Everyone Deserves Sex Ed

EXCERPT:

“If former president Donald Trump is re-elected, advocacy groups expect him to enact anti-LGBTQ+ policies that are more far-reaching and extreme than those he put in place during his first term — based on his campaign promises and policies suggested by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that has shaped the GOP’s agenda for decades.

Trump is focused specifically on rolling back transgender rights, as he detailed in a campaign video last year. His proposals would terminate Medicare and Medicaid funding for hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to trans youth, attempt to charge teachers with s*x discrimination for affirming students’ gender identities and order federal agencies to “cease all programs that promote the concept of s*x and gender transition at any age.” Trump also pledged to ask Congress to halt the use of federal funds to promote or pay for gender-affirming care, without distinguishing between care for adults or minors. 

One of the more extreme proposals in Project 2025 equates the act of being transgender, or “transgender ideology,” to po*******hy, and declares that it should be outlawed. The conservative think tank recommends that educators and public librarians who spread the concept of being transgender should be registered as s*x offenders, and that telecommunications and technology firms that facilitate the spread of ideas about transgender people should be shuttered.

The ACLU says that a second Trump administration would not be able to implement such a policy without Congress — and that if such a policy did go into effect, using criminal laws to outlaw the concept of being transgender would violate the First Amendment.

Caballero, a Texas-born granddaughter of Mexican immigrants who is also a military veteran and a q***r trans woman, joined other advocates in Congress this week to lobby lawmakers in support of trans rights. If Trump is elected to another term, she believes that deepening relationships in Congress will help.”

[continued in comments]

Do tell if you want to!

ID: a text post from *xed that reads “Question of the week” at the top and “What is your biggest turn on?” in the center. The text is set a pink/red/orange backdrop.

Repost• *xed Comment below!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
PSA: At The S*x Ed, we intend to create a safe environment for our community to feel heard, use their voices, and share experiences. We do not condone sending illicit images and/or harassment of any form to any of our commenters or community at large. Our comment section is not a place to solicit/ harass or sell products. Any such behavior will be reported and blocked. ❤️

EXCERPT:

“Around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, a “possible chemical agent” which has not yet been identified, was sprayed in front of a live music stage in Baltimore during the city’s Pride celebration, according to the Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) has not yet determined what the chemical agent was.

Around the same time that the chemical was released, fireworks were set off in the crowd, as well, causing what the Sun described as a “mass exodus.” The rush of people scrambling led to an unspecified number of injuries. Baltimore fire officials are reviewing the footage for further information about who set off the agent, as well as the fireworks, which were unplanned.

Cleo Manago, the executive director of Pride Center of Maryland (PCOM), the organization that oversees the festivities, blamed “a group of youths” for the agent, according to local news site The Baltimore Banner. He did not indicate why he thought a group of young people was responsible.

Q***r rapper Saucy Santana was performing his headlining set when the incident occurred. In the last photo of his eight-slide post to Instagram thanking Baltimore Pride, people can be seen running and dispersing in a panic.

One attendee described the incident in an interview the Banner, saying “All of the sudden, people were screaming and running. It was like a bomb went off. The air was so thick,” Kate Bowers, a Maryland resident, told the outlet. “People were throwing up. People were pouring water in each other’s eyes. There was a little kid in a stroller. They were pouring water in the child’s eyes.”

Happy Father’s Day to the dads who are breaking the norms of toxic masculinity. Happy Father’s Day to the dads of all genders who are creating a better and more loving world.

ID: a text post from .s*x.ed that reads “Happy Father’s Day to the dads who know that part of being a good father is breaking down stereotypes of masculinity that are aggressive, unemotional, and authoritarian. Happy Father’s Day to the dads who are changing generational patterns.” The text is set against a backdrop that depicts a photo of vibrant green grass and a blurry blue sky.

Repost • .s*x.ed I know you’re out there! I hear from you, talk to you, and have the utmost respect for you.

I don’t usually say this on my posts, but tag a dad who deserves to see this!

