Who makes up the GMSH?

In Ontario, there are HIV prevention workers situated in AIDS service organizations whose mandate is to provide programs to assist gay and bisexual men to avoid the transmission of HIV and maintain their overall sexual health. They also work to improve the sexual and overall health of HIV-positive men. Some of these workers are funded by the City of Toronto, some by the Public Health Agency of Canada AIDS Community Action Plan and some by the AIDS Bureau, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

These workers come together as a network, establish common goals, and develop policies and resources to meet those goals. Outreach workers participate on GMSH committee’s, attend GMSH events (such as the Gay Men’s Sexual Health Summit), and are leaders in developing policies, resources, and strategic directions that will assist front-line sexual health services to better assist gay and bisexual men in the strengthening of our sexual health.

The GMSH is comprised mostly of gay men working in various aspects of our response. However, there are key allies in gay men’s sexual health who participate actively on the GMSH and there are a range of services implicated in the effort to assist gay and bisexual men in their sexual health. These include public health units, sexual health clinics, HIV outpatient clinics, and other health and social services. In this way, these other service providers can inform the work of the GMSH, assisting the GMSH in making its work relevant to them, and can benefit from the expertise developed through the GMSH in relation to sexual health services for gay and bisexual men.

Where is the GMSH housed?

The GMSH is housed at the Ontario AIDS Network (OAN) and works out of the OAN office in Toronto.

Does the GMSH have committees or groups?

In addition to the GMSH Provincial Advisory Body, which holds meetings every quarter, the GMSH maintains an active network of working groups. These groups strive to be short-term, task-oriented groups with a clear set of goals and objectives. They can be struck by the GMSH, through GMSH staff and through discussion at GMSH meetings, and function to support the ongoing development and delivery of GMSH activities.

These groups are struck on an as-needed basis, rooted in activities identified through the GMSH Strategic Plan. Ongoing support for population-based groups will be determined by the populations in questions, working in collaboration with the GMSH staff and GMSH partners, within the framework of the Strategic Plan. Task-based groups are also used in order to help plan events and campaigns.

What are the current GMSH working groups?

Right now, the GMSH is home to four working groups. Two of these - the Campaign Working Group and the Summit Planning Committee - are task-based and work within a specific time-frame. The other two groups - the Poz Prevention Working Group and the Gay/Bi/Queer Trans Men's Working Group - are population-specific committees that undertake projects on an as-needed basis. They also offer valuable feedback and advice for all GMSH events, publications, campaigns and other projects.