Health

In a bid to reduce levels of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) chlamydia among young LGBT people in London, HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust will be inviting young people attending this year’s Pride London to take a chlamydia test during their day out. THT staff will be offering the tests free of charge throughout Saturday 3 July from the charity’s stand at Trafalgar Square.

Testing is a very simple process; young people are given a sample pot and asked to discreetly provide a urine sample in the nearest public toilet or portaloo. Samples will then be collected and posted off to the lab, with the results available within a week. Those who test positive will be directed to health services where they can obtain treatment for the infection free of charge. THT staff will also hand out condoms and safer sex information from the charity’s stand at the event.

Read more: Free Chlamydia Testing at Pride London

Crusaid, one of the UK’s best-known HIV charities and leading HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust have today announced their merger. The merged organisation aims to preserve a much-needed safety-net for people with HIV living in poverty and strengthen fundraising for HIV in the UK.

Jordan Hay, Chief Executive of Crusaid, said: “We initiated this merger to ensure that our hardship fund can continue to make a vital difference to the ever-increasing numbers of people diagnosed with HIV each year in the UK. THT shares our vision and values and we are excited about the opportunities to support people with HIV that this merger presents.”

Sir Nick Partridge, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust said: “I’m delighted to confirm that Crusaid and Terrence Higgins Trust have merged. The merger will preserve the Crusaid Hardship Fund in a very challenging economic climate and help ensure that people with HIV have the ongoing support that they so vitally need.

Read more: Crusaid and Terrence Higgins Trust to Merge

An event to raise awareness about breast cancer in lesbian and bisexual women is due to take place on the 19 May.

The event will launch a report by Dr Julie Fish from De Montfort University (DMU), who investigated the experiences and attitudes of lesbian and bisexual women with breast cancer.

The research discovered that lesbian and bisexual women are not getting the information and support they need and many felt existing cancer support groups were not accessible to them; often feeling excluded by topics of conversation or the environment. Participants also stated that they often felt uncomfortable and embarrassed when dealing with GPs and hospital staff.

The report was funded by the NHS National Cancer Action Team in order to look at how cancer inequalities can be tackled. The issue was highlighted as a key priority in the NHS Cancer Reform Strategy.

Read more: Raising Awareness of Breast Cancer in Lesbian Women

Research conducted by HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) reveals that sports fans could be putting their sexual health at risk this World Cup, with nearly one in ten 18-34 year-olds in the UK drinking so much while watching sporting events, in person or on TV, that they can’t remember what they did afterwards.

In response to this, Terrence Higgins Trust has published its online guide, ‘Scoring without getting an own goal’, to give sports fans top tips for safer post-match action, without a red and itchy card, this summer. Log on to www.tht.org.uk/worldcup to find out how to get match fit, make the perfect sliding tackle and substitute in style.

Terrence Higgins Trust’s spokeswoman Genevieve Edwards said: “If people are getting so drunk they can’t remember what they did the night before, it’s more than likely protected sex and condoms won’t have been top of their priority list.

Read more: World Cup Sex Risk for Sports Fans who Drink too Much

Stonewall has released a guide which gives advice to youth and education staff on how to support lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) young people.

It’s aimed at everyone who works with young people and who wants to enable LGB young people to grow and learn in a safe and supportive environment where they can be themselves.

The guide – the second in a new series of education guides on different specific aspects of tackling homophobic bullying – contains practical recommendations about how to show LGB young people that they can be themselves. It also includes real life experiences of gay young people and case studies from schools and youth projects.

Read more: New Guide on Supporting Young Gay People