Take care of each other
People attending Mardi Gras celebrations in Sydney this weekend are being urged to play safe and look after each other.
ACON is advising revellers to maintain a 鈥榗ulture of care鈥� in relation to HIV, sexual health, street safety, and alcohol and other drugs.
鈥淲e鈥檙e urging gay men to help prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmissible infections (STIs) by using condoms and water-based lube when they鈥檙e having sex with casual partners,鈥� ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill said.
鈥淪yphilis and gonorrhoea are both on the increase among gay men in Sydney so it鈥檚 important to protect yourself and others by using condoms.
鈥淚f you think you may have been at risk of getting an STI, it鈥檚 important to get tested at a general practice or sexual health service as soon as possible. Getting tested for HIV and other STIs is also an essential part of maintaining good sexual health, not to mention peace of mind. And if gay men do test positive for STIs, it鈥檚 important that they take time out from sex to ensure the infection is not passed on to others in the community.
鈥淎lso, same-sex attracted young women are almost five times more likely to get an STI than heterosexual woman. So we鈥檙e encouraging young lesbians to negotiate safe sex and get tested regularly.鈥�
info: Visit www.acon.org.au
