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Martin Fisher Foundation: working in partnership towards ZERO HIV stigma, ZERO new HIV infections and ZERO deaths from HIV

The Martin Fisher Foundation (MFF) continues to work in partnership with other HIV organisations in Brighton & Hove towards ZERO HIV stigma, ZERO new HIV infections and ZERO deaths from HIV.  Our aim, to work collaboratively and support shared HIV prevention and treatment goals across the city, is gaining momentum year on year as we move towards ending new HIV transmissions and eliminating HIV stigma by 2030.

July 21 of this year saw the launch of the worlds’ first International Zero HIV Stigma Day. The event held in Jubilee Square in Brighton & Hove was organised by the Towards Zero HIV Taskforce, a partnership between Brighton & Hove City Council, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust, MFF, the voluntary sector, including Terrence Higgins Trust and Lunch Positive, and members of the community. The joyous and sometimes moving event united people and communities, raised awareness and provided opportunities to tackle HIV stigma head-on.

“We want EVERYBODY to know that if everyone tests for HIV, commences HIV treatment if diagnosed, or accesses effective HIV prevention if negative, then we can end new HIV transmissions.”

Of course, HIV stigma doesn’t stop at Zero HIV Stigma Day – there is still work to do to continue our efforts to make HIV Stigma a thing of the past:

  • Talk openly about HIV, no more whispered conversations. While it is important to respect the confidentiality of individual people, talking openly about HIV as a long-term health condition will help minimise stigma.
  • Challenge HIV stigma when you see or hear it, direct people to resources with up-to-date information such as our website
  • Sign up to be an HIV Ally – MFF will keep you updated with local activities and information, visit our website and sign up.

We want EVERYBODY to know that if everyone tests for HIV, commences HIV treatment if diagnosed, or accesses effective HIV prevention if negative, then we can end new HIV transmissions. In 2022 we created a concise animation which has been viewed over 26,000 times. The animation was co-produced with clinicians, HIV community workers, members of the public and people with HIV and is being used in healthcare education, on websites, and in school education packages. It’s completely free – can you help us get to 100,000 views by sharing widely?!

To encourage self-testing our digital vending machines remain available at eight locations across the city. Tests are free and confidential – you can choose either a 20-minute rapid HIV self-test or an STI screen to return in the post. In the last 12 months, 2,500 kits have been dispensed with users reporting confidentiality, privacy and instant access as the main benefits.

Due to the high prevalence of HIV Brighton & Hove, and because we’re a Fast Track City, local NHS services have received funding from the government to implement opt-out HIV testing in the Emergency Department since April 2022. From the start we worked closely with community groups to ensure anyone newly diagnosed would be quickly linked in to support services. We have identified seven new people living with HIV who may not otherwise have been diagnosed and are now able to access daily treatment and unable to pass the virus on to anyone else. In parallel we’re running a testing pilot in eight GP practices in the city where anyone having a blood test is routinely offered an HIV test.

All these projects have been important in normalising HIV testing and reducing HIV related stigma.

Co-designed by the community and clinicians, the EmERGE mHealth apps form an integral part of care pathways for those living with stable HIV and for those taking PrEP. Both apps provide the user with access to important health data, appointment scheduling, interactive calendar, medication details and a two-way messaging service allowing direct contact with healthcare professionals at the clinic.

Initially working with communities across Europe, the ‘core’ app now has over 800 users. The technology is highly secure and confidentiality remains at the centre of the service provision. Now that PrEP is approved on the NHS, many sexual health providers are experiencing waiting lists and capacity constraints. EmERGE mHealth Limited worked with the Terrence Higgins Trust and clinicians to develop a PrEP app. Operational for nearly two years with over 600 users, user feedback is very strong.

In both cases, Core and PrEP, user visits to the clinic are reduced thereby relieving capacity for those in greater need. As a result, Brighton & Hove Sexual Health services have never had a waiting list for potential PrEP patients. These innovations could not have been achieved without community involvement.

World AIDS Day: HIV Hour – the time is now!

Words by Josh Sharples, Sue Hunter, Tony McGraff, Stephen Hart and David Fray.

