Underlying all the hot, steamy scenes of the new limited series, Fellow Travellers, there are facts and realities with which the queer community can identify. These elements help to weave a beautiful story of love and loss.

Until recently, condoms were the only viable option for safe-sex practices among gay and bisexual men. When it was discovered that HIV was a sexually transmitted disease, condoms became the zeitgeist of safe-sex culture. Although this tool kept many gay and bisexual men HIV-negative through the worst of the epidemic, the use of condoms to prevent HIV created, or further perpetuated, rather, an inequality among gay men in their sexual relationships. Even within the gay community, the receiving partner in intercourse was looked upon as subservient and "less than."

PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV.

• PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed.

• Although there is less information about how effective PrEP pills are among people who inject drugs, we know that PrEP pills reduce the risk of getting HIV by at least 74% when taken as prescribed. Currently, PrEP shots are not recommended for people who inject drugs.

• PrEP is less effective when not taken as prescribed.

Although the updated PrEP guideline provides information on how to correctly use the “2-1-1” schedule, this approach is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is not recommended by CDC. Taking PrEP as prescribed is currently the only FDA-approved schedule for taking PrEP to prevent HIV. When taken as prescribed, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Most STIs are caused by germs (bacteria or viruses) that are passed from one person to another during sex or intimate contact. There are also STIs caused by parasites, such as pubic lice and scabies, but these will not be discussed in this guide.

STIs caused by bacteria can be cured with a short course of antibiotics. If diagnosed and treated soon after infection, a bacterial STI is generally less likely to cause damage to the body.

STIs caused by viruses cannot be cured with antibiotics, but the symptoms can be managed with medication. If you have a viral STI it is important to talk to a health professional about how best to manage and treat the infection.