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  • Welsh Government announces a new HPV vaccination for gay and bisexual men

    The Welsh Government has announced that an HPV vaccination will be made available for all gay and bisexual men.

    An HPV vaccination which could offer protection against certain types of cancers will be offered to gay and bisexual men in Wales. The campaign was rolled out from April 1st.

    It is currently being offered to men, up to the age of 45, who attend sexual health clinics. The decision follows a recommendation by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). 

    Commenting on the move, Welsh Lib Dem Equalities Spokesperson, Cadan ap Tomos, said,

    “The Welsh Liberal Democrats welcome this announcement as a step towards protecting men who have sex with men against certain cancers. The HPV vaccine is proven to be effective in reducing these risks and should be welcomed.

    “However, while this is a step in the right direction, we want to see the programme go further. All boys aged 14 in Wales should be vaccinated on the same basis as their female peers to ensure the maximum protection, and make sure that gay and bisexual men aren’t at a discriminatory risk of developing these cancers later on in life.”

    What Is HPV?

    HPV is the name for a group of viruses that affect the skin and moist membranes lining the body such as the cervix, anus, mouth and throat. HPV infections are highly contagious when transmitted sexually.

    Some strains of the HPV virus can cause genital warts, and cancers of the anus, penis, mouth and throat. In some cases, it can also cause head and neck cancer.

  • Eurovision Ban On Welsh Flag Causes Outrage

    Eurovision Ban On Welsh Flag Causes Outrage

    Organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have been criticised by the Welsh Lib Dems after the Welsh flag was banned.

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  • Welsh Lib Dems Call For PrEP To Become Available On NHS

    Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Eluned Parrott has suggested that PrEP should be made available on the NHS for people most at risk of contracting HIV.

    Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a drug, which if taken as per a healthcare professional’s advice is incredibly successful at halting new HIV infections. Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Eluned Parrott has called for the Welsh Government to take steps to ensure that the drugs are made available to people who are most at risk of contracting HIV.

    Recent results show that gay and bisexual men are still one of the highest at risk groups – with over 6500 in the UK unaware that they are HIV positive are at risk of spreading HIV even further.

     

    In 2014 the number of gay or bisexual men in the UK who were diagnosed rose by a further 110 new cases to 3360.

     

    Eluned Parrott AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales Central, said:

     

    “Over the last 20 years huge steps have been taken forward in helping people with an HIV infection to manage their condition. While this is a way from a cure yet, it still represents huge progress.

    “However prevention of HIV infection is now possible thanks to the development of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). A tablet a day can prevent people who are at risk of being exposed to the HIV virus from contracting HIV. This is a massive step forward, and yet three years after the Federal Drug Administration in the USA approved PrEP for use, it still isn’t available in Wales.

    “People who have partners with the HIV virus and other high risk groups should be offered this treatment as a matter of urgency, not only for their own health and wellbeing but also to help reduce the prevalence of HIV in the population as a whole. Perhaps one day, HIV could even be eliminated.

    “I call on the Welsh and UK governments to work together to ensure those who need it most are aware of this treatment and have access to it.”

  • WELSH LIB DEMS: Protect Vital Funding For LGBT Community

    WELSH LIB DEMS: Protect Vital Funding For LGBT Community

    Vital help for vulnerable LGBT+ people in Wales is at risk of being slashed and must be protected, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have said.

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  • Welsh Lib Dems Launch LGBT+ Rights Campaign

    The Welsh Liberal Democrats are launching their campaign promoting the benefits of the Human Rights Act in advancing LGBT+ rights.

    At Saturday’s Pride Cymru, Wales’ biggest LGBT pride event, the party will be campaigning against plans by the Conservatives to scrap the Human Rights Act – plans which were blocked by the Liberal Democrats as part of the Coalition Government.

    The Human Rights Act has forced the UK Government to introduce the Gender Recognition Act, found the unequal age of consent for same-sex relationships to be illegal in 1997, and forced the Government to allow LGBT+ people to serve openly in the armed forces in 1999.

    Liberal Democrats have a strong record of defending LGBT+ rights in Wales, the UK and across the world. Most recently, the Welsh Lib Dems have led the charge to improve public services for trans people in Wales and establish a Welsh Gender Identity Clinic.

    Kirsty Williams AM, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said:

    “LGBT+ rights are human rights – it couldn’t get any simpler. The rights of any person of any sexuality or gender – to free speech, to protection from discrimination, to life itself – are exactly the same as anyone else’s. That’s why Liberal Democrats fight to protect them.

    “Human rights laws have been vital in protecting LGBT+ people from discrimination by the law. Without them we could still have an unequal age of consent for same-sex relationships, trans people would not be allowed to change their legal sex, and LGBT+ people would be unable to serve openly in the armed forces.

