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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:

Gay Games Ambassador wins 9th World Championship Powerlifting Gold

Gay Games Ambassador Chris Morgan has taken his 9th World Championship Gold Medal and once again has become a World Champion in the sport of Powerlifting.

Chris was lifting in his first World Championship after recovering from major knee surgery back in April 2016 and took first place in the Masters Category, Unequipped Deadlift (90 kilo bodyweight class), at the competition held in Trutnov, Czech Republic.

This is the first time Chris has competed the Unequipped (Raw) version of powerlifting in his career, as all his previous British and World titles have been in the Equipped version of the sport, using supportive equipment.

The GPC World Championships are over a week-long and attract some of the very best lifters from all over the world. There were in total of 624 lifters, 840 entries from 32 nations, making it one the largest and truly global annual Powerlifting events.

By winning his class at these World Championships, Chris has now qualified for next year’s European Championships in Sarejevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in May and the World Championships which are happening in September in Eger (Hungary).

Chris said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be back in the Great Britain team and feel honoured to be representing my country at these World Championships. Bringing home a gold medal is a bonus and a complete surprise, because this year has been extremely difficult overcoming serious injury and illness. My aim now is to improve my fitness and strength in preparation for next year’s internationals and hopefully continue to add to my collection of medals and titles”.

He continued: My time away from competition has been used productively with the introduction of the LGBT International Championships and once again I’ll be the meet director for this competition in July 2018. Last year’s inaugural event was a great success with athletes and coaches in attendance from nine different nations. The aim of LGBT IPC is to return Powerlifting to the Gay Games once again in 2022, after it was not included in the Gay Games that are happening in Paris in 2018″.

Speaking about next year’s Gay Games in Paris, he said: “I’m still very much looking forward to being in Paris for Gay Games next year and will be supporting both Paris 2018 and the Federation of Gay Games with their “Out Reach” scholarships programme in my role as an Ambassador. The opening ceremony takes place at the Jean Bouin Stadium on Saturday 4th August and the games finish on Sunday, August 12, with a  total of 15,000 athletes expected to participate from 70 nations in 36 sports.”

Chris has been one of the UK’s leading openly gay athletes since starting his Powerlifting career at the Amsterdam Gay Games in 1998.

During his eighteen year career he has represented England and Great Britain a total of twenty-five times, taking a total of twenty-seven international titles. He has been World Champion nine times, European Champion three times, British National Champion eighteen times and has won six Gay Games gold medals.

In 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 he was the overall Best Lifter at the British Deadlift Championships and in 2011 was the overall Best Lifter. He is the holder of multiple World and British strength records in the Deadlift.

Chris supports the Gay Games, who gave him confidence to be an openly gay athlete, as a global ambassador. His role for the Federation of Gay Games is to inspire and motivate young gay athletes worldwide and raise awareness of the Gay Games Scholarship Fund.

He is also the Male Co-President of the LGBT Powerlifting Union, a Global Union of athletes focused on returning Powerlifting to the Gay Games in 2022 and will be the Meet Director of the LGBT International Powerlifting Championships that are happening in London from July 27 to 29, July 2018

For more information about the Global Powerlifting Committee, click here:

THEATRE REVIEW: Sunday Night @Theatre Royal

There was a time when a benefit show for any charity would guarantee a full house at a theatre and bring communities together in support of a good cause.

Ceri Dupree as Danny La Rue in Hello Dolly
Ceri Dupree as Danny La Rue in Hello Dolly

That is no longer the case with the traditional charity show format becoming much more difficult to pull off and theatres even more difficult to fill.

Charity shows are notoriously difficult to programme as the lineup has to appeal to as wide a cross-section of people as possible and there is little or no chance for rehearsal as everyone comes together on the afternoon of the show for the evening performance.

Creative Director Rob Reakes assembled an eclectic collection of entertainers for his Sunday Night at fundraiser at the Theatre Royal last month to give us a tradition variety show in the vein of Sunday Night at the London Palladium, to raise money for the Rockinghorse Children’s Charity.

It was a show of two halves. The first half constructed around the UK’s finest female impersonator, Ceri Dupree who introduced the audience to some of his favourite characters including the legendary Danny La Rue playing Hello Dolly, Marlena Dietrich, Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner and Dame Edna Everage. Ceri was on top form, he looked fabulous, the audience loved him and his presence gave shape and structure to the entire first half of the show.

