Breaking Barriers

Throughout the Rainbow Project’s nearly 30-year history, we have conducted significant pieces of research into the health and well-being inequalities experienced by LGBTQIA+ people in Northern Ireland. We consult with the wider LGBTQIA+ Community and help to establish dedicated services to support their needs. Our research has identified a key theme around sexual health - our research that only 30% of respondents had accessed a GenitoUrinary Medicine (GUM) clinic or sexual health service, including community services or SH24 in the last three years.

Many respondents told us that there were barriers which stopped them from seeking out support or attending appointments. The top reasons included worried about experiencing discrimination when accessing services, previous negative experiences and often fear or reluctance to speak to the GP.

We know that stigma, discrimination, confidentiality and fear of repercussions, as well as lack of appropriate and affordable health services, can prevent people from testing and accessing essential services, including HIV treatment. But looking after your sexual health is just as important as looking after your own mental or physical health.

The Rainbow Project Sexual Health Officer Leo works to create more awareness around what is available to them and we are working with partners like the Public Health Authority to make sure that sexual health support is more accessible than ever.

Depending on your needs you can now get tested at The Rainbow Project, at home or your local GUM clinic. We have been working with healthcare professionals about making sure that their services are trans-inclusive - a trans flag on a leaflet or having a non-gendered waiting room is sometimes enough to make someone feel comfortable to attend services they need. The Rainbow Project alongside our partners at Belfast Trans Resource centre has been creating services that are dedicated and safe for Trans and Non-binary people to access sexual health support.

Knowing your status has many advantages and is an important step in HIV prevention and in stopping the spread of sexually transmitted infections overall. It is an essential entry point to treatment, prevention, care and support services. Knowing your status keeps you and your partners healthy.

For example, the treatment of HIV has dramatically changed over the last 5 years and treatment is now available as a form of prevention. If f you’re HIV negative, you may be able to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce your risk of contracting HIV. It can be used by people who are HIV-negative but at high risk of HIV to dramatically reduce their chance of contracting HIV. PrEP is highly effective and is free of charge via the NHS.

What is PrEP?

PrEP or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis is a pill which when taken as directed can practically eliminate your risk of contracting HIV.

Who should take PrEP?

If you are HIV negative and at high risk of HIV then PrEP can stop your risk of contracting HIV. You might be considered at risk of contracting HIV if you:

• Don’t always use condoms for anal or vaginal sex

• Are an injecting drug user who doesn’t always use clean needles

• Are a sex worker

• Have a partner who is HIV positive with a detectable viral load or doesn’t take their HIV medication regularly

• Have had a recent STI (especially a rectal infection or syphilis)

• Use recreational drugs for chemsex (crystal meth, mephedrone and GHB)

• Have recently needed PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)

Where can I get tested and how does that work? The Rainbow Project can provide rapid HIV & syphilis testing for gay & bisexual men, men who have sex with men, transgender and non-binary people and anyone who is at risk of contracting HIV or is in high distress around their status. Rapid HIV and Syphilis testing is a thirty to forty-minute consultation with a trained member of staff from The Rainbow Project where you will take a finger prick blood test which checks for the antibodies of HIV and traces of the Syphilis bacteria. You receive your results there and then.

There is also free at-home sexual health testing now available to everyone in Northern Ireland through the SH24 service. So regardless of where you live or accessibility – you can order a free confidential teat to your home. If you’re too concerned about your confidentiality to receive an SH:24 kit to your home, you can even order it to our Belfast office for pick-up instead – just be sure to let us know first! SH:24 makes it easier for you to test at home for the four most common sexually transmitted infections which are chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV. You complete the test at home, post it back to SH24 and samples received in the laboratory are processed and results are back within 48-72 hours.

If would like to talk to a member of The Rainbow Project Sexual Health Team about getting tested, PEP, PrEP, free condoms & lube or anything related to your sexual health & well-being; you can get in touch with us via the Advice Referral Form on our website or ring us directly on 02890 319030.