Perhaps one of this city’s best, (or depending on your view, worst), kept secrets, is that we host the only radio programme dedicated to people living with HIV, and it is also for people affected by HIV. Doesn’t that mean everyone? Yes, we think so.

The HIV Hour is broadcast on 97.2 FM in the Brighton & Hove area and on DAB+ radio. Whilst there are other podcasts produced for people living with HIV, the show is currently the only one that is broadcast on radio.

We have a small team of volunteer presenters and producers that is quite a good representation of most of the communities that we aim to reach. All our presenters are living with HIV and are local to Brighton, Hove and Worthing, with one of our presenters representing communities in London.

HIV Hour with Gary Pargeter from Lunch Positive (centre)

Our audience has gotten to know us over the years and trusts us as a source of news and support. We inform listeners about local and national services and how to make healthy lifestyle choices. We talk about stigma and the importance of education and sharing up-to-date information.

We have built up a good rapport with healthcare providers and service providers, with many coming forward to ask to come onto the show and engage with our audience. At national HIV conferences, we have been applauded by healthcare professionals for reaching into people’s homes such as in rural areas where internet connectivity is patchy.

Our podcast, with its national and international reach, expands the show’s influence far beyond Brighton & Hove. We strive to have as many of our communities as possible represented in our guests and news features and discussions.

At the end of July 2023, the HIV Hour show took part in the first Zero HIV Sigma Day in Brighton & Hove and encouraged our audience to attend the first Stigma March in London.

We were thrilled to be invited to take part in the recent Ageing Well with HIV Community Lunch where we met people who had been on the show in the past and new people who wanted to take part.

It was good to meet our audience in places where they meet, and that is what we have planned for the next year, to outreach to our audience and invite them to join us in talking about the HIV issues they want discussed.

In October we were thrilled to be given a grant by the Brighton Rainbow Fund to do exactly this, meet our audience in their natural habitat, (so to speak). After all, we broadcast into their homes, it is only right that we meet them in places where they access services. So we aim to visit Lunch Positive, (including their outer Brighton services), the Worthing Hub, the Sussex Beacon and the Lawson Unit Patient Panel and others.

So please get in touch with us and join us on the show. Please email us at HIVHour@gmail.com, we would love to hear from you.

A brilliant outlook – the new Lawson Unit

Words by Zoe Adler and the Lawson Unit Team

In June this year the Lawson Unit finally moved! After years of planning and numerous changes of date, we finally packed our bags, boxes, house plants and artwork and moved into our brand new purpose built clinic. The new clinic is situated on the sixth floor of the Louisa Martindale building in the Royal Sussex County Hospital and boasts fantastic views across Kemptown and the sea.

The move posed numerous challenges but also opportunities. At times it felt like a house move with a VERY large family! Over 2,400 patients and a lot staff. The team were amazing and worked flat out, including over an entire weekend to ensure the clinic was ready to open its doors to the first patients with the usual Lawson Unit welcome on Monday morning.

The move has brought us into the main hospital and has meant that for the first time we are co-located with inpatient services. This has given us excellent opportunities to educate and support each other, with the team in the Lawson Unit educating the team on the ward about how best to care for and support people living with HIV who are inpatients.

It has supported the work of the A & E department in its opt out HIV testing from which we have found seven new HIV diagnoses that may not have been tested otherwise. The ward has also been a great support to our team, sharing equipment and knowledge to support our staff and to improve patient experience and flow through the hospital.

With the fresh start and new space, we felt it was important to open the doors to our wider community. We are lucky to have such amazing support for people living with HIV in the city and wanted to continue these great relationships by working more closely together.

On a weekly basis in clinic, we have:

Lunch Positive offering a place to talk and supporting people to overcome isolation, access their lunch club and other community support services.

Peer Mentoring, offering support in tackling stigma and isolation and promoting empowerment.

Terrence Higgins Trust offering support with housing and welfare, social support and counselling.

The specialist Psychology team have also increased their activity in clinic, supporting patients with their mental health and supporting staff through supervision.