EXCERPT:

“The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a lawsuit challenging the Food and Drug Administration’s approach to regulating the abortion pill mifepristone with a ruling that will continue to allow the pills to be mailed to patients without an in-person doctor’s visit

The ruling is a significant setback for the anti-abortion movement in what was the first major Supreme Court case on reproductive rights since the court’s conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The court ruled that the doctors and anti-abortion groups that had challenged access to the drug did not have standing to sue. Though technical, the court’s reasoning is important because it might encourage other mifepristone challenges in the future.

The challenge to the drug had been vehemently opposed by the pharmaceutical industry, which warned that a ruling that second-guessed the regulations for mifepristone could open the door to legal challenges targeting all sorts of medications.

The mifepristone appeal was one of two abortion cases the high court was considering this month. The other deals with a strict ban on the procedure in Idaho. The Biden administration sued the state over that prohibition, arguing that a federal law requires hospitals that receive Medicare funding to provide stabilizing care in emergency rooms, including abortions, when the health of the pregnant woman is at stake.”

Some good news for you!

ID: a post from that depicts a news article with the headline “Judge blocks Florida’s transgender youth care ban for minors”. The headline is below a photo of someone waving the trans flag. Above the photo is text from that reads “Good. Policies that ban transgender youth from healthcare are discriminatory and unconstitutional - and we’ll always fight against them.”

Repost • 🏳️‍⚧️

EXCERPT:

“On Thursday, the International Olympics Committee announced the latest rendition of their Portrayal Guidelines ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, which contains positive recommendations for covering transgender Olympians. The guidelines provide instruction for how reporters can better discuss gender diversity in the games.

The guidelines consist of a 33-page document that primarily focuses on how the media can avoid misogynist portrayals of women Olympians. At the end of the document there are five pages devoted to giving the best practices for covering trans people.

The guidelines ask reporters to avoid using terms like “biologically male” or “born female” in describing trans people, with preference given to terms like “transgender woman” or “transgender man.”

One notable recommendation is for journalists to not just focus on an athlete’s transgender status but instead to also highlight their sporting history. This likely comes in response to the standard coverage of trans athletes, which largely focuses on controversies surrounding their identity.

As for recommendations for women, they suggest avoiding singling them out as “ladies” without referring to men as “gentlemen.” They also say to take non-s*xualized pictures that highlight the athletic prowess of the Olympians and to ensure that coverage of specific Olympians isn’t biased towards one gender.”

Knowledge is power, folks! Staying informed is one of the best things a person can do for their health. Remember to get tested and communicate with partners about your status.

Repost • *xelducation There’s a new fungal STI in the U.S. (NYC to be exact). Here’s why you *shouldn’t* freak out.

Trichophyton mentagrophytes type VII (AKA TMVII) is a treatable fungal STI that was detected recently in the US. These cases have been on the rise in Europe, but a new study published by the JAMA Dermatology follows the first case of someone in the US.

TMVII is a form of ringworm that causes an itchy rash on or near the ge****ls. Researchers note that it could be mistaken for eczema, leading providers to become more aware of the infection and its symptoms.

Currently, most cases are among men who have s*x with men.

While TMVII is new to the US, and there is the potential for anti-fungal resistance and mistaken symptoms, this doesn’t change how we have s*x, but rather, this reinforces the importance of prioritizing s*xual health and self-care and communicating with our partners about safer s*x.

Here are actions you can take NOW to check-in with your s*xual health:

⭐️Talk to your partners about their STI status
⭐️Have a safer s*x plan prepared
⭐️Get an updated STI screening
⭐️Talk to your provider about TMVII (especially if it’s something you find yourself ruminating on)

Please note that this isn’t something that’s included in a standard STI testing panel and is relatively new. Checking-in with your body, how you’re feeling, and any potential symptoms that feel “off” can be helpful in navigating potential TMVII cases this summer and beyond.

*xualhealth

EXCERPT:
“As a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges faced in a workplace environment. I can’t help but reflect on the countless comments that I’ve heard throughout my career – some well-intentioned, others simply insensible – that led me to think it would be easier, and perhaps better for my career, if I kept this part of my identity private. However, joining Xero changed my perception of this entirely.

