Berlin Patient Follow-Up 'Strongly Suggests' HIV Cure

Timothy Ray Brown gave an interview to German magazine Stern.

The “Berlin Patient” — a man living with HIV who underwent a transplant involving HIV-resistant stem cells in 2007 for the treatment of leukemia — has been classified as cured of his HIV, according to an update of the patient’s experience published online, ahead of print, on December 8 by the journal Blood. The man has remained off HIV treatment for three-and-a-half years with normal CD4 counts and no evidence of HIV replication.

Though it was initially suspected that HIV archived in the man’s cells would begin proliferating once his immune system began to recover from pre- and post-transplantation treatment, this was not observed and the team monitoring the patient now conclude, “our results strongly suggest that cure of HIV has been achieved in this patient.”

Link to another version of this story

The Wizards of Nykerk

For all fans of The Wizard of Oz, this choir has created a sweet tribute:

Acrobats strip for Pope Benedict XVI, perform topless in Vatican

OK, so you could put anything in front of the Pope, and he would look lecherous, but this performance makes you wonder what's really going on in his brain!

Russian Police and their Homo tendencies

Saw these Russian Police uniforms in a video about them crushing Gay Pride Parades in Russia, and couldn't help but get the irony of seeing them in a mirror !



Here's the video:


Here is some background:
http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=44431

Offspring from 2 males, “A new form of mammalian reproduction”

Scientists in Texas have created baby mice from two males, raising possibilities that double-father offspring could, in the future, repopulate vulnerable species.

Dr. Richard Behringer at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center published his study Wednesday in the peer-review journal Biology of Reproduction.

The advance could some day even help same-sex human couples have children carrying both parents' genes.

Stanley Cup overflows with Pride

The Stanley Cup, which has been on more adventures than perhaps any other piece of championship hardware, will make its first appearance in a gay-themed event this weekend [ Chicago Pride - June 27, 2010 ].

The Chicago Gay Hockey Association invited the Blackhawks to join Sunday's Gay Pride Parade after the team won its first Stanley Cup title since 1961 -- and the team said yes. So did the Chicago Cubs, who will have their own float in the parade for the first time.

Defenceman Brent Sopel and his wife, Kelly, will accompany the Cup on a float in the parade. Sopel, who was traded this week to Atlanta, is a 33-year-old father of three who said he volunteered to honour the late son of Toronto general manager Brian Burke, his former boss in Vancouver.

Patrick Burke remembers his pioneering brother, Brendan

Brendan Burke's coming out and death showed his brother and family the welcoming side of hockey. Now their arms are open for other gay athletes.

Patrick Burke [left] and his brother Brendan

“There are a lot of gay athletes out there and gay people working in pro sports that deserve to know that there are safe environments where people are supportive of you regardless of your sexual orientation.” - Brendan Burke


Every time a player has the courage and the confidence to step up and be an example and a role model, he breaks a stereotype held by athletes who generally have limited exposure to gay culture. 


It is truly a vicious cycle: Athletes who are never exposed to gay culture hold onto antiquated (and often harmful) stereotypes about homosexuality, which makes gay athletes afraid to come out, which means the athletes never confront the ignorance of their beliefs. 


The cycle has been repeating itself for generations in pro sports.

Homophobia and Hockey

Brendan Burke's legacy lives on

CBC's Fifth Estate recently did a documentary on The Legacy of Brendan Burke.

Brendan Burke [ wikipedia ] was a remarkable young man. Growing up in a hockey family, with a sports icon as a father [ Brian Burke - Pres./Gen.Mgr. of The Toronto Maple Leafs ], he was probably destined to make his mark in hockey.

And he did, but in a way few could have predicted. He decided to tell the world he was gay — a courageous move in a sport where no player, current or former, has ever come out.
Brendan Burke's life was tragically cut short, but his legacy lives on.

Click on the link to watch the full 45-minute documentary about Brendan and how his example is changing the world.

How true the last post's title was ... on so many levels

The word "Home" can mean so many things. When Mom and I boarded our plane home to Canada, neither one of us had any idea of how the next few months would unfold.

Turquoise was Mom's
favourite colour.

Mom passed away four weeks later after a systemic collapse, and a brief recovery which allowed her to visit with her entire family beforehand.


I feel proud to have done my part to make her last days as comfortable and happy as possible.


I couldn't have coped with everything without the support of my sister, Linda.

Everyone had a chance to
spend some time with her.

The rest of my extended family brought joy, flowers, kindness and strength for all of us to share.

I love you, Mom.

On our way home from seeing Mom at the hospital for the last time, stopped to watch a show of fireworks over the Ottawa River. It reminded us to celebrate Mom's long and beautiful life, and that she would be alive in our hearts forever.

... isn't that just like Life.


Since then I have moved, been overwhelmed by everything required to put another's affairs to rest, and made other dramatic changes in my life as a result.


... but,


I am ready to do something for myself again. Writing this blog was that for me - something for myself in happier times. And now, it can also serve as a record of our last time together, too ... a place to remember my last trip with Mom in a detailed way that a mere memory could never allow. I am grateful for that.

Getting ready to go home

This will be my last post from Panama, we are getting on our plane to return to Ottawa tonight. I thought I would share some shots from the walk along the beach my sister and I took yesterday first.
Here is an example of some of the ostentatious homes that are down here. Many of these places only get used for a few weeks of the year, special occasions/fiestas, and the rest of the year are vacant except for the 'gardener' who maintains it while the owners are gone.

For our last dinner together my sister and her husband prepared a new experience for both Mom and I - a 'raclette' grilled meal. Foods are pre-cooked somewhat, then we each load up just what we want onto the raclette and grill it. Once it is done, we put a portion into one of the little trays under the grill, with some cheese sprinkled on top, and broil it under the element for a few minutes. It's a great way to accommodate different food preferences and portion sizes. It also lets everyone chat while cooking. Really enjoyed it and look forward to trying some other foods on it.

Thanks for everything Linda and Doug, this has been a remarkable trip. It has been wonderful to see you again and know that you are both having a great life down here in Panama!