MAX Blog
COVID & male sex work: legitimize and destigmatize
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has made evident health and economic inequality among different groups of individuals around the world1. Male sex workers, among others, were put in a very delicate situation. The lockdowns and other public health guidelines made it hard for them to practice their work freely, but since sex work is not recognized…
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Change in Executive Director leadership at MAX Ottawa
Cliquez ici pour la version française. | Click here for the French version. On behalf of the Board of Directors of MAX Ottawa, I am pleased to announce the appointment of James Demers as MAX’s new Executive Director (ED). James follows MAX’s first ED, Roberto Ortiz Núñez, who left the organization in September 2020, for…
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Do the bump. The booty bump that is…
French version/Version française: https://maxottawa.ca/le-booty-bumping-ou-linsertion-anale/?lang=fr Consuming a substance anally, often called booty bumping, is an under-discussed and under-researched topic when it comes to PNP. With booty bumping, the taboo of substance use intersects with the taboo of anal sex, and often this method of consumption is only talked about in PNP spaces and by 2SLGBTQ+ organizations,…
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Quick look at SMASH 2021
This year, MAX Ottawa had the pleasure of attending the SMASH (Sommet Montréalais d’Action pour la Santé des Hommes ayant des relations sexuelles ou amoureuses avec d’autres hommes) in its 2021 online edition, organized by RÉZO. After the 2020 edition, full of critical information, this year, SMASH is back (March 18-19) with a varied program…
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Peer Support: A way to connect.
Being a newcomer and finding community and resources can be difficult, especially coming from a country that is not queer-friendly. It is for this reason that I am thankful to MAX, as I have found every space created and run by MAX to be warm, inviting and caring. The peer support program at MAX is…
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Neg-otiating poz spaces: Four mistakes we don’t have to make
What do you think — is PnP a poz space? The party scene never belonged exclusively to HIV-positive guys (and nor do all such guys party), but it’s not wrong to say that PnP is uniquely poz-friendly. For a long time, chemsex was radically more welcoming than nearly all other social or sexual spaces for queer…
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Peer Support: Why I’m here to listen
My name is Matt (he/him) and I first became involved with MAX as a Peer Support volunteer in the summer of 2020. I was very excited to see the notice that MAX was searching for Peer Support volunteers, as I had been searching for an opportunity like this since moving to Ottawa. Peer Support was…
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Updates from Acting Executive Director
Greetings, While I understand that these are unprecedented times, I sincerely hope you are staying safe, connected and finding support in ways that are meaningful. From isolation and stress to financial insecurity, the pandemic has certainly affected all of us in a number of ways. I’ve seen the numbers and it is assured that the…
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Giving Back with MAX
Supporting health and wellness for guys into guys As the pandemic rages on, affecting every part of our society, one thing remains steadily true: the queer community continues to be one of the hardest hit. Due to COVID-19, queer people face more challenges with employment security, financial security, and physical and mental health. Impact of…
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Category is…Rapid Test Realness
Wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer, and social distancing aren’t the only ways you can take charge of your health. For the GBTQ2 community, COVID-19 hits close to home, reminiscent of the spread of HIV almost forty years ago. It was a shapeless power that stigmatized an entire community. In the first five years, the…
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