It has been a real privilege to welcome everyone into the new space and feedback so far has been mostly positive. It has been of great benefit to us having all the additional expertise of other organisations in clinic with us. We hope that we have managed to take the important parts of the Lawson Unit with us and continue to build a clinic that works excellently for everyone that access it.

Leading the Charge: Herpes Cure Research Group aims for a better future

In the realm of volunteer-driven advocacy, the Herpes Cure Research group has emerged as a powerful force dedicated to advancing the field of herpes simplex virus (HSV) research. Beginning on Reddit and expanding rapidly to Facebook, this group has brought together over 20,000 passionate members from around the world, all united in their mission to make a difference.

The primary goal of the Herpes Cure Research group is to promote research and drive progress in the field of HSV, focusing on better testing mechanisms, integration of HSV into standard STI panels, development of treatments to eliminate transmission, and ultimately the delivery of a vaccine and a cure.

The group has achieved significant milestones in its relatively short existence. Collaborating with esteemed institutions like the Fred Hutch Center and Penn Medicine, they have raised substantial funds for vital research initiatives. Notably, the group has raised over $650,000 (£534,000) for gene therapy treatment research at the Fred Hutch Center led by Dr Keith Jerome, and an additional $360,000 (£296,000) for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine research at Penn Medicine, under the guidance of Dr Harvey Friedman.

In an impressive display of advocacy prowess, the Herpes Cure Research group successfully lobbied the Senate and Congress to address HSV directly in the Appropriations Bill for 2022. This achievement underscores the group’s dedication to influencing policy and securing necessary funding for herpes research and awareness.

Looking ahead, the group remains steadfast in its objectives. They advocate for a more proactive approach to HSV testing, challenging existing guidelines that recommend against testing in the absence of symptoms. Their belief is that an inclusive approach to testing is essential, enabling individuals to protect their loved ones and reduce transmission effectively.

The group passionately pushes for HSV to be included in standard STI panels, recognising that this shift can significantly impact public health by providing comprehensive insights into the prevalence of the virus and paving the way for better preventive strategies. The group also highlights the disproportional impact of HSV on women and underrepresented groups, underscoring the urgent need for a universal ‘Undetectable = Untransmittable’ (U=U) campaign for HSV.

Such a campaign could mirror the success achieved in HIV prevention, ultimately reducing the burden of both HSV and HIV infections. As research shows, 30% of new HIV acquisitions are attributed to an HSV2 infection and advances in HSV could have huge positive impact to reduce HIV rates simultaneously.

The Herpes Cure Research group remains dedicated to their long-term objectives of developing a vaccine and a cure. Through collaboration, fundraising, advocacy, and a steadfast belief in the power of research, they continue their essential work to improve the lives of those affected by HSV and strive for a world free of its impact.

Heterosexual HIV diagnoses overtake those in gay and bisexual men for first time in Scotland since 2007

For the first time in over a decade, new HIV diagnoses among heterosexuals are higher than for gay and bisexual men, according to new figures released today (Tuesday, September 26) from Public Health Scotland.

Last year in Scotland, 42% of all new HIV diagnoses were in heterosexuals, compared to 29% in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Levels of late diagnosis were also slightly elevated in heterosexuals,meaning damage to the immune system may have already begun 27% of those who acquired HIV through heterosexual sexual intercourse were diagnosed at a late/very late stage – this compares to 23% of GBMSM.

Whilst GBMSM remain more impacted by HIV relative to population size, targeted interventions in this group have led to one of the big success stories of the epidemic. The steep decline of 37% since 2017 in new HIV diagnosesamong GBMSM is partially attributed to uptake of the HIV prevention pill PrEP among this group, who between July and December 2022 accounted for 85% of first time prescriptions. It’s also thanks to accessible HIV testing, condoms, health promotion and people living with HIV’s adherence to treatment which supresses the virus and means it can’t be passed on to partners.

“Scotland can – and should – be the first country in the world to eliminate new transmissions of HIV and Public Health Scotland’s data shows some progress towards this goal.”

