The UK Government is signalling a significant shift in its approach to healthcare for transgender and non-binary young people, with a minister suggesting a move away from medical interventions such as puberty blockers. Speaking during a Commons debate on Tuesday, 13 January, Health Minister for Secondary Care Karin Smyth said the Government supports transitioning away […]
Three of the world’s leading trans healthcare bodies have raised serious ethical objections to the UK government’s proposed PATHWAYS trial for puberty blockers, warning that the study may violate internationally recognised standards for clinical research. In a joint statement released on 9 January, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the European counterpart (EPATH), […]
Queer Liberation Boorloo has announced a rally this Saturday in response to the Northern Territory government’s decision to ban puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormone therapy for transgender children in the Australian state. The group is calling on the community to mobilise in solidarity with young trans people, following a spate of policy rollbacks in 2025 that have […]
Test’n’Treat is a free, peer-led sexual health service in Auckland offering rapid STI and HIV testing, treatment and prevention — no appointment needed. What Is Test’n’Treat? Test’n’Treat is a walk-in sexual health clinic run by Body Positive in partnership with Auckland Sexual Health. It’s designed to be: Fast: Get tested and treated on the same […]
Dr Mataroria Lyndon answers your health-related questions. How often do you recommend queer men and trans women get STI tests? For sexually active queer men and trans women, I recommend having a sexual health check every three months if you have multiple partners or new partners. If you’re in a monogamous relationship and both partners […]
What if STI testing didn’t start with a swab — but with a conversation? That’s one of the quieter revolutions behind Test’n’Treat, New Zealand’s first peer-led sexual health clinic. While headlines have focused on the clinic’s speed (test today, get treated today), there’s another story unfolding in the rooms at Body Positive’s Auckland offices — […]
YOUR EX’s Oliver Hall talks to Body Positive Executive Director Mark Fisher about the organisation’s new sexual health clinic, Test’n’Treat, and how this community-first model is changing healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s a sunny Thursday afternoon on Karangahape Road, and you’ve just turned onto Poynton Terrace to walk into a sexual health clinic. But […]
New research from ILGA World has revealed that only 1 in 5 countries globally have laws that explicitly protect LGBTI+ students from bullying in schools — leaving the vast majority of queer and gender-diverse youth vulnerable to harassment, abuse, and systemic neglect. According to ILGA’s latest data, just six countries — Andorra, Finland, Greece, the […]