: About Me

Gordon Youngman was born and raised in the Ontario community of Kitchener. At an early age he learned about activism and social justice from stories his Father told him of his Australian Grandmother while in Kitchener and back in Australia where they settled in the mid 1930's. These stories and what she, and for that matter, the rest of the family did remained with him through out his life until this very day. The family involvement with the Anglican Church goes back to 1930 when his Father's family moved to Kitchener and attended St. John the Evangelist. All members of his family were extremely devout Anglicans and worked extremely hard within the Parish and Community until the family moved back to Australia but His Father remained. His Father instilled in him a sense of purpose, ethics, morals which have remained the cornerstone of Gordon's work to this day.

Another principal figure in Gordon's life that would leave a lasting mark was the late Reverend Canon John Erb. Gordon and John Erb remained extremely close friends for over 50 years until John's untimely death in 2005. John was not only a mentor but a spiritual advisor and taught Gordon how to stand up for what he thought was right even if it meant a real fight. This is the case with Gordon's strong stance on the acceptance of Gay's in the Anglican Church and the refusal of the House of Bishops to come out with a stand on the issue instead of postponing it as they have for almost 40 years.

This stand on homosexuality as well as other social issues has resulted in Gordon's fight for human rights and end of discrimination for people suffering from HIV/AIDS. Upon receiving his MPH, he was asked to join the late Dr. Jonathan Mann on a trip to Africa to investigate a new and deadly disease that had begun to affect so many people in many African nations. Little did they know at the time that this would be the forerunner to HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Mann had become a very integral part in Gordon's life in many aspects. The Mann family adopted him into their family circle where he experienced their joys and sadness, their victories and defeats but more importantly Dr. Mann became a significant figure in Gordon's life and direction with regards to career. Dr, Mann asked Gordon to join him at Harvard in order that Gordon could finish editing several articles and two books for him as well as conduct major research on the human rights issue of HIV/AIDS. Dr. Mann remained at Harvard after Gordon departed for Canada but soon after Dr, Mann had accepted a position with the University of Philadelphia as Dean of the School of Public Health and wanted to set up a division of Human Rights within the school and asked Gordon to head it up. They had agreed to meet and discuss the plans but this meeting never took place as Dr. Mann and his second wife were tragically lost in the Swiss Air disaster off the coast of Nova Scotia. Gordon was devastated and went to Nova Scotia to join Dr, Mann's children and his first wife there to mourn the loss of one of the leading men in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Gordon presently serves on two foundations in the memory of his friend, mentor along with his children. The one thing Gordon learned from this loss was that someone had to pick up the pieces and continue on with the fight against this horrific health disaster.

Gordon has been involved with many international meetings as part of the organization as well plenary and presentation speaker. He spoke at the Gay Outgames in July 2006 in Montreal along with such individuals as the retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir Michael Kirby, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in Australia and Chief Justice Edwin Cameron of the Supreme Court of South African and also HIV positive and the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson. Although Gordon suffered a massive coronary in the mid-1990's and his health played a role in his life today, he will not walk away from a challenge or a good fight. These lessons were learned by him through his Father, his dear friend John Erb and most of all the Late Dr. Jonathan Mann. He remembers all of these figures as he tries to make a difference with regards to this disease and the issues of health for Gay and Bisexual Men. Gordon will not shy away from detractors as it only increases his resolve to win them over and show them a difference can be made.

The fight against HIV/AIDS is far from over and it appears as though issues at home with disease have taken a back seat to everything governments are doing for the developing nations. We have to remember that this disease knows no boundaries, sexual orientation, drug users, children etc. They all need our help all over the world. We need to fight harder and by this Photo Exhibit, he hopes Anglicans throughout Canada will realize that their help is required and in turn the rest of the global Anglican community will do a similar project and that starting with The Archbishop of Canterbury, issues of homosexuality etc. will be put aside and the divisive struggle within the Church ended in order to make a difference in people's lives.

My passion is ...

Humanitarian and Human Rights Issues

My parents always told me ...

To be the best I could but do not sacrifice your morals or ethics

Why I write ...

For pleasure, help to others

My best moment ...

Finally realizing that I was a Gay and no longer having to hide

My inspiration ...

Many individuals- the late Dr. J.Mann, Archbishop Desmond Tutu just to name two

Health & Fitness > Sexually Transmitted Diseases Why condom size matters

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Why condom size matters The Next Big (or Not So Big) Thing ... Why Condom Size Matters Most men have been there at one time or another. That moment when total sexual exhilaration turns to pure panic and fear...fear that the "little astronaut" out on his moon walk has lost his space suit. Fear that the knight is no longer wearing his shining armor. The number one reason that condoms break or slip off during the horizontal mambo is that the Johnson in question was not properly dressed. Like shoes or bras, careful consideration must be given to condom size. Yes, all men are created equal - bu...

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