New diagnoses in heterosexuals has seen an increase of 13% since 2019. Whilst the picture is incomplete without testing data, it reinforces the urgent need for a national HIV action plan that sets out how equitable progress to the Scottish Government’s 2030 HIV goal will be made by all communities affected by HIV. This must include the scaling up of testing through the introduction of HIV opt-out testing in Scotland’s emergency departments, as well as improving access to PrEP by making it freely available in GP surgeries, community pharmacies, and online. This is of enhanced importance, with today’s data revealing that 93% of those prescribed PrEP in Scotland are GBMSM and 92% are White.

The latest HIV statistics from Public Health Scotland also shows there were 317 new diagnoses of HIV in Scotland in 2022 – a 49% rise on the previous year but a 2% decline on comparable pre-pandemic levels. Of diagnoses recorded in 2022, 108 were classed as new, first ever infections. Newly recorded cases of HIV in people who inject drugs has significantly declined by 82% from 2019 to 2022, however the impact of the pandemic on testing rates amongst this community means that these numbers are caveated. As Scotland moves towards the development of Safe Drug Consumption Facilities, it is vital that HIV testing and care is a core component of these programmes.

The number of people estimated to be living with undiagnosed HIV in Scotland remains at 500. Today’s statistics also show that only 84% of those diagnosed with HIV in Scotland are recorded as attending specialist HIV care, with anestimated 1,461 people not diagnosed or not engaged with HIV clinical services – reinforcing the need for renewed efforts to re-engage people into HIV care.

“These statistics show that Scotland is making progress on ending new cases of HIV by 2030 – but we won’t get there by accident.”

Data on testing rates in Scotland and whether these have recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic remain unavailable. As a result of this, caution must be taken when reading and interpreting new data. The Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland should work to ensure this gap in data is remedied for future publications. Terrence Higgins Trust are calling for improved HIV data collection in Scotland, with a focus on the inclusion of testing rates and consistent demographic breakdown in HIV statistical releases.

Alan Eagleson, Head of Scotland Services at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “These statistics show that Scotland is making progress on ending new cases of HIV by 2030 – but we won’t get there by accident. The clock to 2030 is clicking and while today’s statistics show some progress, more must be done to ensure that equitable progress is being made, and that no communities are left behind.”

“Ramping up HIV testing is fundamental to this. We know that opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments removes some of the persistent barriers that prevent individuals from accessing a HIV test and that this is highly beneficial to those who are less likely to be in regular contact with a sexual health clinic. The programme in England has been a phenomenal success in identifying new cases of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C – in just 16 months over 3,000 people have been found and diagnosed with HIV and hepatitis viruses. This intervention works – and must be rolled out as a matter of urgency in Scotland.”

“The availability of PrEP has been a success story in Scotland’s mission to end new cases of HIV. While we await a finalised proposal of what Scotland’s online PrEP clinic will look like, further work must be undertaken now to expand access of the pill outside of sexual health services and into GPs and community pharmacies.”

“Scotland can – and should – be the first country in the world to eliminate new transmissions of HIV and Public Health Scotland’s data shows some progress towards this goal. The Scottish Government must now set out a clear action plan that delivers on Scotland’s 2030 HIV ambition.”

ALL THAT JAZZ by Simon Adams

REVIEWS

IDRIS MUHAMMAD: Black Rhythm Revolution! (Prestige). Drummer Idris Muhammad grew up with New Orleans R&B – he was the drummer on Fat Domino’s Blueberry Hill – and graduated in the Prestige record label’s house band in the 1960s, for whom he appeared on more than 150 albums. Black Rhythm Revolution! was his 1970 debut as leader, a strong set of five songs, including James Brown’s Super Bad and two longer pieces featuring ceremonial log drums and tuned tom-toms. His drumming is emphatic and strong, his backing band packed with talent. This reissued LP appears on the highest-quality vinyl, making it an aural delight. Enjoy.

TENDERLONIOUS: You Know I Care (22a). Saxophonist Tenderlonious has many strings to his bow, notably as owner of his own record company 22a, which is at the forefront of a new wave of young, London-based musicians. On his new album, he focuses his attention on the classic jazz material that has inspired him over the years, the six tracks paying tribute to saxophonists John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, and Wayne Shorter, among others. In style they vary from full-steam ahead modal delights to soulful ballads, all played with passion by his stellar quartet. Bass player Pete Martin stands out for his mobile fretwork, pianist Hamish Balfour is incapable of playing a dull note, drummer Tim Carnegie remains a powerhouse of energy. What an impressive album!

