LGBT community unites for World AIDS Day 2011
Trade Sexual Health and the Leicester LGB&T community fully supported another World AIDS Day with events including the Count Me In Campaign, a Red Ribbon Remembrance and a bunch of other fundraising goings on.
The spread of HIV is at an all-time high, having trebled in the last decade. With this is mind, the lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender communities of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland pulled together to join the worldwide struggle against HIV-related prejudice and discrimination.
For the second year running Trade held a Red Ribbon Remembrance (RRR) Evening to bring together the LGB&T community to reflect on how HIV has affected all of us and to light a candle of remembrance for loved ones.
Trade Co-Director, Sal Khalifa, speaking of this evening on World AIDS Day itself said: “it was a wonderful way to bring the community together to raise awareness of HIV and remind ourselves of all the people affected. At a time when more gay and bisexual men are being diagnosed with HIV than ever before, it really is important that people are aware of testing and spread the realities about HIV and not the prejudice."
Trade would like to thank all who took part in the Red Ribbon Remembrance, Jane Wood (Faith in People with HIV), also James Cockerill, and his staff at the Dover, Rainbow & Dove and Helsinki as well as Leicestershire Rainbow Voices and all of the presenters.
Other events included our silver suited outreach volunteers hitting the scene to sign people up to the Count Me In Campaign for World AIDS Day, see www.youcancountmein.org.uk to count yourselves in. On Saturday 3rd December, all the scene bars and clubs ran events whilst our volunteers shook collection tins and raised awareness about HIV.
Rainbow & Dove, Dover, Helsinki, Streetlife, Celts Sauna, Splash and the new cocktail bar Sloanes all supported Trade by holding special events and raising awareness. Nightingales in
Birmingham, supported by the TUC also held a fundraiser, so thanks to our volunteer, Alex for organising that for us.
Thank you to everyone who supported World AIDS Day 2011Click here to view pictures from World AIDS Day 2011
