Be A HIV Activist
posted: 08/04/2011
A crowd has far more affect than a single voice shouting for change. HIV Activists is a way to join with others to make your voice for better HIV support heard.
With so many cuts and changes affecting so many people with HIV now and over the next few years we need to work with others to make a difference.
HIV Activists Network is run by NAT and it works together with Positively UK, the Stigma Index and of course the Activists themselves.
They use a handy set of online tools to make things simple and easy to join in and help.
What’s next?
They have a list of things they are campaigning about now and you can join in as many or as few as you wish
Here's some of them
- email your MP about the Welfare Reform Bill
- write to your local NHS about HIV prevention and testing
- Sign NAT’s Agenda for Action
- Talk to your local faith leaders
- Talk to your local gay businesses
- Contacting local schools
- emailing your local councillor about cuts to HIV Social Care
- Contact to your Trade Union
If you are interesting in joining the 'HIV Activists Network' or simply want to find out more, you can
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Be a HIV Activist
posted: 09/12/2010
NAT (National AIDS Trust) invite everyone to join others and become a HIV Activist, whether you are personally affected by HIV or simply feel strongly about HIV issues. All you need is to want to do something that can make a difference.
Local action and local services
Being a HIV Activist empowers us all, including people living with HIV, when we join others in simple direct actions on HIV issues that affect lives, rights and wellbeing. We need local activists in every district now, because more and more decisions, including about cuts, are now being made locally.
We encourage people to be passionate about HIV and HIV Activists will be given the tools to speak out, and help make the voice and needs of people living with HIV heard by the people making the decisions which affect our lives.
Why be a HIV Activist?
You can have your say on the matters you feel strongly about, such as
- Stigma and discrimination
- Funding for effective HIV prevention, treatment and support
- Poverty
- HIV education and awareness
- Immigration
- Confidentiality of HIV data.
NAT offers HIV Activists a choice of eight to ten actions at any one time. At the moment these include writing to your MP about how benefits cuts announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review, and asking your local school if their curriculum includes HIV.
Actions without revealing HIV
There will always be things you can do if you do not wish to disclose your HIV status. Everyone can sign a petition, write a letter to your local MP or school without having to say anything about HIV status.
Feedback and ideas welcome
NAT are keen to get feedback from HIV Activists, and If there’s something you feel strongly about and would like to see included as a future activist action, they’d love to hear about it.
If you are interesting in joining others as a HIV Activist or want to find out more, please email HIV Activist or ring NAT on 020 7814 6767.
There is more information about NAT’s HIV Activists here
Image - The Power to be Strong is a music video and song for World AIDS Day
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Manchester Pride Fringe Event
posted: 13/08/2010
Ribbons, Rallies and Rubbers - Diary of a HIV Activist
For the Manchester Pride Fringe Festival, on Tuesday 24 August, Ribbons, Rallies and Rubbers is George House Trust’s evening of thought provoking entertainment, at the Frog and Bucket Comedy Club on Oldham Street, Manchester.
25th anniversary fun and perspectives
Continuing our 25th anniversary celebrations and reflections, Ribbons, Rallies and Rubbers - Diary of a HIV Activist is about HIV activism past and present, and features speakers and artists involved in different types of HIV activism over the last 25 years.
On the evening we will be joined by the ever fabulous Jonathan Mayor, long standing prolific activist Peter Tatchell, the founding fathers of George House Trust, drag king extraordinaire Valentino King and the captivating performance poet Gerry Potter.Tic
£3 Tickets
Tickets are £3, or £1 concession for unwaged people, and are available through wegottickets.com - click this link to go straight to the page for our event.
Doors open at 7:30pm and the event starts at 8pm sharp.
Together we'll explore what HIV activism has been, is and should be, and most importantly - why it's still so keenly needed. Come and join us for this highly entertaining, engaging and inspirational event at the Pride Fringe Festival.
Where
Frog and Bucket, 102 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 ILJ - at the top of Oldham Street near the junction with Great Ancoats Street - StreetMap
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Manchester Pride Fringe Event
posted: 20/07/2010
Ribbons, Rallies and Rubbers - Diary of a HIV Activist
As part of the Manchester Pride Fringe Festival on Tuesday 24 August George House Trust are holding an evening of thought provoking entertainment at the Frog and Bucket Comedy Club on Oldham Street.
Continuing our 25th anniversary celebrations and reflections, the Ribbons, Rallies and Rubbers - Diary of a HIV Activist evening is centred around HIV activism past and present, and will feature speakers and artists involved in HIV activism in its different forms over the years.
On the evening we will be joined by the ever fabulous Jonathan Mayor, long standing prolific activist Peter Tatchell, the founding fathers of George House Trust, drag king extraordinaire Valentino King and the captivating performance poet Gerry Potter.
Tickets
Tickets are £3, or £1 concession for unwaged, and are availble through wegottickets.com This link takes you straight to the page for this event.
Doors open at 7:30pm and the event will start at 8pm sharp.
Together we'll explore what activism has been, is and should be, and most importantly - why it's still so desperately needed. Come and join us for this highly entertaining, engaging and inspirational event over the Pride festival.
Frog and Bucket, 102 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 ILJ - at the top of Oldham Street near the junction with Great Ancoats Street - StreetMap
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Lancashire HIV Activist Dies
posted: 25/05/2010
Lancashire man, Marc Rushton, who campaigned to raise awareness of HIV, and who co-founded the East Lancashire HIV charity THRIVINE, has just died. His funeral will be on Thursday 27 May at St Mary’s Church, Oswaldtwistle, at 10am.
Marc Rushton, 42, was diagnosed with HIV under two years ago. He died peacefully in hospital last Tuesday following a brain haemorrhage. Marc, a businessman, told his story to the Lancashire Telegraph for an article challenging HIV stigma, which appeared last World Aids Day.
Ill and fighting stigma
He was already very ill, but was determined to help remove HIV stigma and secure more funding to help people affected. Speaking to the paper last October, he said: “I've had an amazing life so I don't feel sorry for myself. I feel like I've been given this for a reason and I have to talk about it. HIV is massively on the increase in East Lancashire. And it's not just gay people, it's not just drug users, it is heterosexual people.
"The UK has the highest rates in Europe. I think half of the stigma around HIV is attached to a lack of understanding. If you don't catch it early enough and if you don't get medicine then it's more likely to become full-blown AIDS. That is why we're stressing to everybody to get tested.”
Thrivine founder and treasurer
Marc, of Accrington, was a co-founder, trustee and treasurer of Thrivine, a HIV support group based at Eanam Wharf, Blackburn, which helps people living with HIV in East Lancashire.
Adrienne's comments
Adrienne Seed, the chair of Thrivine and a close friend of Marc, praised his bravery and said it was fitting he passed away on the date of their first AGM. She said: “I am sure that Marc chose his moment, that he was with us at that point saying goodbye to us all; to his positive comrades in arms. I know how much Thrivine meant to him and how important it would be to him that we carry on. We always laughed together even when he was going through what to other people would be considered as insurmountable health problems.
“Marc had an unfailing optimism that denied how ill he really was. I knew how ill he was but somehow I thought he’d survive. I think he knew in his heart he didn’t have much time. His time may have run out but his legacy will never be forgotten. I will make sure of that.”
Donations and funeral
Marc’s funeral will be held at St Mary’s Church in Oswaldtwistle, at 10am on Thursday, May 27.
Donations in memory of Marc can be made to Thrivine c/o Hyndburn Funeral Services, Queen's Road, Accrington.
Thrivine
Source
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