Why Sexual Pleasure Is a Radical Act of Resistance | Interview with Alex Garner

In this episode, Tom sits down with Alex Garner, Interim Executive Director of MPact, to talk about queer sexuality, HIV, sexual pleasure, and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Alex shares his experience living with HIV for over 30 years and his work advocating for queer health and human rights around the world.
They discuss how HIV stigma, homophobia, and shame continue to shape the way gay men experience sex, even with advances in treatment and prevention like U=U and PrEP. Alex also reflects on how his own HIV diagnosis changed his relationship with sex and allowed him to explore his sexuality with less fear, challenging the idea that sex should be defined by risk rather than pleasure and connection.
The conversation also explores why sex is political, how governments use fear and family values to justify restrictions on queer people, and why bodily autonomy is fundamental to LGBTQ+ liberation. Alex discusses sex work, adult content creation, and the importance of ensuring that sex workers have access to healthcare, fair working conditions, and the same rights and protections as everyone else.
Finally, Alex talks about the importance of community, solidarity, and creating space for queer people to experience pleasure without shame. At the heart of his work is a simple idea: sexual pleasure is not something to be ashamed of, but something worth celebrating, protecting, and embracing as part of our health, relationships, and freedom.

About Alex:
For the past 5 years at Mpact, Alex Garner has crafted strategies, managed global programs, and led communications. Prior to MPact he was the Senior Health Innovation Strategist at Hornet, the gay social networking app. He crafted all sexual health messaging, developed social marketing campaigns, created digital content for a global audience, and led Hornet’s research efforts. Alex has over 25 years of experience working as a community organizer. He has been a freelance writer for over two decades, capturing the experiences and perspectives of the queer community. As a writer and an artist, he has utilized the cultural arts to advance the narratives of LGBTQ communities.

Connect with Alex:
Website: mpactglobal.org
Instagram: instagram.com/mpact.global
YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@themsmgf
TikTok: tiktok.com/@mpactglobal

Connect with Tom:
Website: queerrelationshipinstitute.com
Instagram: @queerrelationshipinstitute
Get his book: a.co/d/0gtUEAC5
Get your FREE set of relationship discussion cards for gay men: queerrelationshipinstitute.com/cards