health
Dr Rachel Levine to become US assistant Health Secretary
US President-elect Joe Biden last night announced the selection of Dr Rachel Levine as assistant Health Secretary. If all goes to plan, that will make Dr Levine the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the US Senate. Governor Tom Wolff appointed Dr Levine to the position of Pennsylvania Health Secretary in 2017. A pediatrician, …
Instagram whistleblower names and shames gay men partying in pandemic
A viral Instagram account naming and shaming gay American men for risky partying during the coronavirus pandemic has sparked backlash online. Worldwide, COVID-19 case numbers continue to skyrocket. Hospitalisations in the US are at record highs, while the UK heads into a strict third lockdown. Mid-last year, an anonymous person set up the Instagram account …
Australia should follow UK’s lead and end the ‘gay blood ban’
LGBTIQ advocates have urged Australian blood donation authorities to follow the UK and safely ease restrictions on gay, bi and trans blood donors. This week, the UK announced a major reform of its blood donation policy for men who have sex with men. An expert advisory committee recommended all UK donors be assessed for individual …
Petition calls for beloved LGBTIQ pub to be saved from closure
Over 6,000 people have signed a petition to stop the closure of The Green Park Hotel, a much-loved, historic LGBTIQ pub in Darlinghurst, Sydney. The 130-year-old pub has announced last drinks are this weekend. St Vincent’s Hospital purchased the hotel in November to transform it into a community mental health clinic next year. Local Gus …
Huge change to allow more gay blood donors in the UK
A major change to blood donation rules for gay and bisexual men across the UK will allow more of them to qualify to donate blood. Currently, UK men who have sex with men can only donate blood if they’ve been celibate for three months, even while in a monogamous relationship. However the new criteria focus …
Stonewall offers Tele-Sexual Health to trans patients in remote areas
Brisbane’s Stonewall Medical Centre is offering patients in remote areas expert sexual health advice over video consultation with their specialists via their new Tele-Sexual Health service. Do you live in an area away from the big cities? Are you transgender or gender diverse and looking for medical care but wondering where to go? Is your …
‘Talking Heals’ campaign supports LGBTI Sistergirl and Brotherboy people
A unique new suicide prevention campaign, Talking Heals, was created by and for LGBTI communities supports community members to access support that understands their needs, writes the Queensland Council for LGBTI Health. Our LGBTI Sistergirl and Brotherboy communities are resilient, creative, strong and wonderfully diverse. And in 2020 we’ve all had to draw on this …
World AIDS Day: Expanded Medicare access to fight HIV in Australia
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced all Australians with HIV will get access to their life-saving antiretroviral medicine, regardless of their Medicare eligibility. Hunt announced the initiative this morning at a virtual parliamentary breakfast to mark World AIDS Day today. “Today, more than 28,000 Australians are living with HIV. It is very pleasing that …
Sex toy cock-up – male chastity device vulnerable to hacking
The Cellmate Chastity Cage locks onto the male genitalia and prevents most penile sexual activity. The wearer can allow a ‘keymaster’ control of the male chastity device via a smartphone. However, in a giant cock-up, a security flaw means a hacker could take control and lock every Cellmate in use. Designed without a release override, …
Timothy Ray Brown, first man cured of HIV, sadly dies of cancer
Timothy Ray Brown, the first person to be cured of HIV, has died after battling leukemia for five months. In 2006 doctors diagnosed Brown with leukaemia but a complicated and life-threatening bone marrow transplant cured him of HIV in 2007. Known as the “Berlin patient”, the 54-year-old remained clear of HIV for more than a …