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5,000 more gay and bi men needed to take part in HIV self-testing study

A major HIV self-testing study in England and Wales led by UCL, has successfully reached the halfway milestone in recruiting 5,000 gay and bisexual men and transgender people.

The SEPLHI (An HIV Self-Testing Public Health Intervention) study is now calling on the community to help reach its target of 10,000 to help combat high levels of undiagnosed HIV.

The trial, run by UCL, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Public Health England, seeks to discover whether providing free HIV self-tests to people can reduce the number of gay and bisexual men as well as transgender people who have undiagnosed HIV. Currently 1 in 8 gay and bisexual men are living with HIV and unaware, risking their own health and passing the virus onto others.

Funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), SELPHI is an internet-based study that is being promoted through apps such a Grindr and Hornet, Facebook, with participants signing up through an online survey.

Researchers hope the results of the study will help the NHS decide whether it should provide free HIV self-testing kits to help the fight against HIV. The majority of people who register to join the trial will receive a free HIV self-testing kit, with selected participants testing a sample of their blood at home. Currently most HIV tests are conducted in sexual health clinics. It is thought that some may be more likely to test, and to do so more often, using the HIV self-testing kits, because this method is more private, quick and convenient than visiting a clinic.

Prof Sheena McCormack
Prof Sheena McCormack

Professor Sheena McCormack (MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL), joint study lead with Dr Alison Rodger (UCL Institute for Global Health), said: “We’re finally starting to see early signs that we are turning the tide on new HIV infections amongst gay men. However, over half of men who have sex with men test less frequently than recommended and around a quarter have not done so at all. This is why 1 in 7 of those with HIV are unaware of their status.

“We know much less about HIV testing in transgender people, but we do know that this group faces additional barriers to seeking help for their sexual health. HIV self-testing may meet some of these challenges and alongside developments like PrEP give us the tools we need to finally reach zero HIV infections.”

Co-researcher Michelle Gabriel (MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL), explained: “We’ve been thrilled by the enthusiastic response from participants in SELPHI. Those who have taken part have told us how much they value having a convenient and private testing method that they control. Many have enjoyed using a new technology and were surprised at how easy the test was to perform. We’ve also had people come forward and tell us that they really like being part of a study which will have such a major impact for public health around the world.”

Dr Rodger joint lead on the trial, added: “Although previous studies have shown that self‑testing is acceptable and increases uptake of testing amongst gay men, SELPHI is the first one designed to see if there is an impact on HIV diagnoses. This is why this study is so important.”

The SELPHI trial is still open to recruitment now, and needs 5,000 more gay and bisexual men, and transgender people to join the trial before the end of the year.

People taking part can join the study by clicking here:

Six Prides bid to host UK Pride 2018

As the LGBT+ Pride season draws to a close, six Pride organisations throw their hat into the ring to host UK Pride in 2018.

The first UK Pride took place at Pride in Hull in July 2017 attracting visitors to the city from across the UK.

Licensed by the UK Pride Organisers Network (UKPON), UK Pride is the national equivalent of EuroPride and WorldPride.

Exeter Pride, Folkestone Pride, Isle of Wight Pride, Liverpool Pride, Preston Pride, and Pride Cymru have all announced that they will bid for UK Pride 2018 at UKPON’s annual conference in Blackpool later this month.

Andy Train
Andy Train

Co-Chair of UKPON, Andy Train, who is also Vice-Chair of Pride in Hull, said: “At Pride in Hull we were delighted to have the honour of hosting the first UK Pride earlier this year, and it’s a tribute to the impact it had on our Pride to see six Prides bidding for next year’s event. The Pride movement is growing across the UK and we had more than 20 brand new Prides this year. UK Pride helps to create a focal point for one Pride each year, to help increase visibility and awareness.”

“UK Pride status is a unique opportunity and uplift for any Pride. I wish all six Prides all the very best of luck, and I can’t wait to see their bids,” said Mr Train, who is also the Regional Director for the UK for InterPride, the international Pride organisers association.

All organisers of Pride events in the UK are entitled to be members of UKPON, and each Pride organisation has one vote at the Conference.

Adam Rank, Chair of Exeter Pride, said: “Exeter Pride hopes that winning UK Pride will help us to increase LGBT+ visibility not just on one day but all year. 2018 is our  tenth anniversary year and the perfect time to consider how far we have come both as a movement and a city. We work closely with cultural partners and local businesses, and hope that becoming UK Pride will help us not only to celebrate diversity but also to honour the city that we are so proud of!”

Chani Sanger, Organiser of Folkestone Pride, added: “After being warned to not expect attendance of more than 100 people, over 800 came to support Folkestone’s first Pride. Folkestone has one of the highest pro-rata LGBT+ populations in South East England, yet no real LGBT+ community. Folkestone Pride has started to change that. UK Pride status would give us the platform to evoke real change in our diverse, creative and historic community. We are the only town applying but we have just as much to offer as a city!”

Shayne Jackson
Shayne Jackson

Shayne Jackson, Youth Pride Committee Chair at Isle of Wight Pride, said: “A year in which the local Tory MP called gay people ‘dangerous to society’, prominent homophobic columns appeared in the local press and a Councillor suggested banning homosexuals from public toilets, 2017 saw the inaugural Isle of Wight Pride, uniquely taking place on a beach with thousands turning out in support. UK Pride status will enable the Island to build on this success and create a major celebration of diversity and inclusivity, showing the rest of the UK what an amazing place it is.”

Lu Thomas, Chair of Pride Cymru, added: “Pride Cymru is bidding to host UK Pride because we believe that we are best placed to highlight how the regions outside of London, Manchester, Brighton and Birmingham are able to unite the LGBT+ communities, whilst forging and strengthening the bonds that tie society together.  We firmly believe that we are stronger when reach out to those that are least represented and believe the great work done by regional Prides are overlooked and would benefit from wider UK recognition.”

Lucy Day
Lucy Day

Lucy Day, Chair of Liverpool Pride, said: “2018 is a big year: ten years since Liverpool was European Capital of Culture and also ten years since local lad, Michael Causer was murdered in a homophobic attack, resulting in what is now Liverpool Pride. Whilst we have much to celebrate as a vibrant and diverse city, we still have to fight to tackle hate crime, ensuring attacks like the one on Michael, and so many others, never happen again in Liverpool, across the UK or around the world.”

Each Pride will have just fifteen minutes to present their bid, and all are being invited to publish their bids online so that people can view them in advance.

The winning Pride will be announced at approx 3pm on Sunday, October 22, and will be livestreamed on Facebook.

Last weekend, Thessaloniki Pride beat bids from Bergen Pride, The Belgian Pride and Hamburg Pride to host EuroPride 2020.

For more information about UK Pride 2018, click here:

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