    “The Human Rights Act has made positive change happen for our country’s LGBT+ community. That’s why I’m so appalled at Tory plans to scrap these laws and do away with these protections. Liberal Democrats blocked them within Government, and we’ll carry on fighting them now.

    “As many people as possible need to oppose these proposals. That’s why we’re launching our campaign today at www.welshlibdems.wales/lgbt, and I urge everyone to back our calls.”

  • Welsh Lib Dems Say Transgender Action Plan Does Not Go Far Enough

    The Welsh Liberal Democrats have welcomed the Welsh Government’s trans action plan, brought about by the party’s landmark debate, but says it falls short on many key issues.

    In November 2014, the Welsh Lib Dems led a landmark Assembly debate on issues faced by trans people in Wales – the first debate of its kind. The party’s motion, which was backed by the Welsh Government and all parties, called for action to improve the provision of public services for all Welsh trans people.

    The Transgender Action Plan, launched today for consultation by the Welsh Government, does not specifically mention provision for a gender identity clinic in Wales nor creation of LGBT+ safe housing – two key issued raised by Welsh Lib Dem AMs during the debate.
    Peter Black AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Equalities Minister, said:

    “I’m delighted that the Welsh Lib Dems’ landmark debate has resulted in positive action to improve the lives of trans people in Wales. However, there is much to be wanted from what’s been launched today.

    “During our debate, Welsh Lib Dem AMs raised specific concerns about the lack of a gender identity clinic and LGBT safe housing in Wales. Despite listening to these problems and promising to address them, there’s no specific mention of either issue in this document. We will be making our views on this clear as we respond to the consultation.

    “Labour Ministers seem more focused on ensuring inclusivity in the public services already provided, rather than addressing the gaps in trans-specific services where Wales falls short. While inclusivity is of course vital, I had hoped we’d see something a bit more ambitious from the Welsh Government.”

  • Welsh Lib Dems Call For End To Gay Blood Ban

    Marking National Blood Week, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government to end the ban on gay and bisexual men giving blood.

    Currently, UK Government guidelines prevent gay and bisexual men from donating blood if they have had sex with another male within the preceding twelve months. Proponents of the ban argue that gay and bisexual men are more likely than any other group to contract HIV, but figures for 2012 show that more people contract HIV through heterosexual sex than homosexual sex.

    Welsh Lib Dem AM Peter Black raised the issue in the Welsh Assembly earlier today. The Welsh Minister for Government Business agreed to ask the Minister for Health and Social Services to look at the matter further.

    Peter Black AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Equalities Minister, said,

    “National Blood Week has brought to our attention that the blood service needs 204,000 extra donors to meet demand. Given this huge demand for blood donors, I completely fail to understand why the ban on men who have sex with men giving blood is still in place.

    “This ban not only turns away thousands of willing and healthy potential donors, but it also serves to reinforce negative stereotypes about gay and bisexual men. Straight people get HIV too, and all donated blood is tested for HIV and other diseases before being transfused for precisely that reason.

    “The sooner this unfair and discriminatory ban is lifted, the sooner our blood services can benefit from a greater supply of donated blood and more lives can be saved.”

  • Welsh Lib Dems: “Embed Gender Awareness” In Teacher Training

    This evening, the Welsh Assembly has voted in favour of calls by the Welsh Liberal Democrats to explore the feasibility of establishing a gender identity clinic in Wales.

    Welsh Lib Dem AMs proposed an amendment in the Welsh Assembly to the Welsh Government’s Annual Equality Report which called for an independent feasibility study into establishing a clinic. Wales is the only nation of the UK without its own gender identity clinic, forcing trans patients to travel to England to receive treatment.

    The absence of a Welsh clinic was one of many issues raised by the Welsh Lib Dems in their landmark debate on transgender issues, the first of its kind in the Welsh Assembly, which took place in November 2014.

    An additional Welsh Lib Dem amendment calls on the Government to embed gender awareness training in teacher training courses to help create gender aware learning environments in Welsh schools. This amendment was also passed by the Assembly.

    Peter Black AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Equalities Minister, said:
    “From a lack of local clinics to inadequate housing provision, trans people in Wales are being somewhat left behind. I’m proud that the Welsh Lib Dems are leading the way on improving the experiences of trans people as they use public services.

    “This is an important first step in finally ensuring that Welsh trans people don’t have to travel to the other side of the UK to receive treatment. The Welsh Labour Government previously claimed there isn’t enough demand for a gender clinic in Wales, but did so without any solid basis for their claim.

    “We want Wales to lead the way in creating a fairer society where no-one, no matter who they are and what their gender, faces discrimination in their lives. It won’t happen overnight, but I’m proud we are walking along the right path to equality.”