Every year during Pride Month, I’m reminded of the significance of being part of an organization that proudly supports both my community and me. Many organizations focus solely on symbolic changes like updating social media logos, which hold importance, but efforts shouldn’t stop there. Significance for me is about recognizing the progress we’ve made, reflecting on areas of growth and opportunity and using symbolic efforts, like updating social media logos, to celebrate our achievements.

This feeling of joy and acceptance during Pride Month has led me to ponder: What more can organizations do to extend these important discussions and celebrations beyond just one month a year? Truly inclusive workplaces recognize the value of creating work environments that regularly track and celebrate diversity goals and achievements.

As a leader, one of the primary ways I try to model this behavior is by broadening conversations beyond work-related topics whenever possible (and appropriate). If we want to encourage individuals to bring their authentic selves to work, we must create space for personal conversations.

Despite progress made, workplace microaggressions are still a big problem, with nearly one-third of LGBTQ+ employees reporting such experiences. Recognizing the impact of microaggressions, particularly on marginalized communities, is essential both from a personal and professional perspective; in fact, a recent study indicated that 50% of affected individuals would consider leaving their jobs.

[continued in comments]

Do tell….. (if you’re comfy with sharing of course 😘)

ID: a text post from *xpottherapist that reads “what’s a sxual skill or technique that you’re proud of mastering”. The text is in red font set against a pink backdrop.

Posted • *xpottherapist Don’t be shy, share with the class 😏👀

EXCERPT:

“Puberty blockers are now effectively banned in the United Kingdom, after the Department of Health and Social Care released an “emergency ban” on Wednesday that restricts the medicine’s use specifically for transgender youth.

The U.K. government’s press release regarding the new legislation stated that “no new patients under 18 will be prescribed” gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, commonly known as puberty blockers, if that medicine would be used to treat gender dysphoria. The ban is currently set to last from June 3 to September 3, 2024, taking effect just five days after it was issued. It will apply to residents of England, Wales, and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland. An accompanying piece of legislation, also issued May 29, established GnRH analogues as a Schedule 2 drug under U.K. law, meaning it may only be prescribed under certain circumstances.

Young people who have already received a prescription for dysphoria-related puberty blockers may continue to receive care if they meet certain criteria, such as proving their identity with a U.K. birth certificate or identification card.

The blockers ban was among the last actions taken by Parliament before it dissolved this week in advance of July’s general election, ending other current business and closing all open petitions.”

EXCERPT:

“Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill Friday classifying the abortion-inducing drugs misoprostol and mifepristone as Schedule IV controlled dangerous substances, a first-of-its-kind law that places them in the same category as narcotics and depressants.

Under the law, which took effect with the governor’s signature, it is now a crime to possess the abortion medication without a prescription, as well as to give the drugs to a person without their consent.

Anyone found in possession of the drugs without a valid prescription could face a felony charge punishable with up to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000. Pregnant women in possession of mifepristone and misoprostol for their own consumption are exempt from such penalties. Louisiana doctors are also permitted under the law to prescribe the drugs.

A group of nearly 270 Louisiana physicians, health care providers and medical students signed a letter to the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Thomas Pressly, expressing concerns over the reclassification.

A White House spokesperson told CNN the administration is “very concerned” about efforts to restrict access to mifepristone.

“Make no mistake: these laws are not driven by concerns over women’s health,” the spokesperson said. “This is about coming after women’s right to access reproductive health care since Roe v. Wade was overturned—with devastating effects on women’s health and lives that we’ve already seen in Louisiana and other states across the country.”

A new job opportunity from ! Head to the link in their bio to learn more.

Repost • We are hiring a part-time Evaluation Manager to join our team! 📢

Visit the link in bio for the full job description and application.

EXCERPT:

“S*xual diversity activists planted themselves in front of the country’s health ministry on Friday (17 May), coinciding with the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), to demand the government repeal the decree. 

Although homos*xuality is legal in Peru, and some discrimination laws exist, the country still doesn’t recognise same-s*x marriage.

The decree, signed by Peruvian president Dina Boluarte, defines “transs*xualism” and “gender-identity disorder in children” as mental illnesses.

The decree has provoked uproar, with Jheinser Pacaya, the director of OutfestPeru, previously posting on X/Twitter that the South American country’s transgender community will not rest until it is repealed.

