Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland LGBT community unites for World AIDS Day 2009
"Spread the Realities of HIV not the prejudice"
After months of preparation, a flurry of charity activity culminated city-wide in Leicester for a celebration of life, love and safer sex for World AIDS Day 2009.
Trade used this year's national World AIDS Day Theme "reality", to promote testing at clinics, stop the spread of HIV and promote volunteering with Trade.
Trade marked the occasion by continuing their celebration of life, love and safer sex with a month of events to raise funds and awareness of HIV. The spread of HIV is at an all-time high, having trebled in the last decade. 33 million people worldwide are infected with the virus, and that number continues to rise. Of the 7,700 people diagnosed in the UK alone last year, 2,700 were men who have sex with men. 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.
Leicester's long-running sexual health charity Trade Sexual Health raised money to support valuable one-to-one HIV prevention work.
The project's flagship event took place on Saturday 5th December 09 at Quebec. The "Staying Alive" party saw the popular club decked out as a fabulous 70's disco and was hosted by the fabulous Miss. Dinacollada.
Trade Manager, Sal Khalifa, said: "Staying Alive" was a wonderful way to bring the community together to raise awareness of HIV, promote sexual health screening and Trade services. People dressed up in 70's costume and were amazed with the club's makeover for the night. We also saw a serious side to the evening with many partygoers attending the stall and talking about how to use a condom, access information about HIV and volunteer opportunities to work with us. 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 of HIV not prejudice."
Other events included a special film screening at the Leicester LGBT centre, a quiz night at the Dover and Pinki night at Helsinki. On World AIDS Day, Bossa café bar, Celts Sauna & Sweats sauna ran fundraisers. Rainbow and Dove and Dover held a red party, with many participants dressing in red, and wearing a ribbon as an international mark of solidarity.
With government funding against HIV decreasing year on year, donations are desperately needed, and your support goes a long way.
Trade would like to thank The LGBT centre all venue owners, staff and customers who helped to raise a total of £921.19 for World AIDS Day 2009.
We would also like to thank Miss. Dinacollada, Emily Cobb, Claire Blakeborough and Trade volunteers for the success of World AIDS Day 2009.
You can view pictures of some of our World AIDS Day 09 events on our website here in the picture gallery. You can also find information about volunteering opportunities, information and guidance around sexual health.
