Happy Lesbian Visibility Week! 🏳️‍🌈

The continuous attack on trans people is horrendous. The fact that the government is going along with the transphobic narrative & rhetoric and hiding behind the Supreme Court judgement is cowardly, inhumane, and incredibly disappointing.

To my trans siblings. It's OK to be scared, to want to hide or to need to take some time to figure out what to do. If you're a fighter then by all means fight but you're no less a part of this if what you can offer is support or you just getting through the day. Right now living is resistance.

I am increasingly disappointed that the concerns of the #LGBTQ+ community over what the Supreme Court judgement means for them are not yet being addressed. I have written to the Government asking them to make clear how trans and non binary rights will be protected.

🆕 "The Unraveling of the Global #HIV Response: Interview with Chris Beyrer, M.D., M.P.H." via @thebodydotcom.bsky.social

The Trump administration's proposed foreign aid cuts could cause a surge in global HIV deaths & infections, according to a recent study: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... www.cbsnews.com/video/foreig... with @LindseyReiser on @CBSNews

Drug resistance is a huge problem that we need to stay on top of. Scientific advances have made it so many diseases that would previously kill you, are now significantly more benign. So long as the drugs meant to treat the disease, work. If resistance develops, we all suffer.

His words: “Look, I’m not judging you…” His face:

Booking is now open for your spring COVID booster if you’re living with HIV. Appointments start 1 April. I booked mine for next week www.nhs.uk/nhs-services...

I was pleased to support a motion to reaffirm commitments on LGBTQ+ rights & healthcare @libdems.org.uk have become the first party to adopt a policy to roll out year-round HIV and STI postal testing in England, to end the postcode lottery in accessing these services @pluslibdems.bsky.social

Last night I was invited to Swansea Boy, a new play about love, loss and life in the era of AIDS. The production is kindly raising money for @thtorguk through front-of-house bucket and QR code collections. Thanks to Mark Cainen for this and for inviting us to attend. ❤️

Fortunately, my HIV clinic checked my measles antibody levels at the end of 2023 (all good). Unfortunately, this was necessary due to people not being vaccinated and the risk of outbreaks. With my low-level viraemia and previous immune damage it made sense to check.

Absolutely no one can tell you whether a given product currently manufactured in Canada will face tariffs if it enters the United States three weeks from now. Anyone trying is basically just guessing. That's going to keep happening and it's decidedly sub-optimal from a business perspective.

40 million people living with HIV 30 million on HIV treatment 20 million people’s treatment supported by PEPFAR www.npr.org/sections/goa...

Une décision judiciaire sur la PrEP et le retour au pouvoir de Donald Trump aux États-Unis pourraient limiter son accès. Ces menaces suscitent de vives inquiétudes chez les militants-es de la lutte contre le VIH. Explications. www.aides.org/actualite/la...

On 5 June 1981, the CDC’s Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report reported about an unusual cluster of pneumonia cases in gay men in Los Angeles: the first hint of the existence of #HIV MMWR has existed since the 1930s. This week a Trump executive order has stopped it being published.

Health researchers alarmed as Trump admin pauses travel, communications “Everything is basically in chaos. And frankly everyone is terrified. We’ve never seen anything like this. This is like a meteor just crashed into all of our cancer centers and research areas.” Gift access: wapo.st/4jI1Wuj

11AM: How bad could the new administration be? 4PM: And Elon did that how many times?

Nothing to see here. Just $8000 for a syphilis test. Just imagine what they would’ve charged if she needed the ever so expensive treatment (penicillin). denverite.com/2024/12/27/s...

Watching #TheHoliday for the first time ever. First impressions 10 minutes in: - Kate Winslet is awesome (which I already knew and is why we’re watching it in the first place) - Bridget Jones meets Love Actually - Daily Telegraph? Ew - Kate Winslet could do a lot better than the guy she loves

Review of new Xmas TV: Doctor Who 8/10 Wallace & Gromit 11/10

One thing I’ve never been able to understand is how, although England has such strict Sunday trading laws (stores over 280 sqm can sell for a maximum of 6 hours), the giant (3,900 sqm) Eataly store in the City of London is open 9am-10pm on Sunday all year round…? Does anyone know how?