NOAH HAIDU: Standards (Sunnyside). American pianist Noah Haidu is a new name to me, but his latest album shows that his is a name worth noting. Standards celebrates the 40th anniversary of the release of the first album by the Standards Trio, pianist Keith Jarrett’s fine group with bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Jarrett’s trio played just standards, classics from the Great American Songbook. In tribute, Noah Haidu and his trio do the same, playing such fine songs as Hoagy Carmichael’s Skylark and Frank Churchill’s Some Day My Prince Will Come (from Disney’s Snow White), as well as the more modern Maria, written by Wayne Shorter for his wife, with the pianist’s own Last Dance ending proceedings. Saxophonist Steve Wilson adds an extra voice to four songs, completing a classy set that finds new life in some old songs.

ALINE HOMZY: Eclipse (Elastic). Canadian-born Aline Homzy is a virtuosic violinist, more in the style of modernists like Jean-Luc Ponty and Regina Carter than the traditional swing of Stéphane Grappelli. She is also a phenomenal improvisor who takes risks, bringing a joyous abandon to much of what she plays. Adventurously, she also plays the theremin and uses a synth, giving some of the 11 tracks here a spacey feel as her quintet wraps itself ingeniously round each piece. All the tracks bar one is by her or the band, and they are all evocative and witty. A fine set that shows just what a modern violin can sound like.

MACIEJ OBARA QUARTET: Frozen Silence (ECM). This third album from Maciej Obara’s Polish-Norwegian quartet is as inspired and adventurous as its two predecessors, the interplay between leader Obara on alto saxophone and pianist Dominik Wania on piano as intuitive as ever. Bassist Ole Morten Vagan and drummer Gard Nilssen transcend their allotted rhythmic roles by introducing powerful ideas of their own, while all musicians remain in a constant state of alert hyperactivity.

The beauty of the music owes something to the starkly dramatic landscape of the mountains of southeast Poland, where Obara’s family roots are and where he headed during lockdown, but regardless, this is a fine example of pan-European modern jazz, as ever beautifully recorded by ECM.

MARK LEWANDOWSKI: A Bouquet (For Lady Day) (Ubuntu Music). Lady Day being, of course, the singer Billie Holiday, but don’t expect many vocals on this set, for this is an evocation of her life rather than an imitation of her style, performed by a basic duo of piano and bass. Lewandowski is a commanding presence on bass, Liam Noble adventurous on piano, and together they summon up the life of Billie Holiday in all its pain and glory. The set’s conclusion features a commanding performance from vocalist Heidi Vogel on Left Alone, more a painful spoken cry than a traditional blues song. It forms a powerful coda to what is an evocative and thoughtful set.

Emma Rawicz

THE BRIGHTON JAZZ FESTIVAL

The ever-excellent Brighton Jazz Festival takes place this year between 5–8 October in Horatio’s Bar perched at the very end of Brighton Pier. The venue is perfect, the music always interesting. Headliners this year include saxophonist Emma Rawicz and the all-women Colectiva. Sorry for the short notice, but tickets should still be available HERE.

Elska shares the bodies and voices of queer Istanbul, the “gayest city in the Muslim world”

Lead Pic: Sahin C

Elska, a project dedicated to sharing the bodies and voices of LGBTQ+ communities around the world, has put the spotlight on Istanbul for its latest edition. Inside, readers can get to know a cross-section of ordinary people from the LGBTQ+ community of what is claimed by many to be the gayest city in the Muslim world.

“I must admit that I had been resistant to the idea of coming to Istanbul,” says Elska editor and chief photographer Liam Campbell. “Despite many messages that the city would make for a perfect setting for Elska, I simply was clouded by the notion that any Muslim-majority place would be antithetical to a project about celebrating queer life.

