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This year when we pin on our red ribbons in time for World Aids Day let’s make it more than a compassionate gesture of support, let’s make it make a difference.
In 2006 gay and bisexual men are still the largest group to have become infected with HIV within the UK, so this year let’s make a difference and lobby for change.
There are many fabulous reasons to live in Yorkshire, a real sense of community, great scene venues, local gay press that actually makes a difference, fantastic lgbt groups, and, well, an abundance of tasty men. What more could we want? Well, here are a few suggestions
In Yorkshire, thousands of young gay men are still leaving school without ever having had any appropriate sexual health information given. It can still take weeks to get an appointment to have a sexual health screen. Many within our community are still unaware where we can get Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). We will still often hear prescriptive sexual health advice telling us what to do, when actually all it will make us do is tell them what they want to hear; and finally, relieved that our society is a little safer (for some of us), we have stopped hearing the rampant homophobia that is all around us.
So this year when we pin that little red ribbon on, whether we write to our local MP, e-mail our Primary Care Trusts, tackle our local school governors, or whatever we do, let’s just make sure we do it: in 2006 we could make a difference in Yorkshire.
David Armitage, Yorkshire MESMAC
World AIDS Day 2007 events
Chesterfield
The CASH Project is organising a Red Ribbon Ramble on Saturday November 26th from Tapton Lock visitor centre, as well as a WAD Red Ribbon Party at Livingstone’s nightclub on the 29th. And on WAD itself, there’s a multi-faith chruch service at 7.15pm at St Mary’s Church, with a social evening to follow. See the advert for full details.
Huddersfield
The New Union and The Greyhound are both doing weekend events and there will be a red ribbon raffle raising money to go directly to services at The Brunswick Centre. Red ribbons will be available from The New Union, The Greyhound, Plastic Ivy sauna, The Tapps in Dewsbury, The Old Shears in Halifax, The Tenth Muse in Todmordon and Nelson’s wine bar in Hebden Bridge. On Saturday 2nd December there will be a Red Ribbon Walk around Ogden Water above Halifax at 12 midday followed by lunch at the Old Shears in Halifax. For information, and to let them know you’ll be going along, please contact Richard or Sam on 01422 341764.
Leeds
The Terrence Higgins Trust are organising a number of WAD events: on the 25th November is the ‘Human Red Ribbon’ Guiness world record attempt at the West Yorkshire Playhouse at 10.45am.
A second event is The Promise (previously known as The Vigil) on Friday 1st December at the Corn Exchange from 6pm: it’s an evening of guest speakers and musicians and is an evening to remember the promises we made to tackle HIV and AIDS in the past, as well as remembering those in the UK and abroad while making promises for the future of HIV prevention, campaigning and support.
There will also be a street collection during the day in Leeds city centre with volunteers from THT and from the university, collecting for THT.
The final event is ‘wear red to work day’. Posters will be sent out to many big employers asking them to promote and encourage their staff to wear something red to work on the 1st December and charge £1 for the privilege, with all proceeds coming to THT. If anyone would like posters, ribbons or collection boxes, contact Sharon Elliott on 0113 2364720 or at sharon.elliott@tht.org.uk
York
Yorkshire MESMAC in conjunction with St Olave’s Church, Marygate Lane, York are holding a Service of Celebration, Commemoration and Reflection on World AIDS Day Friday December 1st starting at 2.00pm at St Olave’s Church.
After the service you are invited to participate in light refreshments at Yorkshire MESMAC’s offices.
For further details please contact Pete Blackburn on 01904 620400 or email p.blackburn@mesmac. co.uk
Web: www.worldaidsday.org
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