Ceri was supported between costume changes by X Factor finalist Sam Callahan who delighted the ladies in the audience and Brighton’s Singing Barber Peter Joannou performing a specially written song for the evening with children from The School of Theatre Excellence.

Max Fulham
Max Fulham

Ventriloquist Max Fulham brought a ray of sunshine to the first half and the audience warmed to his smiling young face. This was his first appearance in Brighton and he is really one to watch for the future.

Jon Moses, a finalist in Superstar, Lloyd Webbers national search for Jesus Christ Superstar and Jodie Jacobs were the final singers to perform in the first half with Jodie’s renditions of Queen’s Somebody to Love and Don’t Rain on my Parade from Funny Girl raising the roof.

Although a little long for my liking the first half of the show was very good with something for everyone to enjoy. It was professionally compered by Hilary O’Neil who kept things moving along as fast as she could with musical direction by Marc McBride who brought the best out of the live band, complete with trumpet, trombone and saxophone.

The second half was a different story. The show was running late so some numbers had to be cut from the running order which made the half feel disjointed.

Old Time Music Hall with Jan Hunt and friends was very entertaining but in the context of a lineup being cut a little too long as was the contribution by the magician Mark Williams whose mentalist act took too much of the time available.

Allan Jay and the Gay Men's Dance Company
Allan Jay and the Gay Men’s Dance Company

Allan Jay and the Gay Men’s Dance Company camped the proceedings up with Flying the Flag  and Nicki French performed her Eurovision hit, Don’t Play That Song Again.

Eva Iglesias who featured on Britain’s Got Talent finished the show on a high with a powerful, emotional rendition of Jennifer Hudson’s And I am telling you.

The evening was directed by Carole Todd and the staging, though very simple was stylish and very effective.

These shows are all about raising money and I hope this one manages to raise loads of money for a well deserving cause.

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Who’s the boss behind the bar @Camelford Arms

This month Morgan Fabulous pays a visit to the award-winning Camelford Arms, three times winners of the Golden Handbag for Favourite Sunday Lunch and winner of the Handbag for Favourite Small Bar in 2016.

Jay Hopkins, the current manager, has worked at the Camelford, formerly know as The White Horse since it opened in May 2010.

He started as a bar man progressing into a managerial position when the then manager decided to leave. He says he loved working with the team, they had achieved so much and the move up to manager felt so natural. The bar was perfect the way it was so he didn’t want to change anything. It remains stylish, classic looking with a warm friendly atmosphere and everyone is welcome.

Jay was born in Surrey and brought up in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. He had his first taste of life behind a bar at the age of 21 when he moved to London to work at Brief Encounter, in the West End. He also worked at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern and The City of Quebec pubs, both in London. He moved to Brighton twelve years ago and worked in the Star Inn (now the Mucky Duck) for three years before he moved to the Camelford Arms.

The thing he loves the most about his job is the customers, and the warm dog friendly atmosphere of the Camelford which calls itself the most dog friendly pub in Brighton.

If you haven’t been there yet, check out quiz night on Thursday’s where you can win yourself £300. The award-winning Sunday lunches are worth their weight in gold, even for vegetarians, and watch out the Christmas menu which begins later this month.

The bar also boast a Moroccan Garden area, hidden away at the rear of the pub which seats twelve people, and has outdoor heating so it can be used all year round.

The Camelford are proud sponsors of the Brighton and Hove Sea Serpents Rugby Football Club, who have been playing since February 2016 and are the current holders of the Golden Handbag for best local sports club. You will often find the team in there supporting their sponsors.

Jay loves to travel and visit his favourite destination, South Africa, where he hopes to one day live. He isn’t sure it will happen but it is his dream destination.

He loves living in Brighton and has recently moved to the countryside on the outskirts of the city, with his husband, who is a criminal defence lawyer. They have been together for sixteen years, nine of them married. They were both looking to get out of the busy city and enjoy a relaxing retreat in the countryside where the skies are clearer and there is less light pollution where Jay can enjoy his hobby, Astronomy. He now has sufficient space to build his own observatory where it is much easier for him to spot the constellations and taste the odd Milky Way.

Jay loves the countryside and spends hours walking country lanes with his dog Frankie. His favourite tipple is a pint of Fosters, his favourite film is Back to the Future Trilogy and he loves reading autobiographies, his favourite being Paul O’Grady’s At My Mother’s Knee.

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