HIV
Tributes flow after death of Cairns Indigenous artist Arone Meeks
Cairns’ LGBTIQ and arts communities have mourned the death of Indigenous artist Arone Meeks, who passed away last week. The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair director died peacefully in hospital last Wednesday (May 5) after a short battle with cancer. Meeks was 64. The Kuku Imidiji man grew up in the Cape York town of Laura. …
Vale Patrick O’Connell, AIDS activist and father of iconic red ribbon
Patrick O’Connell, an AIDS activism icon who is widely credited with creating the iconic red ribbon symbol, has died. He was 67. O’Connell passed away on March 23 in a New York hospital, four decades after receiving a HIV diagnosis in the 1980s. Active in the New York arts community at the time, he and …
Federal Labor’s ‘watered down’ LGBTIQ policy pledges slammed
LGBTIQ advocates have criticised federal Labor for “weak and diminished” commitments to LGBTIQ+ equality in its new draft policy platform. Labor is holding their national conference virtually on March 30 and 31. Over 400 delegates will get a say on the new draft platform during the conference. However responding to the latest draft, just.equal spokesperson …
‘Too much pleasure’: It’s A Sin toned down threesome scene
The director of It’s a Sin says he had to tone down Ritchie’s threesome scene because censors complained there was “too much pleasure”. The British AIDS crisis drama, from creator Russell T Davies, was released last month to rave reviews and viewer acclaim. The series is streaming in Australia on Stan. The five-part series follows …
What Australia’s new blood donation rules mean for gay and trans donors
Australia’s Red Cross Lifeblood service has eased long-standing blood donation rules for gay, bi and transgender donors across the country. Gay, bi and some trans donors are now permitted to give blood if they have been celibate for three months. The new rule is a reduction from the previous waiting period of 12 months, which …
‘Queer as Folk’ creator revisits AIDS crisis in new drama ‘It’s A Sin’
Queer as Folk creator Russell T Davies’ new drama series It’s A Sin sheds light on the early days of the looming AIDS crisis in the 1980s. The five-part drama series follows the lives of young gay men Ritchie, Roscoe, and Colin who grow up in London over the course of the devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic. …
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 …
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 …
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 …