1. Get tested! It sounds simple but the more sex you have the more you should get tested. You should get tested every 3-6 months if you have a lot of sexual partners and at least once a year otherwise. This means your less likely to have a STI that you dont know about. Having a STI can increase your chances of becoming HIV positive.

2. Know when it's not right. You know what is and isn't normal about your body. If it hurts when you wee or if you find a sore on your dick or bum, don’t ignore it - get tested!

If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, PEP can prevent you becoming infected – if your fast enough.

PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) is a course of anti-HIV medications
that you take over 4 weeks that can prevent you becoming infected with HIV.

The site effects can be nasty and you certainly won't feel pleasnt during the treatment but if there is a chance it can stop you becoming HIV postive its worth it. You can get PEP at a sexual health clinic or at a A&E department.

I've always been quite nervous about catching a sexually transmitted infections or HIV but was afraid of going to the sexual health clinic. I wasn’t sure what would happen as I had never been before, there were things that put me off like what if I have been going a disease to someone? What if I have a disease? And what if I get aroused at the sexual health clinic?

But after one night when the condom tore I became really anxious and wanted to get myself checked out, I didn’t know what to do or how to book an appointment. I decided to speak to a youth worker who gave me the number for the G.U.M clinic in Bradford. He was very helpful and he also explained what would happen when I get my check up. He was able to cheer me up and convince me to get checked so I rang the clinic and booked an appointment for the following week.

The latest copy of
MESMAG is available now. MESMAG is a quarterly look at what's going on across
the entire MESMAC group of services. This issue is packed to the brim with
information about MESMAC's community HIV and STI testing programme, New groups
starting in Wakefield, Bradford and North Yorkshire, A report about mental
health as well as the new name for Bradford and Leeds Switchboard.

My coming out story has a number of layers to it but as coming out stories go, it’s not overly interesting and I don’t think it was ever that hard for me as it has been for other people.

The Pride season is looming on the horizon once again and Bradfords own LGBT pride festival is begining to take shape. Bradford Pride 2009 will be held on Saturday May the 30th in Centenary Square in the centre of Bradford.

The Pride event will celebrate the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer communities of Bradford. With a main stage with acts throughout the day and stalls/activities run by various community groups (including Blagy) the day promises to be bigger and better than ever.

The line up so far includes the Buffet DJs & The Bet Lynch Mob dancers, Tom Booze as well as deaf-signing drag from Alexandra Queen of the Deaf World. The day will be fully inclusive so make sure you come down and show your support for Bradford LGBT and help make the event a success.

UPDATE: More acts announced. AMY LAME, Timberlina and Gay Abandon have all joined the line up for what is fast shaping up to be the best Bradford Pride ever.

York’s pride is still a small event powered only by volunteers. However it is also a vital part of York’s LGBT calendar providing a time to celebrate who we are in a city that doesn’t always recognise our value and contribution.

If you want it to go ahead this year, please come along to the planning meeting on Tuesday 7th of April at 7.30pm. The meeting will be held in Mesmac offices, Marygate Lane, York.

You may be able to give just ideas or have a generator and sound system in your loft waiting for use! Either way your input is wanted. For more details you can contact Ellen Hill.