Mistr, the largest provider of free online PrEP serving over 800,000 patients, has expanded its services to provide deeper sexual wellness resources. Today, the company launches an erectile dysfunction (ED) medication called “MISTR Magic.”

“MISTR Magic” combines sildenafil and tadalafil into a single fast-acting dissolvable lozenge. The two prescription medications are designed to work together to deliver lasting results, both for immediate pleasure and for long-term sexual flexibility. The new medication is available online; users can handle everything from consultations with a licensed physician to discreet delivery without leaving their home. The medication also comes at a cost averaging nearly 50% less than other leading online providers, according to MISTR. 

“Sexual health and sexual confidence go hand in hand. You want to know you’ve taken the right steps to protect yourself, and you want to be ready when opportunity knocks,” said Tristan Schukraft, Founder and CEO of MISTR, in a press release shared with lovebscott.com. “MISTR Magic and our other options aren’t a fix; they’re an upgrade.”

Anywhere between 30 and 50 million people in the U.S. experience ED symptoms. MISTR’s expansion into ED treatment will bring the company’s reputation for simple, fast, and accessible care to millions of people who need it. 

MISTR now provides care in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico with free online PrEP, DoxyPEP, STI testing, long-term HIV care, and sexual wellness solutions delivered directly to patients’ doors. The company works directly with insurance and patient assistance programs to make sure people who need care can get it no matter what. 

“We believe sexual healthcare should be stigma-free, sex-positive, and easy to access. Whether it’s PrEP, HIV care, or a little extra confidence, MISTR lets you access it all discreetly online. If you can find a hookup on your phone, you should be able to find sexual healthcare there too,” continued Schukraft. 

About MISTR

MISTR is a gay-owned and operated online platform that brings together doctors, pharmacists, and industry minds to provide resources and PrEP to folks in need. Instead of relying on insurance providers to approve the purchase of PrEP, MISTR cuts out the middleman to help people get their prescriptions covered.

The post MISTR Launches a New Era of ED Treatment, MISTR Magic appeared first on LBS.

With the recent release of her new album, Confessions II, Madonna reenters the music game 7 years after her last full project. While the release itself has garnered high remarks from music critics, the strategy behind the release has been even more compelling. The Grammy award winning artist put LGBTQIA+ first, both in her release events and in her promotion of the album. This is not a new desire for the Queen of Pop either, we put together a timeline of some of the most prolific times that Madonna showed up for LGBTQIA+ people. 

The Truth of Dare Dare Documentary

Released in 1991, the Truth or Dare Documentary is the blueprint for tour film projects. The documentary captured Madonna’s Blond Ambition tour and centered the camera on the artist’s queer dancers and tour staff. The film told the story of a tour but it also told the story of queer joy in a way we hadn’t seen before. 

Erotica and Early Advocacy Around AIDS 

In 1992, Madonna released her fifth studio album, Erotica. The album included a track titled “In This Life,” which was a direct address to the friends the artist had lost to AIDS. 

Drag at the VMAS

As part of her performance at the 1999 VMAs, Madonna brought on stage a bunch of Madonna’s. The artist worked drag queens into her set that were impersonating some of her most infamous looks. 

The Boy Scouts and Madonna’s Advocacy

At the 2013 GLAAD Media Awards, Madonna appeared on stage dressed as a Cub Scout. The outfit was intended to advocate for the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ young people in Boy Scouts of America. Later that year, the Boy Scouts made the move to make their programs more inclusive of all kids.

Confessions II and HIV Prevention

Madonna launched her new album not on a big stage or at a awards show, but at a gay bar. The night was dubbed “Club Confessions” and was hosted at The Abbey, an iconic gay bar in West Hollywood. This is exactly the sort of reputation that Madonna has built over a generation. Making sure that her LGBTQIA+ fans felt the closest to the music. 

Club Confessions was produced in close partnership with Mistr, a telehealth company that provides PrEP and other sexual health tools to hundreds of thousands of users across the county. 

“Throughout my career, I’ve always supported efforts to fight HIV & AIDS, and that fight begins with education and access,” said Madonna in a post shared on Instagram. 

About Mistr

Mistr is a gay-owned and operated online platform that brings together doctors, pharmacists, and industry minds to provide resources and PrEP to folks in need. Instead of relying on insurance providers to approve the purchase of PrEP, Mistr cuts out the middleman to help people get their prescriptions covered.

The post How Madonna Has Put LGBTQIA+ People First for Decades appeared first on LBS.