"In naming ... lenacapavir as the 2024 #BOTY, Science acknowledges the next, but by no means final, step in the drive to fight HIV/AIDS, where the rigors of the laboratory and the needs of humanity are inseparable," writes @holdenthorp.bsky.social in this week's #ScienceEditorial. scim.ag/4g9kjG4

It’s hard to overstate the level of excitement in the HIV sector that this breakthrough brings. We are about to have a twice-a-year injection that would prevent you from getting HIV. No wonder it’s Science Magazine’s Breakthrough of the Year 2024

Science (@science.org) has named twice-yearly lenacapavir #PrEP as its Breakthrough of the Year, recognizing it as a game-changer in the fight to end the #HIV epidemic worldwide. Aiming to further push the envelope, Gilead is now working on a once-yearly version. www.poz.com/article/twic...

Word of the day is ‘forswunk’ (13th century): exhausted by work. I like to add ‘foreswunk’, exhausted before you even begin.

If you’re not Irish or don’t know the context, “Dickie Rock was the ultimate pro twink” sounds like a eulogy for a gay porn star…

There were 5 big wins on policy and service delivery this World AIDS Day 👇 www.tht.org.uk/news/five-wo...

Today I gave a @thtorguk.bsky.social talk alongside the legendary Jonathan Blake at Tesco HQ for World AIDS Day. We were delighted to have been invited to share HIV awareness information and personal stories to help fight HIV stigma. We were also delighted at how much chocolate they gave us! ❤️🤣

Last night, I hosted an event with @unisonlgbtplus.bsky.social on supporting workers who are living with HIV. It was great to hear from so many amazing speakers from @thtorguk.bsky.social, @nationalaidstrust.bsky.social and @unison.org.uk. We must tackle HIV stigma in the workplace.

Last night I was delighted to have been invited to speak about workplace HIV stigma on behalf of @thtorguk.bsky.social at a World AIDS Day event in the Houses of Parliament hosted by @deirdrecostiganmp.bsky.social for the LGBT+ group of @unisontheunion.bsky.social

Saw #Wicked for the second time today. It may have been even better the second time around. Arrived at the cinema. Usher: “are you here to see Wicked?”. Me (in green trousers and a pink sweatshirt): “How did you guess?”

It was an honour to attend the World AIDS Day reception @10downingstreet When I was diagnosed with HIV, I never could have imagined sharing my status openly, never mind attending an event about HIV hosted by the Prime Minister.

Busy week: #WorldAIDSDay on Sunday means I have lots of events this week and next I had the afternoon off today for a colonoscopy and the sedation is starting to wear off. And of course, I’m holding space for the lyrics of Defying Gravity 🧙🏻and planning my 2nd #Wicked viewing.

This is both sad and infuriating. www.bbc.com/news/article...

I’m so old and gay that Tim and I are heading out to see the Wicked movie and I actually just said to him: “do you think they’d let us bring our blankets?”

Delighted to be at HSBC to deliver the first @thtorguk.bsky.social Positive Voices World AIDS Day talk of 2024. Our speakers will be sharing HIV awareness info and personal stories at over 50 talks for World AIDS Day Thanks to all at HSBC for having us & for doing the Red Run! bit.ly/THTPV

As well as being #WalesHIVTestingWeek this week, we now have a 'save the date' for National HIV Testing Week in England. Mark your calendars! 10-16 February 2025

20 November is Trans Day of Remembrance. We remember all trans people we’ve lost to violence over the last year. These are difficult times for the whole community. Hold your trans loved ones close today and show your solidarity. 🏳️‍⚧️🕯️ #trans

It’s Welsh HIV Testing Week this week! Knowing your status is so important and it’s never been simpler or easier! You can get your free and confidential STI and HIV test from THT Cymru here: tht.cymru/test/ #WalesHIVTestingWeek @thtorguk.bsky.social

It’s less than a week to the #RedRunLDN come on down to cheer people #run #walk #sashay #TakingAction #LacingUp against #HIV this Saturday 23rd November in Victoria Park.

You gotta love Ryanair “Your flight is delayed by one hour. Boarding will start in 10 minutes. The plane will arrive on stand in 20 minutes.” Priority boarding is paying for the privilege of standing for longer, usually in a dark corridor or on some stairs.

When you sit for a portrait so long your tea gets cold and you question your life choices.

My thoughts are with fellow #HIV activists in the US. #RFK, who has repeated AIDS-denialist conspiracy theories, has been appointed Secretary of Health & Human Services in the incoming administration. I can’t see how this could be anything but dangerous for the fight to end new cases of HIV