Community News Positive East seeks selfies from people living with HIV for U=U Community Quilt Project Positive East, which is dedicated to improving the lives of people living with HIV in East London, is to create three quilt panels, comprised of thousands of selfies from the international community to help celebrate the powerful message of U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable). The individual selfie By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Health “PrEP means I can enjoy sex without thinking about HIV” PrEP is a pill taken by HIV negative people that protects you against HIV. It has been a life-changer for me because it gives me confidence and lets me just enjoy sex. It’s important that we take our sexual health seriously. Not everyone feels like this though. Especially in the Black queer communit By Contributor • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Russia “absolutely sure” its people won’t be affected by Mpox outbreak due to country’s “traditional values” Russia, which in 2023 ruled the LGBTQ+ movement to be “extremist”, before outlawing it in the country, has said it’s “absolutely sure” that the spread of Mpox is “not something we need to be afraid of” because gays don’t exist in the country. The alert declaring Mpox a clear and present danger to th By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Richard Angell Health “This must come as a wake-up call”! Richard Angell, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, responds to figures showing 5% increase in sexually transmitted infections Figures published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have shown there were 401,800 sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported in England in 2023 – a 5% increase on the previous year. Key findings include: Number of gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses continue to be at record-breaking highs By Graham Robson • 3 min read
Health New initiative from Grindr, in partnership with PrEPster at The Love Tank and Sexual Health London, to offer London users of the app free at-home STI self-sampling kits Grindr, in partnership with PrEPster at The Love Tank, a not-for-profit that promotes the health and wellbeing of under-served communities, and Sexual Health London (SHL), have announced the launch of a new initiative that will enable London-based users to order free at-home STI self-sampling kits d By Graham Robson • 3 min read
Health “You get what you pay for”. Terrence Higgins Trust responds to data showing sexual health services at ‘breaking point’ New data from the Local Government Association has shown that almost every council in England and Wales has seen a rise in gonorrhoea since 2017 while sexual health services face ‘unprecedented increases in demand’. With nearly three quarters (71%) of councils also seening increases in syphilis diag By Graham Robson • 1 min read
Health “Concerning” rise in cases of extensively antibiotic-resistant Shigella sonnei infections, mainly in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced there has been a “concerning” rise in cases of extensively antibiotic-resistant Shigella sonnei infections, mainly in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Since the beginning of 2023, the number of extensively-antibiotic resi By Contributor • 2 min read
Health Emergency Department Opt-Out Testing a “triumph”. New report finds thousands tested and diagnosed with HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C A new report published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the University of Bristol has found that the NHSE Emergency Opt-Out testing Programme for bloodborne viruses has helped to diagnose thousands of people with serious infections. The report, commissioned by NHS England (NHSE), evaluat By Graham Robson • 4 min read
Community News Brighton & Hove’s STI Testing Week from Monday, November 6 aims to encourage sexually active residents to get tested Words by Terrence Higgins Trust Brighton & Hove’s STI Testing Week starts on Monday, November 6. The aim is to encourage sexually active residents to get tested. You can’t always tell if someone has an STI by looking at them, and people are often unaware they have an infection. Only by testing can By Contributor • 2 min read
HIV Brighton and Sussex Medical School – vibrant research programmes The Sexual Health and HIV Research Group within Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) supports a vibrant research programme focused on four interlinked research themes: HIV and sexually transmitted infections prevention and treatment; ageing and comorbidities; development of new models of care, By Contributor • 2 min read
HIV New trustees at Terrence Higgins Trust come at “a crucial time” as there’s just six years left to achieve the “life-changing goal” of ending new cases of HIV by 2030 HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust has announced the appointment of two new trustees to their board – Dr Claire Dewsnap and Melanie Knight. Terrence Higgins Trust say the appointments come at “a crucial time” as there’s just six years left to achieve the “life-changing goal” of end By Graham Robson • 3 min read
HIV Are you recently diagnosed or having difficulty coming to terms with an HIV diagnosis? Terrence Higgins Trust and partners to run series of workshops to help you deal with your diagnosis and live well Sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust is working in partnership with Positively UK, METRO and Positive East to provide in-person and online workshops to help you deal with your diagnosis and gain the knowledge and tools to live well with HIV. Each workshop is run by a different organisation a By Graham Robson • 1 min read
