several social identities.  None of them had an initial phone call under an hour.  But they made up for it in the fee.  Those people knew how to tip, and they rarely booked for anything less than an entire evening.

Starting at 19, do you have any regrets now that you are several years outside the industry?
The only regret I have is that I wasn’t better with my money.  I should have bought a house or put some of it in investments.  But I did help my friends and my mother out.  But I wished I had been less of a party animal and more of a property animal.
Ah well… it was a fun life when I did it.  The lesson has to be that if you are a worker – SAVE – the money will NOT last forever.

Did you have any clients offering more money for unsafe sex?
I had clients offer obscene amounts of money for unsafe sex.  I absolutely refused for the simple reason that – not only am I pro safe sex – I was not about to ruin the product “my body” just to make some extra cash.  HIV is forever.  But there was always the next client. So… no was no.

Would it be safe to assume your family doesn’t know about your past as an escort? If they did, how do you think they’d react?
No they did not know – but I have a mother who once cut the hair of trannies in Sydney so I genuinely am not sure.

NB: There is no suggestion that any of the men in the photos above are escorts. They are merely used as a pretty add on.

A while ago, while I was running the now-defunct Pornolicious, I came across a video of DNA coverboy Levi Poulter jacking off and shooting his load. Not long after I posted it, an email from some lawyers arrived and I thought it prudent to take it down. Since then Levi has been popping up all over the gay blogosphere in beautiful photos, usually not wearing a lot.

A few months ago I came across Levi (sadly not literally) on dudesnude.com and chatted a bit and he agreed to an interview. It’s taken me a while to get around to it, and for that I apologise. Levi seems like a really genuine guy who somehow manages to keep his feet on the ground while his ankles are more ane more in the air! Now he’s running his own website, Miami Levi, and clearly enjoying life!

You first came to a lot of people’s attention on the cover of DNA. How was that experience for you? It was nice experience!  David Vance is a great photographer and he always makes me look good! :)

Shortly after DNA a home sex video of you did the rounds. Lawyers put an end to that but since you’ve been doing erotic shoots etc. What’s changed since then? Well, once a video gets on the internet there is no stopping it.  After some thought I figured “what the hell?” and decided to do some erotic stuff.

What prompted your transition from mainstream modelling  to adult modelling? Some people would say that it would hinder any success you might have in the mainstream world. LOL … once a home sex video gets out there’s no turning back!  Especially when Aussielicious picks it up! ;) There are still some people and agencies who are not OK with it but surprisingly there are a lot that are perfectly fine.  Just because you pose nude doesn’t mean you don’t look good in a suit too!

Is mainstream modelling something that you are going to leave behind? Why? What are people saying???!!!???  What have you heard??? LOL.  No … I’m still taking mainstream jobs as well.  What are you offering? :)

What do your friends and family think of the direction your career is taking? I have a great circle of friends and my family is cool.

Tell me about your site Miami Levi. Its totally the coolest site on the ‘net!  You definitely need to check it out! :)  Seriously, its just a small vanity site / blog that I keep for my friends and fans.  You’ll find everything from regular modeling pictures and out takes to me jerking off in a mirror and I update my blog every couple days so people know what I’m up to.

You are obviously very comfortable in front of the camera. Is there a strong exhibitionist side to you? You’re filming this? I was told there would be no cameras! :)  I’m not really an exhibitionist … I just love to be naked when people are watching me.

Where do you see your career in 5 years time? I don’t know … my crystal ball is broken and the “magic 8 ball” is in the shop.

What would you like people to know about you that you don’t think they currently do? That my ass is naturally smooth and very tight … this is between us, right?

Porn and adult entertainment have become much more mainstream in the last few years with online production companies making it much easier for people to try. Do you think people still have negative perceptions of people in the adult industries? Its funny how many guys watch porn and read adult blogs but then have negative perceptions of people in the adult industries.  I try not to get caught up in what people think because it usually has more to do with their own insecurities and I’m happy with my life.  Overall though I think people are much more accepting now than in the past.

If anyone has any polite and insightful questions for Levi, leave them in the comments section and we’ll see what we can organise!

It’s been a while since I’ve done an interview here on Aussielicious and I finally got around to interviewing someone who’s work I’ve featured on here several times. Anthony is a professional bodypainter who does some amazing work. Enjoy.

Name: Anthony Larrisey for urbanFLESH

Age: 38

Location: New York City

How did you get into bodypainting?

As an artist, I continually look to new mediums to work with. I had seen bodypainting a few times, and thought it was pretty cool. I was so intrigued that I bought some product, recruited friends who were willing to model, and started to build my portfolio.

I love the fact that bodypaint is a living, impermanent creation. Yes, the work in captured in a photograph, but the true experience is to witness the fully painted model live and in person.

How long have you been doing body painting?

I’ve been bodypainting for about five years now, and I feel like there’s so much more to discover. Techniques, materials, etc. I have so many ideas and am continually inspired.

What are the main kind of clients for a body paint artist?

I work a lot in print–besides painting full bodies, I’m often asked to paint tattoos or small graphic elements for magazines like Zink and Out. Other times, I don’t “paint” at all, but buff and contour the model’s skin to be completely polished and flawless.