Hakan T

“But when one local gay man wrote with passionate insistence that Istanbul absolutely had to be an Elska city, and that he knew loads of people who would be interested in doing a photoshoot and story for us, I knew I had to budge. So I booked flights, asked him to spread the world, and hoped I’d been wrong.”

“Almost immediately upon arriving I saw how much I misjudged the place. Istanbul was not only one of the easiest places to find subjects, but they were also incredibly open. The stories they offered were honest, and the images they allowed me to capture were relaxed, unposed, and revealing. Istanbul truly proved to be an ideal Elska city.”

Furkan Y

Inside Elska Istanbul and the companion zine Elska Ekstra Istanbul over 20 locals are introduced, comprising various members of the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Each did a photoshoot, with some images shot in their city’s streets and some shot in their homes, enabling readers to feel like they’re right there next to them.

Each also was invited to write a story of their own, bringing readers even closer. These stories vary in topic and spirit, including:

Ekin K and Emrullah T

Ekin K’s piece about what it was like to be part of the very first gay couple to marry in Turkey, and how this made him and his husband proud role models for all of LGBTQ+ Turkey;

Furkan Y’s confessional on dealing with the darker side of Turkish society, a growing conservative and religious contingent that targets homosexuals as a primary enemy;

Efe B

Efe B’s description of a typically hard-going morning after a typically excessive Istanbul Saturday night, proof that Istanbul is not so unlike a Berlin or Amsterdam;

Mert E’s story that shows how despite losing some friends and family members after coming out, it was still the best decision he ever made.

Elska Istanbul is 180 pages and is available from a select group of shops around the world as well as for order online from the Elska website. In addition, the companion zine Elska Ekstra Istanbul is available, including hundreds of pages of outtakes, behind the scenes tales, and the stories and photos of over a dozen more beautiful Istanbulites.

The list of stockists and details of the subscription service can also be found on the Elska website.

Sex on drugs: The darker side of chemically enhancing your sex life

Over the last decade, there has been a surge in the number of people engaging in what is known as Chemsex, thanks to the likes of dating sites like Tinder and Grindr.

Chemsex is a term that is used to refer to engaging in sexual activity while under the influence of drugs. But what makes it so dangerous?

We’ve spoken to Martin Preston, Founder and Chief Executive at Private Rehab Clinic, Delamere, who reveals exactly what Chemsex is, what the effects of using drugs for sex can be, and exploring the harmful impact it can have on both the mind and body.

What is Chemsex?

“Chemsex, also known as ‘wired sex’ or ‘party and play’, refers to when people indulge in illicit drugs in order to heighten their own sexual experience. Drugs associated with Chemsex often include stimulants such as cocaine and MDMA, as well as crystal meth, cannabis, and ketamine.

“While each of these substances will impact people in different ways, the drugs associated with Chemsex are often used to prolong sexual activity, lower inhibitions and increase desire for sex. This is because, unlike alcohol, these drugs can have the opposite effect of impairing sexual performance and instead enhance it.

Why is engaging in Chemsex so dangerous?

Danger of developing a Drug Addiction 

“As with abusing any kind of substance, there is a huge risk with Chemsex of developing an addiction. This is because many people who combine sex and drugs have revealed that a euphoric high is achieved, which they find impossible to obtain while sober.

“As well as this, because a person is engaging in two dangerous behaviours at once, Chemsex carries the risk of the individual developing a dual addiction, which refers to being addicted to two things at once and can be extremely difficult to overcome.

Strain on or not being able to form healthy relationships 

“New partners may find it very difficult to accept that the only sex the individual is willing to indulge in is Chemsex. They could feel as though they are taking advantage, especially if they are not partaking in Chemsex themselves.

“Only being able to enjoy sexual experiences while inebriated could also lead to a lack of physical connections with people, as they are never truly experiencing any of the sexual activities they are involved in. As sex is a very important aspect of relationships for a lot of people, it could be a deal breaker when it comes to starting new ones, leading to isolation and feeling alone.”

Financial difficulties

“Drug use can be extremely expensive. So, depending on how regular Chemsex is carried out, the individual could find that the activity starts to make a very big dent in their bank account – in a very short amount of time, too. This could, eventually, lead to debt or becoming behind on rent and bills, resulting in very serious life consequences, such as homelessness or owing money to bailiffs.”