Last week, hundreds of people gathered in the capital, Lima, to protest. “Our lives are also valuable, your indolence is killing us,” one banner read. 

In a statement last week, the health ministry said that, despite the decree, LGBTQ+ people should not be subjected to so-called conversion therapies and pointed to a 2021 resolution which protects against the practice.”

Many people have critiqued the efficacy of our current s*x-education curriculums. Most s*x ed in schools starts in fifth grade but, because guidelines are decided on the state or local level, their content varies wildly. For example, of the 30 states that require s*x education, only five require it to be “comprehensive.”

In recent years, there has been a push for a more LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum, which is sorely needed. Many scholars and educators also advocate for the inclusion of other health topics, including mental health, relationships, and s*xual violence. While these are steps in the right direction, there is still something missing. Today’s s*x education fails to address its true history and legacy — the harms of which echo for today’s youth of color and disabled youth.

The truth is, s*x education in America is rooted in racial eugenics. The hygiene movement of the early 20th century equated public health and cleanliness to the preservation of morality and white purity. Black and Brown folks, stereotyped as criminal and deviant, were deemed a “public health threat.” S*x education became a means of controlling the reproduction of minority communities.

Eugenicist practices like early 20th century s*x education are also linked to ableist histories and policies. The historical and ongoing misconception that people with disabilities are inherently as*xual has resulted in the ableist repression of s*xuality by any means possible — not only resulting in a lack of s*x education for disabled folks, but also institutionalization and forced sterilization.

These histories are far from over. A lack of reproductive autonomy is still a pressing issue, especially in s*x education. According to a 2009 study from the Washington University School of Law, Black students are more likely to receive abstinence-only s*x education than white students. A 2012 study also shows that students with disabilities are less likely to receive s*x education in schools than their non-disabled peers.

[cont in comments]

So important and helpful! To all the disabled babes, is there anything to would add to the list?

Repost • ***rings*x ☁️💖 more tips for disabled babes! ☁️💖

🙌🏻 Save this post to come back to these tips, for yourself or partner(s) because 1/3 LGBTQ+ adults have a disability/chronic illness!

There are so many tools and toys to support more accessible pleasure! Swipe to learn more! 🌶️🌺

1️⃣ Check out toys designed for disabled folks
2️⃣ Invest in s*x furniture that meets your needs
3️⃣ For those with pelvic pain, try PFT +/or a pelvic wand
4️⃣ Try adapted cuffs + b0ndage gear
5️⃣ Try strap-on hip or thigh harnesses
6️⃣ Sensitive? Try hypoallergenic l***s
7️⃣ Look into adaptive lingerie
8️⃣ Wear compression garments during s*x

💭 What toys and tools have you found helpful? Share in the comments! 👇🏻
Hi! 👋 If you’re new here, we’re the authors of this post!

I’m Radikal! 🫶🏼 I support q***r, k!nky, disabled + nonmonogamous humans in creating safer s*x and navigating chronic illness 🌞 follow ***rings*x to join our little circle!

I’m Eva Bloom! 🌸 I help late bloomers build confidence, q***r joy, and have amazing seggs! 🌈 Follow me at  join the community!

EXCERPT:

“According to new statistics from the Association of American Medical Colleges, for the second year in a row, students graduating from U.S. medical schools were less likely to apply this year for residency positions in states with abortion bans and other significant abortion restrictions.

Fourteen states, primarily in the Midwest and South, have banned nearly all abortions. The new analysis by the AAMC — a preliminary copy of which was exclusively reviewed by KFF Health News before its public release — found that the number of applicants to residency programs in states with near-total abortion bans declined by 4.2%, compared with a 0.6% drop in states where abortion remains legal.

Notably, the AAMC’s findings illuminate the broader problems abortion bans can create for a state’s medical community, particularly in an era of provider shortages: The organization tracked a larger decrease in interest in residencies in states with abortion restrictions not only among those in specialties most likely to treat pregnant patients, like OB-GYNs and emergency room doctors, but also among aspiring doctors in other specialties.

In its analysis, the AAMC said an ongoing decline in interest in ban states among new doctors ultimately “may negatively affect access to care in those states.”

