On The Couch

Is My Husband Gay or Sleeping with Other Men with Kyla Lawson

2025-10-03

Join Winnie as she chats with Kyla Lawson, to find out more about the invisible population Kyla works with as a Health Promotion Officer with Women Partners. Women Partners is a NSW based service that offers individual counselling, support groups and Sexual Health information for all women whose male partner is having sex with men or has come out as gay or bisexual. This passionate and inclusive discussion breaks down stigmas and discrimination. Listen and reflect on how we can advocate in the HIV space and engage with a growing movement that’s normalising sexuality and equi...

Join Winnie as she chats with Kyla Lawson, to find out more about the invisible population Kyla works with as a Health Promotion Officer with Women Partners.

Women Partners is a NSW based service that offers individual counselling, support groups and Sexual Health information for all women whose male partner is having sex with men or has come out as gay or bisexual.

This passionate and inclusive discussion breaks down stigmas and discrimination. Listen and reflect on how we can advocate in the HIV space and engage with a growing movement that’s normalising sexuality and equitable access to sexual health for all communities.

This episode was recorded in August 2025

Read transcript here
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References

Women Partners

Acon

Leichhardt Women's Community Health Center

NSW Health HIV 2024 Data report

Playsafe: How to find the right STI testing service for you

Sexual Health Information Link

ASHM HIV Management Guide for Clinical Care

OurPath (USA based)

Straight Partners Anonymous (UK based)

PozHet

Positive Life NSW (and other branches throughout Australia)

Stigma Health

Atomo HIV Test

Journal articles & International research:

The female spouse: A process of separation when a husband 'comes out' as gay | PLOS One

(PDF) Betrayed, Beaten, Banished: The Stigma of Being a Rural Tongqi in China

Mental health and suicidal ideation among Chinese women who have sex with men who have sex with men (MSM): Women & Health: Vol 56 , No 8 - Get Access

(PDF) Invisible “Others”: Sexual Health Vulnerabilities of Wives of Men who Have Sex with Men

Stigma and Shame reading:

Turan, J.M., Elafros, M.A., Logie, C.H. et al. Challenges and opportunities in examining and addressing intersectional stigma and health. BMC Med 17, 7 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1246-9

Stangl, A.L., Earnshaw, V.A., Logie, C.H. et al. The Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework: a global, crosscutting framework to inform research, intervention development, and policy on health-related stigmas. BMC Med 17, 31 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-019-1271-3

Multicultural experiences of identifying as MSM within Australia

Saliba, B., Kang, M., Mao, L., Prestage, G., & Hammoud, M. A. (2025). Navigating intersecting identities and disclosure strategies: qualitative insights from gay Arab Australian men. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2025.2507367

Bernard Saliba bio: https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Bernard.Saliba

PreP for women:

Lade Caroline, MacPhail Catherine, Rutherford Alison (2023) Provider views of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for cisgender women – where do women fit in HIV elimination in Australia?. Sexual Health 20, 558-565. https://doi.org/10.1071/SH23163

Lade Caroline, MacPhail Catherine, Rutherford Alison (2023) Provider views of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for cisgender women – where do women fit in HIV elimination in Australia?. Sexual Health 20, 558-565. https://doi.org/10.1071/SH23163

The Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) National PrEP Guidelines Update. Prevent HIV by Prescribing PrEP. Sydney, 2023. Available from: https://ashm.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ASHM-Health_PrEP-Guidelines.pdf