In 2018, Tristan Schukraft began an ambitious feat to change the way that his community found care. In founding Mistr, Schukraft has built one of the most powerful facilitators of HIV prevention in the world. And on National HIV Prevention Day, we remember the impact that Mistr has had on culture, care, and community, while looking toward a future that is even safer for everyone. 

In December, a study out of Emory University found that Mistr provides PrEP for about 1 in 5 users in the United States. Through celebrity-endorsed campaigns, nightlife events, consistent messaging, and advocacy, Mistr has reached thousands and thousands of people who need care. And they continue to expand the way they reach communities every day. 

In addition to providing PrEP, a daily HIV prevention medication, to over 350,000 users, Mistr has advanced positive sexual health trends in general. They also provide long-term HIV care, supporting people living with HIV with care, resources, and medication. Additionally, Mistr provides consultations, care, and prescriptions for erectile dysfunction medication. 

Mistr’s impact is also not just contained to a predominantly male audience. Sistr is Mistr’s partner company that focuses on sexual health and HIV prevention for women and gender-diverse people. Women account for about 1 in 5 new cases of HIV in the United States. Making sure that care is for everyone is critical in the fight to end the HIV epidemic. 

HIV prevention surveillance data from 2024 shows that the annual number of new diagnoses remains around 39,000. We are nowhere near the end of this fight. That is why access and prevention matter more than ever. As policymakers look to make these resources less obtainable and more restrictive, places like Mistr become all the more critical. 

On National HIV Prevention Day, it is crucial to remember the lives that we lost to AIDS. Over 43 million individuals have been taken from us as a result of an AIDS-related illness. 43 million families who lost a loved one. 43 million dreams that never got fulfilled. Prevention is the way we build stronger futures for all of us. 

About Mistr

Mistr is a gay-owned and operated online platform that brings together doctors, pharmacists, and industry minds to provide resources and PrEP to folks in need. Instead of relying on insurance providers to approve the purchase of PrEP, Mistr cuts out the middleman to help people get their prescriptions covered.

The post National HIV Prevention Day, Mistr’s Legacy of Prevention and Protection appeared first on LBS.

After the news of the passing of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, Jesse James Rose responded with a post that reminds us of the life that Graham wanted to keep behind closed closet doors. 

The award-winning author, actor, & labor leader’s post has now attracted well over 200,000 likes and tells the story of how the recently deceased Senator violated Rose while preaching anti-LGBTQIA+ hate.

“Just woke up to find out Lindsey Graham is dead?? Lol??? Most of you know him as the homophobic senator from South Carolina but to me he will always be the man who paid a twinky pre-transition college student a fat stack of cash to do unspeakable things to him in a hotel room while he wore red lingerie,” wrote Rose on Instagram. 

“It is a canon trans event to have far right freaks bankrolling you & then turning around and voting against you. People love to judge us for it but I never see them opening their wallets!!! Shoutout to sex workers everywhere forced to humanize their enemies just to make rent,” the author continued in the post. 

Senator Graham was infamous for the way he attacked LGBTQIA+ people both in comments and in legislation, while simultaneously facing allegations of hiring male sex workers. Graham voted against marriage equality, advocated against civil rights protections for LGBTQIA+ people, and fought for trans people to be more isolated and less protected. 

This reference to Graham’s closeted sexuality by Rose is not nearly the first. In 2020, Sean Harding, a sex worker and content creator, posted on Twitter, “There is a homophobic republican senator who is no better than Trump who keeps passing legislation that is damaging to the lgbt and minority communities. Every sex worker I know has been hired by this man. Wondering if enough of us spoke out if that could get him out of office?”

He followed up the initial post by revealing that the Senator he was referring to was Graham. Graham has been outed on multiple occasions for cross-dressing, seeking sexual encounters with other men, and paying for encounters with other men. 

Rose ended her post with a direct address to Graham. 

“Lindsey, rest in hell for what you did to our community. I will continue to love queer and trans people harder than you ever hated us. You loved every second of our time together and now everyone knows,” wrote Rose. 

Instead of ending this coverage on a note about how Graham hated queer people, it is a better use of our time to celebrate the queer people who survived Graham’s hate. Jesse James Rose’s memoir, “sorry I keep crying during sex,” is a must-read. The book follows the heartbreaking, beautiful, and sobering story of Rose’s journey with identity, recovery, grief, survivorship, and transness. The memoir is available for preorder now.

The post Jesse James Rose Reminds Us What’s Really in Lindsey Graham’s Closet appeared first on LBS.

While the Trump administration continues to cut HIV research and access to preventative tools, Massachusetts just set the standard for how states can protect PrEP. Lawmakers just passed landmark legislation that will protect access to HIV prevention medication and strengthen state efforts to end the HIV epidemic. Governor Healey signed An Act to Address Barriers to HIV Prevention Medication into law on July 9. 

The new law requires insurance coverage for all PrEP medications without co-pays, deductibles, or prior authorization. As the Trump administration rolls back protections for PrEP access, this new law is a revolutionary example of how state lawmakers can respond. The law also makes these insurance protections included in all private insurers as well as the state Medicaid plan. 

The law was supported by public health experts, advocacy groups, physicians, and LGBTIQA+ community leaders. 

“We cannot rely on a federal government that has shown hostility to HIV prevention and public health. Massachusetts is stepping up as a national leader to ensure that this lifesaving prevention reaches everyone who needs it,” said Ben Klein, GLAD Law Senior Director of Litigation and HIV Law, in a press release.

Lawmakers involved also underlined how critical these protections are for the future of HIV prevention. 

“PrEP is a life-saving medication that has transformed HIV prevention, and we must do everything in our power to ensure and further expand access,” said Senator Julian Cyr, Senate sponsor of the legislation, in a press release. “I’m proud that Massachusetts will codify the Affordable Care Act’s protections, ensuring comprehensive insurance coverage for PrEP without unnecessary utilization barriers. By safeguarding availability to this breakthrough medication, we’re protecting public health and advancing health equity – all while reaffirming Massachusetts’ leadership in the fight against HIV and protecting our most vulnerable.”  

While these protections improve the lives of PrEP users in Massachusetts, they also set a premier example for other state lawmakers. Protecting PrEP should be a priority everywhere. 

If you are interested in starting PrEP, you can do so from home. Mistr is a telehealth platform that handles everything from testing to consultations with a licensed physician to the delivery of your medication. 

About Mistr

Mistr is a gay-owned and operated online platform that brings together doctors, pharmacists, and industry minds to provide resources and PrEP to folks in need. Instead of relying on insurance providers to approve the purchase of PrEP, Mistr cuts out the middleman to help people get their prescriptions covered.

The post Massachusetts Becomes the First State to Pass Permanent Protections for PrEP  appeared first on LBS.

From Heated Rivalry to White Lotus to Brokeback Mountain, people are crazy about gay sex on screen. These stories draw millions of eyes and are “I made it moments for lesser-known actors and creatives. So why do these stories get so much attention, and what are they missing? 

An Industry Built Without Queer Stories

LGBTQIA+ people have always been at the center of creative industries, but they have not always been able to be at that center in roles that feel like themselves. The first openly gay character in an American TV show appeared in 1972 on the ABC sitcom The Corner Bar. While this was a first nod toward inclusion, these roles historically have capitalized on homophobic tropes, emphasizing a character’s femininity to make sure audiences know they are not straight.

This all changed in 2005 with the award-winning motion picture, Brokeback Mountain. The movie not only included gay characters but centered the story on two male characters falling in and out of love with each other. This was not something viewers were used to, but it was the beginning of a deeper trend we see playing out today. 

What People Want, and What People Get

Viewers want something new. The same movies about a girl in a small town falling in love with a big city lawyer are not exciting; they have been played out thousands of times. But the story of two hockey players pushing each other around on the ice under the weight of huge sexual tension, guilt, and confusing feelings. That is something we haven’t seen on Hallmark. 

Well over 10 million Americans tuned into Heated Rivalry earlier this year. Viewers are fascinated with gay intimacy because it feels new; it feels dangerous. LGBTQIA+ people in America remain under significant pressure. With just over a decade of marriage equality, elected leaders still threaten its revocation. Services and funding for people living with HIV are constantly under attack. Hate crimes against LGBTQIA+ remain on the rise year after year. While viewers love to watch a steamy scene between two actors of the same sex, they must be reminded that these stories are so much deeper than a crush.  

Including Prevention

What these viral stories tend to leave out is how the characters protect themselves. Sexual health and prevention are never part of the story, but it should be. In 2022, there were over 30,000 new cases of HIV in the U.S. alone. The fear, the confusion, and the vulnerability that comes with intimacy are part of these relationships that don’t make it to screen. However, if we watched a character in a viral same sex relationship take a PrEP pill during a getting-ready montage, not only would that create a more realistic plot, but it could also encourage conversations about uptake and prevention. 

Viewers deserve to see more queer people on screens. Not just in viral storylines, but every single day. And those stories should be real. If creatives in the writers’ room are talking about sex and intimacy, they should be talking about prevention too. 

