Xtra.ca:

Action News Jacksonville has breaking news: gay men have sex in bathrooms. The local Florida news station recently aired an exposé report about a “website so vulgar we can’t even tell you its name.”

That website is Squirt.org.

The investigative journalists at the program, which airs on CBS and FOX affiliates, found a post on the gay hookup side – run by Xtra’s parent company, Pink Triangle Press – that mentions a local bathroom in which the toilet paper dispenser can be removed, offering a view into the neighbouring stall – a “window to spy.”

Action News brought hidden cameras into the bathrooms of “prominent public places” mentioned on Squirt’s hookup listings, and warned viewers that “perverts” could be peeping on them — or their kids — in the bathrooms. Their cameras showed viewers a window to the neighbouring stall, just to show how perverted people can be.

“These restrooms are next to the Gymboree play area,” the report points out.

A press release from Pink Triangle Press calls the Action News report “sensationalist” and decried the report for giving the “impression that women have been spied on through holes and children have been exposed to ‘danger.'”

The release clarifies that Squirt is used to allow gay and bisexual men to meet up, and that the Action News report fails to explain gay cruising — nor did reporters there contact Squirt for comment.

“Action News is misconstruing what a website like Squirt is all about,” says Jeffrey Freeman, Media and Traffic Manager for Pink Triangle Press. “Squirt.org is a place were men who have sex with men exchange information and facilitate their meeting.”

The Action News team, in their report, went on a mission to many of the now-famous bathrooms throughout the city, informing business owners and security of the dangers lurking in their bathrooms. They also interviewed police at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, asking if the police force would organize a sting operation to catch the naughty voyeurs. The police would only say that they are being “proactive.”

One Squirt user, posting on the thread about one of the public washrooms, writes “This location has been featured in a local news story. Please use caution while here and abide by local laws.”

None of the posts on the thread mention spying on unsuspecting guys – they are all stories of, and invitations for, mutual, and consenting sex acts. Another listing, for the Jacksonville airport, reads “Nudity / Sexual Policy: This is a public restroom in a busy secure airport use common sense.”

At the bottom of the story, Action News lists 11 other locations where “people are looking to spy.” Yet, they write, “we checked them out but we didn’t find any obvious signs of spying.”

That list includes Club Jacksonville, a gay sauna, and a gas station one-person bathroom that has a “bolt action style lock so there is complete privacy.”

Action News didn’t respond to Xtra’s request for comment.

International Women’s Day is now an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that ‘all the battles have been won for women’ while many feminists from the 1970’s know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women’s visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.

Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.

Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as ‘Women’s History Month’.

So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women’s Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

MORE ABOUT IWD HERE

Since coming out last year as HIV-positive, silver medal-winning Olympian Ji Wallace has been a tireless advocate for HIV education and prevention. Recently Ji agreed to lend his voice and boundless energy to support APLA’s “Team to End AIDS,” which will be running the Los Angeles Marathon Sunday, March 17.

Ji Wallace for HIVPlus Magazine – FULL LEGTH VIDEO from BACKSTAGE FIX on Vimeo.

POSITIVE FRONTIERS:

Can you tell me about the events that led to you coming out about your HIV status?

When I first found out about my HIV-status, I wanted to scream at the world, “know your status,” because then people can make educated and informed decisions about circumstances they might find themselves in. I was overseas and wanted to tell my parents but didn’t want to do it by phone. So I had to wait until i made it back to Australia. Then I thought for a number of months about how I could best use my little voice to stop other people from being infected with HIV. It didn’t come to me until I saw an interview with Piers Morgan and Greg Louganis. I loved that interview, because Piers spoke to Greg as Greg—“What have you been up to? How does it feel back to be back at the Olympics? What’s new on the horizon for you? And how’s the HIV?” Piers made it it just a part of Greg. And that’s what HIV is, just a small part of everybody.

I actually wrote to Piers and I said, “Thank you for the interview. You treated Greg as Greg, and you were interested in his story. And you made mention of his HIV but didn’t make it explosive.” And I included a gay Australian newspaper that had been very supportive of my exploits over the years. It all happened very organically. I really didn’t understand or have understanding of the potential impact that something I construed to be a small matter would have.

Your boyfriend Shaun is HIV-negative. Do you feel that being in a relationship with someone who is HIV-negative offers any special challenges?

No. Obviously, considerations need to be made, but outside of those specific considerations, it’s a full-on loving relationship. And obviously it’s special to us, but there are many special relationships out there. The uniqueness of our relationship is Shaun’s ability to say, “We can deal with that. I’m interested in you.” HIV doesn’t define who we are. And it shouldn’t. People outside and people inside the HIV-positive community need to understand that HIV doesn’t define you. Your personality, your ability to love, your ability to care, your ability to strive for more, those are the things that are important. HIV is such a small part of the chocolate cake that is your life.

Do you have any words of wisdom for someone who finds themselves newly HIV-positive?

If you do find yourself with a new diagnosis, educate yourself. Because when you know the facts, it’s not that scary and you can make really good, educated decisions about your future. Just because you returned a positive test does not mean your future does not have life and does not have excitement and does not have love in it. It just means you have one more thing to consider.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE!