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Terrence Higgins Trust launches UK’s first healthresource for transgender peopleIn a UK first, HIV and sexual health charityTerrence Higgins Trust (THT) has launchedtwo new guides containing health andwellbeing advice for transgender people:‘Sexual Health and HIV - A Guide forTrans Women’ and ‘Sexual Health and HIV- A Guide for Trans Men’.MESMAC latestWorld AIDS Day2012To commemorate WAD2012, Yorkshire MESMACin North Yorkshire is planningevents in York andSettle to raise HIV awarenessand promote ‘TestingTimes’ in the region. Pete Blackburnfrom Yorkshire MESMAC inYork believes that openly discussing HIVin the wider community will dispelsome of the myths and stigma attachedto HIV and encourage people to ‘knowtheir HIV status’. For further details regardingWAD events, please contacthim on 01904 620400 or at p.blackburn@mesmac.co.ukImagine Britain withoutHIV drugsAn HIV positive man called Danny describedour community’s experience oflife with HIV and AIDS from 1985: ‘I losttwo partners, my two closest friends anda young child. In the gay and lesbiancommunity everyone knew someonewho had died or knewsomeone who was dying, openexpressions of grief within pubsand clubs were commonplaceand funerals became a frequentoccurrence.’How would youhave dealt withwhat Dannyhad experiencedstillcontinuing tohappen toyou in 2012?10,618 people died ofAIDS in the UK by 1995. Without anti-HIV drugs available to our communitynow, that figure would have been a lothigher. They are highly effective in controllingHIV and preventing the progressto the AIDS stage - in 2011, 374 peopledied of AIDS in the UK.While research into trans health remainspatchy, there is a growing consensus thattransgender people are at a dramatically increasedrisk of HIV and sexual ill health. Atthis year’s International AIDS Conferencein Washington, delegates heard that asmany as 68% of trans women (those labelledmale at birth but who identify as female)in the US may be living with HIV.In Europe, estimates of HIV prevalenceamong trans women range from 11.5% to57%. In contrast, HIV prevalence amongthe UK’s general population is 0.15%, risingto 5% among gay and bisexual men.If HIV positive people are diagnosedand take their medication as advised,they are less infectious, healthier andable to live longer. That was not an optionfor HIV positive people in 1985.This is an option available to you in2012.The only way to know what your HIVstatus is simple… get tested regularly.Don’t guess or bury your head in thesand by avoiding getting an HIV test.The HIV drugs do work and they aremore effective the healthier you arewhen treatment is started. The earlieryou know what your HIV status is, thebetter you can plan for the future andget peace of mind.At Yorkshire MESMAC, the tests we useneed a small amount of blood fromyour finger and the result comes backin 20 minutes. We make sure all yourquestions are answered in a non-judgementaland confidential environment.Your local sexual health clinic informationcan be found atwww.mesmac.co.uk/gum if you want aIn a bid to drive down rates and improvethe health of trans people in the UK, THThas produced the two guides - which canbe viewed online atwww.tht.org.uk/transwomen andwww.tht.org.uk/transmen - aim to providetrans people with information and adviceon several issues, from how to guardagainst HIV and other STIs, to more specificsupport for anyone considering or goingthrough gender confirmation surgery –also known as ‘gender reassignment surgery’.In addition to health information, theguides offer advice on broader wellbeing,including body image, disclosure and relationships.Michelle Ross, Trans Awareness Facilitatorat THT, said: ‘It’s becoming increasinglyclear that trans people today face a rangeof issues that place them at increased riskof infection. We know, for example, thatmany trans people have ongoing problemsaround body image and self esteem, whichcan lead them to take serious risks withtheir health. We are hugely proud of thesenew resources, and hope they will givemore trans people – both here in the UKand further afield – the support and confidencethey need to take control of theirsexual health and live happier, healthierlives.’For further info on Terrence Higgins Trust’sservices for transgender people, pleaseemail transwomen@tht.org.uk or transmen@tht.org.ukfull sexual health check up. AlternativelyYorkshire MESMAC has dedicated HIVtesting sessions or appointments availablefor everyone in Leeds, Bradford,Wakefield and North Yorkshire free ofcharge and confidential:www.mesmac.co.uk/testing-times.You can contact Yorkshire MESMACLeeds on 0113 244 4209 for more information.Gay men’s socialgroup in YorkAre you interested in joining a gaymen’s social group in York? If so PeteBlackburn, Community DevelopmentWorker at Yorkshire MESMAC, in Yorkwould like to hear from you. The socialgroup could develop activities such asswimming, badminton, art and craftsand meet regularly at Yorkshire MES-MAC offices in York. Anyone interestedand would like to know more, pleasecontact Pete on 01904 620400 or emailp.blackburn@mesmac.co.uk for details.