About Mistr

Mistr is a gay-owned and operated online platform that brings together doctors, pharmacists, and industry minds to provide resources and PrEP to folks in need. Instead of relying on insurance providers to approve the purchase of PrEP, Mistr cuts out the middleman to help people get their prescriptions covered.

The post Why People Are So Obsessed with Gay Intimacy on Screen, and What These Stories Are Missing appeared first on LBS.

UPDATE: The family of Nolan Wells has officially identified the body as belonging to the missing teenager.

On July 6, the search for Nolan Wells, a missing 18-year-old, was called off after local authorities discovered a body on Horn Island, Mississippi. 

While the body has not yet been identified, Wells was last seen on the northwest tip of Horn Island around 4:30 p.m. on July 4. Horn Island is located about 10 miles off the coast of Mississippi and is only accessible via private boat. 

Wells traveled to the island by boat on July 4th with friends for the holiday. His friends returned to the mainland without him. Wells has been described as a Black male, 6-foot-1, 180 pounds. He is a rising sophomore, a wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College, and a loved member of his community. 

Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, has been posting on Facebook, searching for information and providing updates. 

“His father, Elmore Wonsley and I are not ok. We have so many questions. Our hearts are breaking, we keep waiting for Nolan to walk through that door with his beautiful smile and a joke of course. We just pray our son is alive & safe,” wrote Wonsley in a post. 

After the body was located, Wonsley posted again, sharing her grief. 

“I want to thank our family, friends, community,United Cajun Navy, local law enforcement, and everyone involved for all the love, support, resources over the last few days. His father, our family, friends and I are absolutely devastated. I’m heartbroken for my sweet son who was always willing to cheer and uplift others. Nolan was a special soul, God took his time creating our son. I ask that you please give me and my family time to grieve,” wrote Wonsley. 

This is a developing story, as we await more information about the identification of the found body. 

Anyone with information about the case should contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department at (228) 769-3063 or the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources at (844) 937-6636.

The post Search for Missing Black Teenager Nolan Wells Called Off, Body Found appeared first on LBS.

From joining awareness campaigns to posting their personal prevention journeys, celebrities are getting on PrEP. If you don’t know, PrEP is a once-daily pill regimen that is 99% effective at preventing HIV. There are millions of patients using PrEP to keep themselves protected, including some extra famous names. Here are just a few.

Tamar Braxton

R&B and reality TV star Tamar Braxton took to Instagram last year to let people know about her prevention journey.  “I’m on PrEP,” Braxton said in a video. “I’d tell everyone to get on PrEP…because prepare yourself.” PrEP is for everyone. You don’t have to be a gay man to want to be protected. Women account for about 25% of HIV diagnoses in the US. This life-saving medication can’t be gatekept. We all deserve to feel safe. 

Lukas Gage

The “White Lotus” actor, Lukas Gage, revealed that he is a PrEP user last year in an interview with the New York Post. The candid sit-down included an anecdote about a time that Gage’s partner gave him two sexually transmitted infections. Thankfully, both were treatable; however, the experience taught Gage to protect his health no matter the circumstance. Gage takes PrEP daily as part of his health regimen, and gets tested every three months to guarantee he is protected from other STIs. While PrEP only protects from HIV, there are other ways to safeguard your health from sexually transmitted infections. DoxyPEP is an antibiotic taken within 72 hours after sex that has been shown to reduce the risk of bacterial STIs.

Troye Sivan 

In 2023, Australian pop star Troye Sivan posted a handful of pills on his Instagram story with the caption, “This combo keeps me gay.” One of those pills happened to be a blue PrEP medication. Since 2012, the number of PrEP users in the U.S. has continued to grow. Between 2023 and 2024, PrEP use increased by 17% to 591,475 users. While there are still critical gaps, people like Sivan are part of a larger protection story that will normalize prevention.

While some public figures are not as open to sharing their personal medical journeys, there are countless advocates who have joined the conversation. Cardi B, Adam Lambert, Ciara, NeNe Leakes, and Karamo Brown are just a few of the celebrities who have been part of campaigns to encourage PrEP uptake. 

Whether you are new to prevention, or struggling to get your persecution renewed, Mistr has you covered. Mistr is a telehealth platform that handles all of the details from your home, including consultations with a licensed physician, testing, and medication shipped to your doorstep. 

About Mistr

Mistr is a gay-owned and operated online platform that brings together doctors, pharmacists, and industry minds to provide resources and PrEP to folks in need. Instead of relying on insurance providers to approve the purchase of PrEP, Mistr cuts out the middleman to help people get their prescriptions covered.

The post Who’s Getting Protected? Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were on PrEP appeared first on LBS.