The AAMC analysis notes that even in states with abortion bans, residency programs are filling their positions — mostly because there are more graduating medical students in the U.S. and abroad than there are residency slots.

Another consideration: Most graduating medical students are in their 20s, “the age when people are starting to think about putting down roots and starting families,” said Gray, who added that she is noticing many more students ask about politics during their residency interviews.

And because most young doctors make their careers in the state where they do their residencies, “people don’t feel safe potentially having their own pregnancies living in those states” with severe restrictions, said Debra Stulberg, chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Chicago.”

Repost • Remember, friends. The reason why we don’t talk about disability and loneliness is because there is an unspoken belief that disabled people deserve to be alone. Because we are different than the norm, people believe that we should be alone. That’s why we need to talk about how disability and loneliness impacts disabled people.

Love this!! Dates don’t always/ever have to include going out and spending money. Is there anything you would add to the list?

Repost • Date ideas:

• Take a yoga class together
• Go for a walk
• Take a cooking class
• Go on a bike ride
• Play a board game
• Visit a local coffee shop
• Go for a drive
• Go out for a meal
• Watch a movie
• Ask each other open-ended questions
• Listen to a podcast together
• Take a bath or shower together
• Give each other a massage
• Cook a meal together
• Sit by a bonfire together
• Look through old photos together
• Play mini golf
• Go bowling
• Make a picnic in the park
• Go to a drive-in movie
• Visit a botanical garden or arboretum
• Go berry/apple picking
• Go for a manicure/pedicure together
• Visit an amusement park
• Garden together
• Visit a museum or art gallery
• See a live music performance
• Read a book aloud to each other
• Go to a paint night
• Do a DIY project
• Learn a new craft
• Work on a puzzle
• Put together a lego set
• Window shop
• Play a video game

EXCERPT:

“The protestors, which numbered over 10,800, represented over 800 groups that wanted to air their frustration with right-wing French lawmakers who proposed legislation limiting gender-affirming care in France, according to international news outlet France 24. The law is scheduled to be debated to be on May 28.

According to legal news outlet JURISTNews, the 340-page report, similar to the UK’s Cass Review, attempts to parse the “scientific and medical discourse surrounding gender identity and s*x change in children.” Based on the report, legislators are looking to ban puberty blockers and other forms of gender-affirming care for minors. Those who violate the bill would be fined €30,000, or approximately $32,305.

“Today, there is an urgent need to defend the rights of all people at a time when right-wing and far-right politicians are attacking the rights of trans people and disseminating false information about trans-identifying children,” one organizer, who asked not to be named, told France 24.

In a statement posted online, and translated by LGBTQ+ outlet PinkNews, the group drew connections between anti-trans sentiment in France and similar political momentum in the U.K. and U.S

LGBTQ+ rights index EqualDex ranks France 20th in q***r and trans rights worldwide, ahead of both the United States ( #27) and the U.K. ( #28), but behind other European nations such as Spain ( #6) and Germany ( #11).”

Please send this to whoever may need to hear it.

ID: a text post from that depicts a tweet from Erin R Johnson, MPH. The tweet reads “I don’t know who needs to hear this, but there is no shame in having multiple abortions. The right number of abortions is however many allow you to build the life and family you want.”. The tweet is set against a white and light purple backdrop.

Repost • There is NOTHING shameful about abortion 💜

EXCERPT:
“LGBTQ+ workers who are misgendered by their employers or blocked from accessing restrooms consistent with their gender identity will now get additional workplace protections as a result of new guidance issued Monday by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

It’s the first time in 25 years that the EEOC has issued new rules on workplace discrimination — a change precipitated in part by the 2020 Supreme Court case Bostock v. Clayton County, the landmark decision that found that LGBTQ+ workers are protected from workplace discrimination.

Under the new guidance, employers who consistently call workers by the wrong pronouns or name could be found to be creating a hostile work environment. Similarly, denying an employee access to a bathroom, or other s*x-segregated facility such as a lactation or changing room, appropriate with their gender identity could be committing workplace harassment. The guidance goes into effect immediately.

The new guidance also details protections that extend to remote workers and pregnant workers.

