health
Important message behind new suicide prevention campaign
A new Queensland suicide prevention campaign is encouraging everyone to have difficult – but important – conversations about suicide. The Queensland Council for LGBTI Health has launched the “Talking Heals” campaign, in partnership with a number of other organisations. The campaign, appearing on billboards around Brisbane, acknowledge “sharing stories of suicide can be hard”. The …
Brisbane doctor blasts ‘harmful’ religious discrimination bill
A Brisbane doctor who specialises in LGBTIQ healthcare has slammed the government’s “harmful” religious freedom bill. Dr Ryan Williams is a GP at Stonewall Medical Centre in Brisbane. The long-running centre is one of four in the city specialising in care for LGBTIQ people. “I’m a proud gay man myself, and the majority of my …
The Australian compares trans people to coronavirus epidemic
National newspaper The Australian has caused outrage after seemingly comparing transgender people to the coronavirus epidemic. The article, published on Monday, began, “With the coronavirus dominating the news, Queensland’s health authorities have been urged to confront an under-reported global contagion involving troubled teenage girls declaring they are ‘born in the wrong body’.” It quotes University …
Religious freedom bill ‘threatens human rights’ in NT
The Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council and Rainbow Territory have joined several other community organisations to reject the Morrison Government’s religious discrimination bill. In a joint statement, the groups warn the bill “threatens Territorians’ human rights and access to non-discriminatory employment, health and social services.” “It could impinge upon the rights of many within …
What you need to know about the law changes around poppers
It was Steve, of course, who noticed first. In early 2017, the TGA had quietly hatched a plan to ban poppers. Next minute, Steve Spencer was shirtless in the newspapers, showing off his poppers tatt and calling the proposal “a war on bottoms”. And yet, on Saturday (February 1), it became legal to sell amyl …
New HIV cases in Queensland are at a five-year low
Rates of HIV diagnoses in Queensland have dropped by more than a third in the last five years, according to new data. Last year, 153 HIV notifications were reported to Queensland Health, compared with 245 in 2014. This is a drop of more than 37 per cent. Experts are attributing the declining rates to increased …
Stonewall open for HIV & STI FAST testing over holiday break
Stonewall Medical Centre recently launched its pilot Fast Access Sexual Testing program (FAST) on Thursday nights. Stonewall remains open for HIV & STI FAST testing and other services over the Christmas/New Year break, except for public holidays. [PROMOTION] Faster sexual health screening means earlier treatments and earlier treatments mean earlier resolution with fewer complications. The …
Perineum sunning – let the sun shine in!
Social media influencers — people frequently renowned for their diligent scientific research — recently unleashed a new wellness phenomenon on the waiting world. The latest innovation in the search for increased energy is — drum roll, please — perineum sunning. That is, lying naked on your back with your legs spread to allow the sun …
How you can help get LGBTIQ questions into the 2021 Census
The National LGBTI Health Alliance has urged everyone to help argue the case for LGBTIQ inclusion in the 2021 Census. Gender and sexuality questions were among the new topics to be included before the questions were controversially abandoned earlier this year. Now the Treasury has begun a public consultation process on the Census changes. Advocates …
Straight men outnumber gay men in new HIV cases in WA
A larger number of straight-identifying men in Western Australia were diagnosed with HIV than gay men in the last year. Among men who have sex with men in WA, the number of HIV diagnoses (20) was 51 percent lower this year compared to the previous five-year average. However, among straight-identifying men it was 21 percent …