The Global Forum on MSM & HIV
MSMGF is an expanding network of advocates and other experts in sexual health, LGBT/human rights, research, and policy, working to ensure an effective response to HIV among gay men and other men who have sex with men. We are directly linked with more than 120 community-based organizations, across 62 countries.
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Vision
MSMGF envisions a world where the health and human rights of all men who have sex with men are actively recognized, realized, and respected.
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Mission
To advocate for equitable access to effective HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support services for gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men, including gay and bisexual men living with HIV, while promoting their health and human rights worldwide.
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Values
In all of our work, MSMGF foregrounds the values of human rights, self-determination, and working in coalition. We employ approaches that are community-led, strengths-based, sex positive, critically reflexive, evidence informed, and results oriented. By integrating these values into our policy, programs, research, and communications strategies, we strive to combine the full range of contributions generated by our constituents with methods that achieve smart, effective, and cost-efficient outcomes.
History of MSMGF
The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) was founded in 2006 at the Toronto International AIDS Conference by an international group of activists concerned about the disproportionate HIV disease burden being shouldered by men who have sex with men worldwide. The silence at that time about the toll HIV was taking on men who have sex with men was deeply troubling to many community members and advocates working at the frontlines.
Our coalition includes a wide range of people, including HIV-positive and HIV-negative gay men directly affected by the HIV epidemic, and other experts in health, human rights, research, and policy. What we share is our willingness to step forward and to act on disparities in HIV responses targeted to men who have sex with men to end AIDS, and to promote health and rights for all. We also share a particular concern for the health and rights of gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men who: are living with HIV; are young; are from low and middle income countries; are poor; are migrant; belong to racial/ethnic minority or indigenous communities; engage in sex work; use drugs; and/or identify as transgender.
MSMGF is legally registered in the United States as a 501c3 non-profit community-based organization.