The guidelines were approved by a 3-2 vote in the five-member commission, including by Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal.

“There is no conflict between demanding rights for women and for all transgender people,” said Ria Tabacco Mar, director of the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project, in a statement. “Attacking trans people does nothing to address the real problems women face. As feminists, we reject efforts to appropriate the rhetoric of ‘women’s rights’ to inflict harm on trans people, men or women.”

EXCERPT:

“A federal appeals court has ruled that state insurance policies in West Virginia and North Carolina are discriminatory for refusing to cover gender-affirming care. This marks the first time that an appellate court has weighed in on whether state insurance exclusions of gender-affirming care are lawful, per ABC News. The case could be headed to the Supreme Court, NBC News reported.

On Monday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 8-6 in favor of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit Kadel v. Folwell, which challenged North Carolina’s coverage exclusion, and Fain v. Crouch, which challenged West Virginia’s exclusion. The former was initially filed in 2019, and the latter in 2020. North Carolina’s insurance plan categorically excluded coverage of gender-affirming care for trans government employees and their dependents, whereas West Virginia withheld coverage of gender-affirming surgery from Medicaid recipients.

The court’s opinion upheld the lower court rulings in both cases, finding that both were “obviously discriminatory” on the basis of gender identity and s*x. “A policy that conditions access to gender-affirming surgery on whether the surgery will better align the patient’s gender presentation with their s*x assigned at birth is a policy based on gender stereotypes,” Circuit Judge Roger Gregory wrote. He gave the example of mastectomies, which are a procedure that can be performed on anyone who has breast tissue regardless of their “biological s*x.” If someone who was assigned male were to undergo a mastectomy for gender-affirming purposes (as cis men with gynecomastia sometimes do) that would be covered under these insurance policies; if someone were assigned female, however, that procedure would not be covered.

The decision has potentially far-reaching implications. Sruti Swaminathan, a staff attorney at Lambda Legal, told Them, “While technically the decision only binds those two systems, the Fourth Circuit governs all of the states in its jurisdictions, and they would do well to heed the clear instruction that this kind of discrimination is unlawful.”

Repost • For Taliyah Murphy, a transgender woman and small business owner living in Colorado Springs, starting her gender transition helped her focus on her education as she developed her career — but she faced near-impossible barriers at every turn.

She started her transition while incarcerated with the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC), which repeatedly denied her gender-affirming care. Her story is included in a class action lawsuit filed in 2019 that alleges Murphy and other incarcerated women were frequently subjected to s*xual and physical violence, and their requests for medical care were routinely ignored, in violation of the state constitution and Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.

That suit resulted in a groundbreaking legal agreement known as a “consent decree” that requires Colorado to overhaul how it houses incarcerated transgender women and provides medical care to all trans people behind bars. To learn more about the case and the precedent it sets, click the link in our bio.

EXCERPT:

“A common myth surrounding le***an s*x is that you can’t catch s*xually transmitted infections (STIs). This couldn’t be more wrong. STIs can affect anyone of any gender or s*xual orientation, and there are still risks for women who have s*x with women (WSW).

Le****ns can indeed get STIs, with the most common within WSW communities being those that can be spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes.

Experts have said that while contracting HIV is a very low risk for cisgender women who have s*x with only other cisgender women, there are still issues of which q***r women should be aware.

When cis women do test positive for HIV, it is more commonly attributed to another factor, such as injecting drugs, or having had s*x with men, she added.

According to Aidsmap, trans women are more likely to have HIV, so for some trans le***ans, using condoms, taking the medicine pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and getting tested regularly, could be important steps to avoid infection.

Le****ns and WSW can have safer s*x by getting tested regularly, attending cervical screenings and, in some cases, using condoms or barrier protection during s*x, according to the experts.

More widely, there can be a stigma for women and the LGBTQ+ community looking for medical help or advice, with eight per cent of q***r people and 22 per cent of transgender men and women avoiding healthcare settings because of experiencing – or fearing – discrimination.

Finding an LGBTQ+-inclusive s*xual-health clinic, or checking for STIs using a free at-home test kit can be a good way of getting a check-up for those uncomfortable using their local services.”