Lowered inhibitions 

“Engaging in Chemsex can also be dangerous because it can lead to lowered inhibitions. This is because drugs such as cocaine, cause high levels of dopamine to be released, with more of the substance needed to achieve a high as the user’s tolerance begins to build. With this dopamine build-up comes a spike in confidence and energy, known as a ‘high’, that can lead people to feel almost invincible.

“This feeling of being indestructible could lead the user to take risks or engage in dangerous behaviour, such as not practising safe sex (leading to STDs or pregnancy), or engaging in extreme forms of sex.

Physical consequences

“There are also the usual physical effects that come hand-in-hand with taking drugs when participating in Chemsex. These can include:

  • Increased blood pressure
  • Strain on the heart
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Lung damage
  • Convulsions or seizures
  • Erectile dysfunction

The body comes under immense strain when under the influence of drugs, but when combined with sexual activity, this is doubling the amount of stress – as the body is also attempting to facilitate intense physical activity.”

Why is Chemsex Addictive?

“Chemsex is often a lesser talked about activity, but can still just as easily lead to addiction, as engaging in other behaviours. This is because someone who engages in Chemsex will receive a pronounced euphoric high from the drug they are using as well as the sexual activity that they are engaging in. For this reason, it can become extremely addictive.

“Someone who is addicted to Chemsex will often also find themselves taking bigger risks or engaging in more dangerous sexual activities, as the more they engage in it the initial high they felt at the beginning lowers as their body becomes immune to the effects of the drug and sex that once satisfied them. Like other addictions, Chemsex is progressive meaning that a person will suffer negative consequences as a result of their addiction but will be compelled to continue anyway.”

FEATURE: Making healthcare safer for the LGBTQ+ community

Members of the healthcare industry have an opportunity to improve patient safety for everyone. But as studies and stories have shown, minority groups do suffer in the attempt to receive general healthcare.

From a 2018 NHS survey, at least 16% of participants had a negative experience because of their sexual orientation, and at least 38% had a negative experience because of their gender identity, when simply trying to access public health.

Feeling unable to safely access general healthcare services means that prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of health issues takes longer or isn’t dealt with at all – a problem we are all trying to fix within this sector.

That’s why the experts at Radar Healthcare provides insight on how modern technology and data processes can help make healthcare safer for the LGBTQ+ community.

LGBTQ+ health inequalities within the NHS

Seven per-cent of cisgender lesbian, gay and bisexual people have been outed without consent to staff or patients by healthcare workers. As someone who doesn’t identify as LGBTQ+, this may not feel like a concern, but it can be disarming for those who may have experienced prejudice due to their sexual orientation in the past.

The positive part in this is that 93% of people haven’t had this happen, meaning that there is an overwhelmingly large amount of NHS staff who are sensitive to the lived experience of LGBTQ+ people.

We can mitigate issues like this by correctly detailing patient data in a centralised space for all necessary people to access it. Furthermore, by logging incidents to ensure that when a mistake like the above does happen, we can learn from it, so it doesn’t happen again.

Receiving care as an LGBTQ+ person

The conversation around sex and gender has really developed and become a much more tangible subject than in recent decades. But we must remember that there are elderly LGBTQ+ in our care and nursing homes who are often unsure of how their sexual orientation or gender identity will be considered, or if it will be considered at all.

It may be that elderly residents will have grown up and lived in a world where LGBTQ+ lives were not acknowledged, never mind celebrated, or that they have experienced shame and fear regarding their sexuality – homosexuality was only decriminalised in 1967 (1980 for Scotland).

For that generation who will have spent at least some of their lives being seen as illegal, it is with great sensitivity that we should treat them in their later years. However, the LGBT Foundation found that 78% of care home staff had not had any LGBTQ-specific training in their current workplace.

The good news is that training and education around approaches and treatment of LGBTQ+ people is available and instilling it within your teams has never been easier with digital advances such as video conferencing, online courses and compliance tracking through software such as Radar Healthcare.