I also work a lot in events–painted bodies are always a hit. I’ve painted for events like Broadway Bares; and for clients like Lucky Jeans and Playboy. I’ve also painted for runway shows at New York Fashion Week. There was also a show called “The Body” at the Museum of Contemporary Art–that was an honor.

Where do you find your models?

Whether they like it or not, I recruit a lot of my friends! Other times, I’ll utilize industry resources, agencies or post ads. I’ve been known to approach prospective models in restaurants, at parties and even on the street!

Have you ever had any straight male models that have baulked at the idea of having a gay man paint them from head to toe by hand?

Nope. I’ve painted plenty of straight guys–I don’t think they’ve felt threatened or uncomfortable. I’ve been fortunate–the models I’ve worked with have all been fantastic (and I think they like the attention!).

How long does an average full body take to paint?

Well, it’s definitely not a process for the fidgety! An average session takes about six hours, but depending on the detail and coverage, add a few more hours to that!

You have to get pretty up close and personal to the models, how do you ease their anxiety or nerves?

Typically the models I work with have a certain freedom that they exhibit. Bodypainting accentuates definition, structure and cuts, so the models are typically only too happy to see my work showcase their hard work at the gym. But, of course, for the shy, I tend to put them at ease and give them an understanding that even though my work involves nudity, it’s always executed in a completely professional setting.

Are there any designs or ideas that have just not worked at all?

Oh sure, but they never make it to the studio! I never go on a job with having tested whatever technique I’m including in a job.

Can you tell us about any exciting projects you have in the pipeline?

Lots! I’m working on an exhibit that I’ll shop around NYC. And later this year, I’ll be a featured artist in David Leddick’s The Nude Male for Rizzoli Publishing.

What advice would you give to someone keen on taking up bodypainting?

Jump right in! Anyone who loves creativity, exploration and originality will love bodypainting. There are technical skills involved like working with the skin, makeup, blending and materials; but there such a freedom of idea and expression. Of course, patience is a virtue, and it’s a tedious process at times–but the effect and outcome is worth it all!

A good friend of mine works as a doctor in the area of sexual health in the UK. He was kind enough to answer some questions on misconceptions and thoughts about HIV for me.

Clinics are now saying 6 weeks is the length of time after infection that a positive result will show up. Can it take longer?
The traditional ‘window period’ for testing after a specific risk is 12 weeks. However a large number of people who contract HIV have developed antibodies by 6-10 weeks. This has been known for ages. The test that we are discussing is the antibody test,however a viral load test can be positive within a week of the virus infecting someone.
The advice is the same as it always has been
1. HIV test but wait 12 weeks after the risk
2. Occasionally if someone is very anxious can do the HIV antibody test after 6-10 weeks as long as they know to come back at 12 weeks for a repeat test if the first test is negative
3. If someone is having a seroconversion illness we do a Viral load test which is different to the hiv antibody test and not done routinely.

I’ve been told that you will know when you are sero-converting by one person and by another that he didn’t have any idea. Does it affect different people differently?
Studies suggest seroconversion illness occurs in approx 20-30% of patients but the symptoms are very non specific and easily mistaken for a flu/sore throat/diarrhoea ie very common symptoms…which is the problem ,at their most infectious ,most people dont recognise or know they have HIV.

What is your opinion on the theory that there are people who are “immune” to HIV? I do occasionally see people who are having huge risk or long tem partners of known hiv infected partners who never got the infection themselves.

People are living longer and healthier without medication these days. Why do you think that is?
Hmmmmmm not sure we can make a general statement like that….people in Africa may not agree! Patients may be getting tested earlier and so,appear to live longer post diagnosis. In the early days of the epidemic,people were diagnosing in very late stage (AIDS) disease and die shortly after.

How many different strains of HIV would you estimate there might be out there now?
Apart from HIV 1 and HIV 2 , HIV 1 is subclassified into subtypes or clades,the list of wich is growing as different clades recombine and produce what we call recombinants. At the moment approx clades A-G exist plus an endless list of recombinant clades wich have not been classified as yet.

People still think it’s nearly impossible to catch HIV being the “top”. Do you have any statistics on infection rates for the varying sexual roles?
Check the following resource from http://www.bashh.org/guidelines.asp and click the second link under HIV to download a pdf.

go to table 2

Table 2 The risk of HIV transmission following an exposure from a
known HIV-positive individual
Type of exposure
Estimated risk of HIV
transmission per exposure (%)
Blood transfusion (one unit) 90–100
Receptive anal intercourse 0.1–3.0
Receptive vaginal intercourse 0.1–0.27
Insertive vaginal intercourse 0.03–0.09
Insertive anal intercourse 0.06
Receptive oral sex (fellatio) 0–0.04
Needle–stick injury 0.3 (95 CI 0.2–0.5)
Sharing injecting equipment 0.67
Mucous membrane exposure 0.09 (95 CI 0.006–0.5)

Is there any data on the percentage of the gay population currently living with HIV? Seroprevalence in london suggests 15-20% of all gay men london are positive. Not too sure in sydney…check the ASHM website