More to Me Than HIV

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Combating Stigma: More To Me Than HIV.

More To Me Than Read more

More to Me Than HIV

First published in Gscene July 2020 For last years World AIDS Day I put together a public project of work joining other people living with an HIV+ diagnoses at Jubilee library.For last years World AIDS Day I put together a public project of work joining other people living with an HIV+ diagnoses at Jubilee library. For the project I spoke openly about my journey having being           Read more

More to Me Than HIV: GScene post Aug 2020

More to Me Than HIV is a project that aims to breakdown the stigma that has historically been attached to this virus.  When I saw my piece in last months Gscene to promote the More to Me Than HIV project, I was extremely proud, but a small part of me was filled with anxiety; but why should I feel this way? I have been on effective antiretroviral therapy since the Read more

More to Me Than HIV: first published in GScene July 2020

For last years World AIDS Day I put together a public project of work joining other people living with an HIV+ diagnoses at Jubilee library. For the project I spoke openly about my journey having being             diagnosed HIV+ 32 years previous. Back then there was no treatment and a lot of fear and misinformation concerning how HIV was transmitted. As such stigma was rife, Read more
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Health

“The Need to Renew the HIV+ Message.

30 years ago when the realisation that sexual intercourse was a dangerous pastime, everyone was bombarded by the Conservative’s safe sex television and leaflet campaigns. Images of icebergs and tombstones filled our consciousness along with the tag line, “Don’t die of ignorance.” From then on in the safer sex message cropped up in stage plays, (The normal Heart), films (Longtime Companion) and soap opera storylines, (Eastenders) reminding all of us almost on a daily bases that HIV existed and that as a LGBT community we had to take responsibility in looking after ourselves and each other, and we did. From the terror of what this virus was doing to people we loved, support groups sprung up in the backs of bars and people’s homes making sure the message of safer sex was out there, loud and proud and that anyone who needed
care and support received it. As the years have rolled by, the subject of HIV has slowly dwindled away from the wider public domain, with the issue given an airing to the masses once a year on December the 1st, World Aids Day. Read more

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Glenn Stevens in Health, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, Positive Nation, THT 5 Comments

Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing.

All of us from time to time will have days when we just can’t find a smile to put on our face. Having a blue day, feeling under the weather, (particularly if that weather is stormy and grey) a bit depressing. Thankfully the majority of the time we find that by the end of the day we have found some way in resolving such matters and are able to wake up the next day with that smile firmly in place.

However, for some people getting up in the morning can become a daily challenge as they feel they can not face the world and in turn find themselves trapped. Such feeling may stem from, problems at work, money worries, relationship difficulties, coming to terms with your sexuality, particularly for those who are LGBT and living in a household that have expressed a dislike for all things “queer”. For others it may be receiving an HIV diagnoses and all the mixed emotions that can be potentially thrown up. Read more

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Glenn Stevens in Brighton & Hove, Health, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, LGBT, THT, Zhoosh 5 Comments

30 Year Ban on Gay Men Giving Blood to be Lifted.

After thirty years, the lifelong ban on gay and bisexual men giving blood is set to be lifted later this year…with certain conditions attached. The main one being that a gay/bisexual man will only be allowed to donate blood as long as he has abstained from any sexual intercourse with another man for twelve months. The reason for such a time limit is due to what is known as the window of opportunity infection. For example, someone who may have had unprotected sex (sex without a condom) may take an HIV test and receive a negative HIV diagnoses, but this does not mean that HIV is not present in the blood. A further test, twelve months later is the only sure indication that the person is not carrying the virus.   Read more

Posted on September 10, 2011 by Glenn Stevens in Brighton & Hove, Health, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, LGBT, THT, Zhoosh 3 Comments

Five Asks from Terrence Higgins Trust….

Here are 5 simple ‘asks’ from the team at Terrence Higgins Trust.

1. Have an HIV test. This is particularly important if you are sexually active and have multiple sexual partners. In an ideal world everybody would use a condom each and every time they have sex, but the reality is there are times when a condom isn’t used. On these occasions get yourself down to your local STI clinic within 24 hours and ask for a treatment of PEP www.pep.chapsonline.org.uk. To know your HIV status is also extremely important, although you may find burying your head in the hand one way of dealing with the subject the truth is that if you are HIV positive then there are now a range of combination therapies that will stop the condition from doing any long term damage. Read more

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Glenn Stevens in Brighton & Hove, Health, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, LGBT, THT Leave a comment

Everthing you wanted to know about S&M sex but were afraid to ask…

Red Hankie

Red, Yellow, Black and Blue.

