Maggie Baska

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Sharp drop in new UK HIV cases due to people having less sex during COVID, data suggests

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(Wallocha/ullstein bild via Getty Images) People changing their patterns of sexual behaviour because of COVID has led to a staggering drop in new HIV diagnoses, according to UK government data. On World AIDS Day 2021 (1 December), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) released data about HIV testing, new diagnoses and the ability to access HIV services in 2020. This new data revealed that the total number of new HIV diagnoses in England dropped by 33 per cent. According to the data, there were 2,630 new diagnoses in 2020 compared to 3,950 in 2019. Among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex […]

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Experimental one-time ‘functional cure’ for HIV begins human trials

A unique, one-time treatment for HIV has been given the green light to begin human trials by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Excision BioTherapeutics can now begin using the gene-editing treatment, called CRISPR, to explore if the process could potentially function as a treatment for HIV. Their treatment, EBT-101, uses CRISPR to cut out several pieces of the HIV genome through a one-time treatment. Daniel Dornbusch, CEO of Excision, said the clearance of EBT-101 “represents an important milestone” for the company and is the “result of years of commitment to developing a functional cure for individuals living with HIV”. “Although […]

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Trans woman forced to flee Malaysia says she was ‘sexually assaulted’ by officials

Nur Sajat, a trans social media personality and businesswoman who fled Malaysia, was allegedly sexually assaulted by religious officers. The cosmetics entrepreneur fled the country in January after she was charged with breaking Sharia law by wearing a dress at a religious event in 2018. She faces up to three years in prison, which supposedly brought “contempt” to Islam. The Washington Post reported Sajat was arrested on 8 September by Thai police for entering the country illegally, and a police official said the deportation process was underway. ​​Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, told the South China Morning Post that Sajat had […]

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California law requires gender-neutral area in some stores

California has become the first state to adopt a law requiring large stores to display children’s products like toys and toothbrushes in gender-neutral ways. The new law, signed by governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday (9 October), says that retail stores with a “total of 500 or more employees across all California retail department store locations” must sell toys and childcare products outside areas specifically labelled by gender. The legislation adds the gender-neutral section must display a “reasonable selection” of items, “regardless of whether they have been traditionally marketed for either girls or for boys”. The law will go into effect on 1 […]

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Trans man challenges Japan’s cruel, archaic gender laws

Gen Suzuki, a Japanese trans man, has filed a request with a Japanese court legally change his gender without having to undergo surgery and be sterilised. Suzuki, 46, filed a request on Monday (4 October) with the Hamamatsu branch of the Shizuoka Family Court to alter his family registry to align with his gender identity, Mainichi reported. Currently, Japanese law requires transgender people to get sterilised before they can legally change their gender. According to Mainichi, any changes to family registers in Japan, which record information about an individual including their gender and familial relationships, require permission from family courts. After filing the […]

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Japan’s new prime minister could herald a ‘historic moment’ for LGBT+ rights

Japan is about to get a new prime minister – and two candidates in particular have the potential to transform LGBT+ rights, including same-sex marriage. After the current Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga decided to step down a year into his term, his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is set to choose a successor on Wednesday (29 September). The election is a “historic moment” for Japan – not just because two of the four candidates are women, but also because two candidates support same-sex marriage. Alexander Dmitrenko is a co-founder and co-chair of Lawyers for LGBT & Allies Network (LLAN) and a counsel […]

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Community mourns 37th trans person violently killed in 2021, Brianna Hamilton

Brianna Hamilton, a Black trans woman who was “loved by many”, is being mourned as the 37th trans person violently killed in America so far this year. Hamilton, also known as Brianna Ulmer, was fatally shot in Chicago, Illinois on 17 September. She was 25 years old. Her death was confirmed by LaSaia Wade of Brave Space Alliance. The Black- and trans-led LGBT+ centre in Chicago posted a photograph and tribute to Hamilton on its Facebook page. “Brianna Hamilton rest in power my luv, she was found two days ago killed on the south side of Chicago.” The Chicago Sun-Times reported that officers found Hamilton with […]

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NFL history made as Carl Nassib becomes first out player to take to the field

Las Vegas Raiders star Carl Nassib has made history as the first openly gay player to play during an NFL game. Nassib contributed to the Raiders nail-biting 33-27 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday (13 September). Nassib, who came out publicly as gay in June, told reporters that he was happy the team got to win on the “day I kind of made a little bit of history”. “I had a lot of people come before me in the LGBTQ community that helped me get to where I am, and I’m super thankful for that,” Nassib said, USA Todayreported. He added that the […]

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California poised to become the first state to outlaw ‘stealthing’

California could soon become the first state to outlaw “stealthing”, the vile practice of removing a condom during sex without verbal consent. State lawmakers sent a bill to governor Gavin Newsom’s desk on Tuesday (7 September) that would add the act to California’s civil definition of sexual battery, the Associated Press reported. The proposed bill, AB 453, would allow victims to sue perpetrators who removed a condom without verbal consent for damages, including punitive damages. However, according to the Washington Post, the California bill stops short of classifying nonconsensual condom removal as a crime that could result in jail time. Similar bills on stealthing […]

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Barbaric conversion therapy practice forced to pay millions after patients allege abuse

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A New Jersey appeal court has upheld a massive $3.5 million fine against a conversion therapy practice, which was shut down after former patients alleged widespread abuse. On Tuesday (6 July), the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey upheld a previous judgement against Jewish Institute for Global Awareness (JIFGA) – formerly known as Jews Offering New Alternatives (JONAH). JONAH was a nonprofit that claimed to be able to cure patients of same-sex attractions. Former clients and practitioners have been locked in a heated legal battle for years. The Southern Poverty Law Center, who brought the initial lawsuit on […]

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