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New hate crime helpline risen considerably over the past two years. A 2020 report found hate crimes against LGB people rose by 19% over the last 12 months, and those against trans people increased by 16%.
Ian Green, CEO of HIV/sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), welcomes the city’s bid to pioneer the system-wide opt-out testing called for by the HIV Commission. ) Galop, the LGBTQ+ anti-violence charity, has launched a national helpline to provide advice and support to LGBTQ+ people who have been affected by anti-LGBTQ+ harassment and violence.
) Increasing HIV testing is the key recommendation of the HIV Commission, launched last December. As we look towards ending new cases of HIV within the decade, we need to learn from what is working on the ground, in particular testing initiatives. The HIV Action Plan that the government is currently working on must embed local success stories and provide support to scale them country wide. We need to shine a light on the great local leadership that’s happening in town halls and ensure councils have all the tools they need to play their part to end the HIV epidemic.
IAN GREEN
The leadership of Brighton & Hove City Council and local MPs used last month’s National HIV Testing Week to put forward the city as a place eager to implement the routine, opt-out testing the HIV Commission was calling for. The letter from the city’s political leadership to Health Secretary Matt Hancock says: “With some of the new funds that we are sure [the Department for Health and Social Care] will make available, Brighton & Hove would like to put itself forward as an early implementer for the national aspiration of normalising HIV testing across health services – we are eager to get this underway and would be honoured to be the first to make it happen.” This is really welcome. The city has been a shining example of embracing new technologies, such as installing HIV tests vending machines, which have helped find people living with HIV who otherwise did not know their status. Signed by Phelim Mac Cafferty, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, Caroline Lucas MP, Lloyd Russell Moyle MP and Peter Kyle MP, the letter highlights that the city has “some of the best online testing services in the country”. The only way to make routine, opt-out HIV testing happen is new guidance and new funds. This is vital if we’re going to find the 5,900 people in England who remain undiagnosed. Brighton & Hove has the second highest rates of new cases of HIV each year outside of London and is home to a range of fantastic local organisations, including The Sussex Beacon, Martin Fisher Foundation and Lunch Positive, as well as our own colleagues who provide services across the city.
According to Galop, LGBTQ+ people may feel discouraged from seeking support after experiencing a hate crime due to concerns about homophobia and transphobia in service provision, or fearing that non-LGBTQ+ led services will not fully understand the issues they face.
D To read the letter in full, visit: https://scene.pub/3cOiAZc D For more info on THT, visit: www.tht.org.uk
“[After] seeing what was happening to our community, [it was clear] we needed to offer a safe space for support and advice to those who need it.”
The fully confidential helpline, which is run by and for LGBTQ+ people, is open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm. Call 020 7704 2040 or email HateCrime@ galop.org.uk.
Statistics from the Home Office showed anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes have D www.galop.org.uk
Play the Mega March Hospice Quiz and support The Sussex Beacon
of fun, and it’s a fine way to raise muchneeded funds for hospice care providers in Sussex. The Sussex Beacon said: “Love a Quiz? We are delighted to be part of the Mega March Hospice Quiz organised by Friends of Sussex Hospices. Get a team together virtually, enjoy on your own or with family, download the quiz, select the Sussex Beacon to make a donation and get quizzing!”
) While this year’s Mega March Hospice Quiz can’t take place in the usual way, quizzes will take place online instead and you can support the Quizzes take place on Monday: March vital services of the Sussex Beacon 1, March 8, March 15 and March 22. while playing. D For more info and to register, visit: http://scene.pub/39W2Iln There will be one timed quiz each week in March – with 20 minutes to D For more info on the Sussex Beacon: answer 21 questions! It should be lots www.sussexbeacon.org.uk
MindOut announces new peer support groups, where you can share your experiences, talk about how you manage and find out what helps others.
Peer Support groups include: Open Wellbeing-Themed Peer Support Group; Out of the Blue for those with experience of suicidal distress; LGBTQ+ mixed group; Women’s Group; Work It Out for those juggling mental health and work.
A key recommendation from the HIV Commission is for councils to develop individual action plans to reduce new cases of HIV by 2030 and achieve a 80% reduction by 2025. This will involve engagement with people living with HIV, the local voluntary sector, practitioners, commissioners and local leaders. Only together will ambition meet action. The fact Brighton & Hove is ready to go is a great sign and we hope the government will take advantage of their kind offer.
Leni Morris, CEO of Galop, said: “Because lockdown makes households more easily identifiable in public, same-sex couples were subject to abuse when they were seen together. We saw situations with transphobic and homophobic neighbours escalate.
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Brighton & Hove bids to lead national effort in ending new cases of HIV
) LGBTQ+ mental health charity MindOut’s Peer Support groups on Zoom are now open to new members. MindOut offers friendly, supportive
D For more info, visit: www.mindout. org.uk/new-peer-support-groups-areopen-for-new-members/
