Topic: Gay Men

NPR reported a significant decline in corporate sponsorships for Pride Month events, with one-third of Fortune 1000 companies planning to decrease their support this year. Federal contractors are reportedly distancing themselves from Pride celebrations due to the Trump administration's increased regulation of DEI initiatives in the private sector. In Washington D.C., the Gay Men's Chorus had a performance postponed at the Kennedy Center, which they attributed to political "chilling effects" following the President's takeover of the institution.

The CDC has issued a warning about a potential resurgence of Mpox (formerly monkeypox) this summer, following a cluster of new cases in Chicago. Many of the new cases occurred in individuals who were already fully vaccinated, leading to concerns about waning immunity. The majority of cases continue to be reported among men who have sex with men.

Quebec health officials reported that monkeypox cases have doubled, leading to the administration of smallpox vaccines to high-risk contacts. The discussion explores the demographic spread of the virus and questions whether the symptoms are being confused with shingles or vaccine adverse events. Most cases are reported to be mild with patients expected to recover.

A group of girls across the U.S. have developed a mystery twitching illness, which the hosts suggest is linked to the HPV vaccine. They also report that Australia has become the first country to mandate the HPV vaccine for teenage boys, purportedly to protect gay men from infection despite men lacking a cervix.