Understanding and Challenging Stigma toward ... - Pact Cambodia

Understanding
MSM
Sov is a 30-year-old policeman. Men in the community make fun of him because
of his walk, and this makes him less confident in his job. He has a male lover but
also a girlfriend in order to keep the appearance that he is not MSM. He also has
joined other policemen in forcing male sex workers to provide free sex. He is
struggling with leading this double life and wishes he could be more comfortable
with himself as an MSM.
Thom is a 25 year old injecting drug user. He grew up in a middle class family
and started to feel sexual feelings towards men in his teens. His parents scolded
him and tried to change him, and in desperation he turned to friends and drugs.
He became addicted and dropped out of his university studies. He hangs out with
two other MSM who also inject drugs and they share injection equipment. They
also sell sex and use violence to get money to pay for their drugs.
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