Intersectionality

Even within minority groups, people are not as well-represented or considered by the public. This is either through unconscious acts or systemic behaviours.

For instance, groups such as black trans women experience disproportionate inequalities compared to the remainder of the LGBTQ+ population. Cancer Research has highlighted that sex-associated cancers in transgender patients are often missed or found too late due to unclear processes within healthcare settings.

What’s more is that 87% of the nurses who have cared for a trans person felt they were unprepared to deliver care – LGBT Foundation.

Trans people, including trans people of colour, have been here for millennia, and yet are often forgotten about when regarding non-sexual healthcare. To creating processes for marginalised groups should be a key in creating an equal culture of patient safety.

How technology can help

Ensuring LGBTQ+ people are having the best possible experience when receiving healthcare can start by simply acknowledging someone’s partner as their partner and not a friend or relative.

Clarifying pronouns and preferred names is another way to make people feel comfortable in an unfamiliar setting.

We are lucky to now have digital systems that can be updated quickly and made available for all those who need to know, supporting both patient and healthcare workers in their journey.

Learning from incidents – both negative and positive – strengthens the culture and having a space to be able to log the fantastic moments in a patient or resident’s time within a healthcare space will go towards the improvement of all departments and teams in your organisation.

The future

It is important to mark the progress that has been made and look forward to creating a better tomorrow for LGBTQ+ people, and with that a better healthcare experience for everyone.

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: shoulder to shoulder with community groups at Brighton & Hove Pride

Images by Nick Ford Photography

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus (BrightonGMC) stood shoulder to shoulder with other community groups against the elements on Saturday, August 5 for the Brighton & Hove Pride Community Parade, which assembled on Hove Lawns.

BrightonGMC’s parade float took to heart the Pride organisers’ call: Dare to be Different. Using the pink triangle and black text stylings of the campaign to abolish Section 28, the float celebrated 20 years since the law change which legalised being different in UK education.

For 15 years, this vindictive and disabling law banned local authorities and schools from ‘promoting’ homosexuality. Introduced by Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government in 1988, Section 28 also banned schools and councils from “teaching the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship,” and from publishing any material which promoted homosexuality.

BrightonGMC members include many current or past teachers, who can now be positive and diverse role models in schools. They’re also able to give LGBTQ+ students appropriate support and relationships education. This is something that the hostile educational environment of Section 28 denied to a whole generation and which is now being replicated by ‘Don’t say gay‘ laws elsewhere.

Thirty-seven chorus members individually styled in pink and black costumes sang out against Storm Antoni’s equally punishing weather on Saturday, celebrating queer lives and identities and bringing carnival energy and smiles to spectators lining the parade route. While numbers were a fraction of the usual crowds, those who overcame both the elements and the rail company’s train cancellations were not disappointed.

A week earlier, the chorus had opened the Pride celebrations with their show OUT! reviewed in Scene magazine HERE. This heartwarming coming out tale about an inner storm of thoughts and emotions was performed to packed audiences and raised funds for fellow LGBTQ+ charity akt. And as this year’s queer ‘Christmas’ begins to fade into memory, BrightonGMC now turn their attention to their winter season and Christmas show Sing-deralla at Brighton Dome on Saturday, December 2.

BrightonGMC always welcomes new members and their next taster evening is on Tuesday, September 12. Anyone wondering about adding their voice to the country’s largest gay men’s chorus outside London is welcome to attend and try it for themselves! Simply contact membership@brightongmc.org for more details. As a community chorus, there’s no audition and the chorus director will help you find the right section for your voice. You’ll be paired with an experienced member as a buddy for the evening, get the feel for a typical rehearsal and find out what the chorus’s three ‘S’es – singing, socialising and support – are all about.

While Brighton & Hove Pride may come but once a year, the support that community groups offer to help LGBTQ+ people live our everyday lives continues year round. This is often through a combination of the networks, skills, talents and sense of belonging which are nurtured by groups such as BrightonGMC. They form a vital part of the community space which helps people from all backgrounds and of all identities to flourish.

For more info on BrightonGMC, CLICK HERE

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