A gay couple from Chicago, Zafar Padamsee Mawani and Guillermo Jaffet Hidalgo Ortiz, have been found dead outside of Mexico City. The two moved to Mexico City in October of last year and have been missing since May 20th of this year. Their bodies were located on June 17 in a wooded area on the outskirts of Mexico City. 

Local authorities had been searching for the couple after making several arrests related to the case. Suspects informed authorities where to find the bodies, leading local prosecutors to uncover four bodies near La Marquesa National Park, two of which were Mawani and Ortiz.

All the Names Not Found

Unfortunately, the couple’s case is not unique in Mexico. More than 135,000 people are missing across Mexico related to criminal violence; 977 people were reported missing during May alone. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged to address these missing people cases. About 22,000 missing people were found alive last year, while homicides have also dropped nearly 40% under President Sheinbaum’s tenure.

Hate crimes against LGBTQIA+ in Mexico remain on the rise. Local organizations have tracked hundreds of murders of LGBTQIA+ people over the past several years, with trans people being especially vulnerable to violence across the country. 

Remembering What We Lost

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Mawani’s family expressed their love and mourning. 

“Zafar was authentic in a way that made others feel more grounded and seen…He believed in abundance when it came to building genuine connections and creating spaces where people could flourish,” the statement read. 

GLAAD also released a statement paying tribute to the couple’s lives. 

“Our hearts are with everyone who loved Guillermo Ortiz and Zafar Mawani, a Chicago couple who were found killed in Mexico after they were missing for several weeks. May Guillermo and Zafar rest in peace,” GLAAD wrote in an Instagram post. 

The family of the couple has started a GoFundMe, where people can donate to a memorial bench to be placed near their relatives in Oak Park, IL. 

The post Gay Couple Discovered Dead in Mass Grave Near Mexico City  appeared first on LBS.

This year, Pride organizers across the country reported historic lows in fundraising and corporate sponsorship. Several celebrations were even canceled for the first time ever, including Pride events in Tampa, Florida; Tucson, Arizona; and Arlington, Texas. In the face of significant political backlash, queer people still showed up across the country this month in parades, parties, and protests. Here are the companies and organizations who stood by Pride this year, and made it all happen. 

Skyy Vodka

The liquor company has been sponsoring Pride celebrations for years, and 2026 was no different. As a key sponsor of NYC Pride, Skyy stood by their commitments to inclusion. They also were the Official Vodka Partner for the SO.GAY Pride House, a pride event earlier in June. The brand has supported LGBTQIA+ events since it started in 1992, including serving as the official alcohol partner of NYC’s 2019 World Pride Celebration. 

Delta Airlines

Delta has been a supporter of Pride celebrations for decades. This year, the airline sponsored Seattle Pridefest, Miami Beach Pride, Twin Cities Pride, and more.  On a culture level, the company has a history of supporting LGBTQIA+ employees. In 2016 and 2017, Delta was named a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality, attaining a perfect score of 100 percent on the Corporate Equality Index administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

Red Bull

The beverage company has been vocal about their support of LGBTQIA+ people both on their social channels and in the way they support Pride celebrations. This year, RedBull is a sponsor of San Francisco Pride, and hosted a Ballroom show at the celebration. The energy drink company has regularly supported queer athletes, and continues to be at the center of many Pride celebrations around the world.  

Kaiser Permanente

The health care coverage company has been a substantial sponsor of Pride celebrations this year. Kaiser was a significant sponsor for San Francisco Pride, Denver Pride, Portland Pride, and more.  

Mistr

The LGBTQIA+owned  telehealth company was a key sponsor of DC’s Black Pride this year. Mistr has a reputation for supporting LGBTQIA+ people both in funding community events and directly serving the community’s needs. Mistr provides sexual health services including PrEP for no cost to users, handling all of the heavy lifting on working with insurance and patient assistance programs. The company is owned and operated by LGBTQIA+ people and remains committed to supporting queer events across the country. 

In addition to these companies countless local organizations, LGBTQIA+ media outlets, and nonprofits supported Pride both behind the scenes and in front of the spotlight. Pride celebrations take countless hours of work, hundreds of thousands of dollars, and real dedication to inclusion. 2026 was a year full of challenges, but also full of hard work to create bright moments of visibility.

About Mistr

Mistr is a gay-owned and operated online platform that brings together doctors, pharmacists, and industry minds to provide resources and PrEP to folks in need. Instead of relying on insurance providers to approve the purchase of PrEP, Mistr cuts out the middleman to help people get their prescriptions covered.

The post The Companies that Actually Showed Up for Pride this Year appeared first on LBS.