News

Health

Terrence Higgins Trust is launching a new campaign today teaching gay men just how HIV is passed on during unprotected anal sex. With little or no sex education relevant to young gay men in schools this new campaign gives a valuable biology lesson to fill these important knowledge gaps.

The ‘Biology of Transmission’ campaign, aimed especially at younger men and others new to gay sex, gets vital HIV transmission information across using three striking ‘bottom’ themed images;

 - the sponge – illustrating how the lining of the rectum absorbs semen and pre-cum containing HIV.
 - the eggs – covering how the rectal lining can be damaged during fucking or when objects enter the rectum, allowing HIV easier entry into the bloodstream.
 - the peach – explaining how (often unnoticed) sexually transmitted infections make it easier for HIV to be passed on due to skin damage inside the rectum

Read more: Sponge, Eggs, Peach? New Safer Sex Guide

Politics

Prompted by appeals from the Sexual Minorities Uganda Group (SMUG), the UK gay Humanist charity the Pink Triangle Trust has written a letter of protest to Mrs Joan Rwabyomere, the Ugandan High Commissioner in the UK, concerning Uganda's Anti-Homosexual Bill 2009

George Broadhead commented, "In March this year, American Christians travelled to Uganda for a conference that pledged to "wipe out" homosexuality. Seven months later, a draconian bill has been introduced that pledges to make good on this threat.

He continued, "This witch-hunt has all the hallmarks of leading American Christian Evangelicals. The Family Life Network, one of America's most powerful Christian Evangelical organisation's, seems to have converted Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni to its anti-gay brand of Christianity, and this is the impetus behind the anti-gay crackdown."

Read more: Gay Humanists Protest Homophobia in Uganda

Politics

One in six people in Europe (and 1 in 5 in the UK) say they have personally experienced discrimination in the past year, according to a new opinion survey published by the European Commission. 

Almost two thirds, or 64 per cent, of Europeans are also concerned that the recession will contribute to more age discrimination in the job market. The same figure in the UK was 59 per cent. The results come ahead of this year's European Equality Summit, to be held in Stockholm on 16 and-17 November.

On a positive note, the British have a greater mix of friends compared to people living in other EU member states, according to the survey. A large majority of the respondents said their social networks include people of different religion, or different belief from theirs, disabled people, people of different ethnic origin or homosexuals.

Read more: 1 in 5 Britons Suffer Discrimination

Health

Terrence Higgins Trust with Age Concern & Help the Aged are launching a survey today to find out the needs and concerns of people living with HIV who are aged over 50.

The findings of the research, titled 50Plus, will be made available to services for both older people, and people with HIV, to help them develop appropriate support.  Online and paper questionnaires will be distributed and can be filled in until January 4th, when the survey closes.

The questionnaire asks a series of questions about the participant’s life, hopes and concerns. It’s completely anonymous and there is a prize draw for two people, randomly drawn, who will each get £100 of shopping vouchers.

Lisa Power, Head of Policy at Terrence Higgins Trust said “Currently, we know we could be doing more for people over 50 with HIV, whether someone is newly diagnosed or has been living with the virus for decades. People need support in various ways and we want to ensure that service changes are based on the genuine needs of people over 50 with HIV, not on someone’s best guess. We hope to get as many people as possible filling the survey in.”

Read more: New Survey For Over 50s Living with HIV

Your News

The fifth Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender Conference for HM Armed Forces will take place on Thursday 3 – Friday 4 December 09 in London. 

The conference, which is open to all military personnel, and MOD Civil Servants by invitation, will focus this year on recruitment and retention. Attendance from the LGBT junior ranks/ratings is particularly encouraged.

The conference, organised this year by the Royal Navy, is entitled “Out and In – Recruiting and Retaining LGBT Personnel in the Armed Services” and will address how best practice in equality and diversity can improve operational capability through highly motivated and committed personnel from all walks of life.

The conference will combine policy updates and workshops to allow serving personnel and other attendees to debate LGBT issues with their E&D policy staffs and provide input to developing policy and practice. The conference will hear from best practice in recruitment and retention strategies, and have a chance to question key senior personnel in military human resources and service complaints.

Read more: Conference for Gay Armed Forces

Health

A group of Young Leaders from Terrence Higgins Trust are producing an information booklet on relationships and are looking for input from 13-19 year olds from across the country. 

A brief survey is being posted online today at www.tht.org.uk/yoursay so teenagers can pass on their views.

The Young Leaders run a Terrence Higgins Trust project which enables 13-19 year olds to teach their peers about sex and relationships. They want the new booklet to be as useful as possible so are seeking input on everything from the topics covered and the design of the booklet to the name of the booklet and where it should be made available.

Young Leader Porsha Nunes-Brown said “Lessons in school might cover the biology of sex, but few people have been taught about relationships. This booklet is going to be for young people, by young people, so we want to hear what 13-19 year olds would like to see included.  If you’re in this age group and would like to help just log on and have your say.”

Read more: Teens Needed for Relationship Survey

Health

The United States administration are to overturn the ban on foreign nationals with HIV entering the USA. The ban has been in place since 1987 and will be lifted early next year.

The ban meant everyone entering the US was required to state that they don’t have a communicable disease, alongside not being a terrorist, a Nazi or a criminal. The UK does not currently have entry restrictions on people living with HIV. Some British politicians have proposed them previously.

On Friday, President Obama announced the repeal of the travel ban, describing the 22-year-old policy as a "decision rooted in fear rather than fact.”

The UN Secretary General has congratulated President Obama on the move. Terrence Higgins Trust and others have campaigned for many years for the policy to be lifted. 

Read more: America Removes HIV Ban on those Entering US

Politics

The majority of small businesses owned by lesbian, gay and bisexual entrepreneurs will look to grow in the next twelve months according to Business Link’s latest Business Confidence Index.

The majority (62%) of LGB-owned businesses are targeting growth in the coming year using bold strategies such as entering new markets and increasing their marketing spend. These small businesses are also the most likely to consider focusing on core products and services and delaying capital expenditure as a way of dealing with the recession.

The quarterly Index measures business sentiment of over 3,300 small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) following the third quarter of the year. This unique survey takes into account variations such as industry sector, sub-regional location, business types and business ownership (gender, Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic (BAME), Deaf and disabled).

The Index, which sought the views of LGB business owners in London, also found these entrepreneurs are the most likely to have been affected by the recession. 48% of LGB businesses have been affected compared with 47% of all others. However, this figure is down from 55% in July.

Read more: Gay Owned Businesses Beat Recession