For those who know there hanky code, the title will prick up their ears (was the last word a typing error?)For the experienced, and novices alike when it comes to all things S&M, THT and CHAPS have                    re-launched the excellent  Hardcell

Hardcell (http://hardcell.org.uk) is an extremely well informed website looking at the more diverse side of sex play. The site is split into five areas each answering nearly every question you wanted to ask about S&M sex but was too afraid to ask.

The playroom looks at S&M games covering everything from corporal punishment, body modification, breath controls to sex toys. The site is easy to navigate around giving sound advice on how to get the best from each sexual activity, keeping you and your partner safe and how some of the activities are perceived by the law. Read more

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Glenn Stevens in Brighton & Hove, Health, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, Leisure, LGBT, THT, Zhoosh Leave a comment

THT Super Hero Fund Raising and Beyond!

THT Super Heros: Photo by Vincent lcq

As part of their ongoing strategy to keep the message of safer sex and HIV in the public’s mind, the team at Terrence Higgins Trust have embarked on a range of fun fundraising activities. On the 15th May THT joined the event “Brighton’s Hero’s Run”, organised by the charity “Passing It On”, a charity that helps help build funds for Schools in Africa, along with host of other fundraising groups dressed in an array of costumes. Amoug the many Supermen, super women were Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble complete with their stone-age car and even Super Gran. As well as being a lot of fun, THT raised an impressive £2000 on the day. Read more

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Glenn Stevens in Brighton & Hove, Health, Human Rights, Leisure, LGBT, THT, Zhoosh Leave a comment

New LGBT Project for Brighton

LGBT Health Involvement Project

The staff at Terrance Higgins Trust Brighton has been working on a variety of new and exciting projects. New staff member Nick Douglas is the coordinator for a new initiative working with LGBT organisations in Brighton, (LGBT switchboard, THT South, Mind Out, Allsorts Youth Project, Brighton Both Ways and the Claire Project)     to get a better understanding of the core groups health needs. Read more

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Glenn Stevens in Brighton & Hove, Health, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, Leisure, LGBT, THT, Zhoosh Leave a comment

Brighton Gay Pride & Money

Pride & Money

For the last few years Brighton Pride seems to be remembered for all the wrong reasons; the most worrying being the huge debt that it has acuminated, preventing any of the LGBT charities receiving a single penny after the event.

As fond as my memories are of the first Brighton Pride, which consisted of us all meeting in the park and sharing a few cans of beer and a sandwich, I much preferred the later Gay Prides in Preston Park, along with all the entertainment that was provided. I’d join in with the other line-dancing bears, grrr, amble around the collective stalls that sold everything from strap-on dilldos to “no one knows I’m gay” t-shirts; then I’d sit myself down by the main stage. Okay, from midday till 2 pm, the acts would be people or groups I’d never heard of and most likely never hear of again; but from thereon in things would get fabulously queer. Read more

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Glenn Stevens in Brighton & Hove, Gscene, Health, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, Leisure, LGBT, THT Leave a comment

Update on Terrence Higgins Trust HIV Brighton Services.

THT (South)

Update on THT Servicers.

June 2011 marks the 30th Anniversary of the AIDS epidemic. So much has change from those early days when volunteers like Father Marcus opening up his kitchen for those affected by HIV. Thankfully to the continued success of medical breakthroughs in the shape of combination therapies people are living longer, but there is still a need for emotional support for those newly diagnosed, to others living with HIV for a number of years.

For those living in Brighton and the surrounding areas they have the benefit of accessing a number of groups run by the excellent team of paid staff and volunteers at Terrence Higgins Trust in Brighton’s Ship Street and South Street, in Eastbourne.  Read more

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Glenn Stevens in Brighton & Hove, Health, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, LGBT, THT, Zhoosh Leave a comment

National Condom Week

Tomorrow, 18thMay is National Condom Week. Okay, so there may not be a parade through the streets with a 12 foot condom being held aloft the revellers waving condoms on sticks to celebrate the day, but it’s still very important to flag up the safe sex message.

If you are sexually active, particularly if you have multiple sexual partners, then condoms should be included in your play. Read more

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Glenn Stevens in Brighton & Hove, Health, HIV/AIDS, Human Rights, Leisure, LGBT, THT, Zhoosh 1 Comment
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