DC Centre in for a Capital Pride

It's all been going on in the American capital this week, first President Obama proclaimed June LGBT Pride Month, then Washington Pride kicked off and now the DC Centre HIV Working Group have been named the latest recipients of the LGF's Homo Heroes award.

The Gay/Bi/Trans HIV Prevention Working Group, a project of the DC Centre, was formed last year in response to the alarming rise in new incidences of HIV and other STIs among men who have sex with men within Washington and beyond.

The Working Group identifies gaps in the local HIV/STI prevention landscape, supports existing public health efforts, and initiates new prevention projects where there is an absence and need.

The DC project's safer sex kits were launched 29 May at Town Danceboutique, a gay club that is visted by thousands of patrons each weekend.

The safer sex kits come in two versions; the FUK!T and the TOOLK!T. Each kit is marketed for a different audience, the FUK!T is designed for more adult venues and the TOOLK!T is toned down a little for restaurants and businesses. Both kits contain two latex condoms, a lube sachet, and provide an excellent opportunity for safer sex messaging and targeted health alerts for the local gay community. The project also has a number of distribution points across the state.

The DC Centre are primed for a busy Washington Pride week, they will be distributing more than 20,000 FUK!Ts and TOOLK!Ts during the Pride festivities. Numerous organizations will be distributing the kits along the parade route and at booths during the street festival.

While living in Manchester, Dan O'Neill from the DC Centre was impressed by the LGF's condom and lube scheme, and decided he wanted to do something similar in Washington, he said:

"While living in Manchester in 2005, I was amazed how in the same moment gay men would ask bartenders for both a drink and a safer sex kit, which were often mounted on displays behind the bar-tops. If only, I thought, DC's gay culture could somehow do the same to reduce stigma around condom use by making them as equally easy to access, perhaps we could make some headway against our skyrocketing rates of HIV and other STIs."

O'Neill told the LGF: "It's been half a year since I got in touch with you regarding the safer sex kit campaign in Washington, inspired by your successful campaign in Manchester. I cannot thank you enough for your support early on, it has given us some great momentum in getting this project off the ground."

The LGF are proud to be associated with the DC Centre HIV Working Group and the great work they are doing in Washington, we wish them a happy Capital Pride and hope they enjoy their Homo Hero award.

This year the LGF's condom and lube scheme is 15 years old, for more information, click here.

LGF Sexual Health Outreach Clinic: For the new clinic times, click here.

Washington DC skyline photo taken by Flickr user jcolman, Creative Commons licensed