More than 80 European businesses have now signed up to a safe sex campaign started by Brighton University and the Terrence Higgins Trust.
The news was announced yesterday (1 December) to coincide with World Aids Day.
The businesses have all signed up to the Everywhere project, which is fighting the rise of HIV in European gay tourist destinations.
The project is being led in Britain by Dr Nigel Sherriff of the International Health Development Research Centre at the university, and Ben Tunstall from the Terrence Higgins Trust.
Everywhere aims to prevent new infections through gaining the commitment of “gay” businesses in Europe such as pubs, clubs and hotels.
It sets out a series of European HIV prevention standards which are common across partner countries.
The idea is to create safer environments for gay men when it comes to sexual health whether at home or abroad.
The number of businesses to have signed up has leapt from an initial 30 to 82 in recent months, with businesses in Britain, Italy, France, Poland, Cyprus, Slovenia, Hungary and Spain taking part.
Dr Sherriff said: “Everywhere is aimed at gay businesses such as bars, pubs, clubs, saunas, travel agents, hotels and dating websites.
“The idea is to make Everywhere an internationally recognised symbol.
“Businesses which take part will gain an Everywhere Seal of Approval showing that they are committed to the sexual health of their customers and the wider gay community.”
Taking part in Everywhere means that businesses will agree to provide
- Free condoms and lube
- Information on where to get tested and treated for HIV and STIs
- Information on how to protect yourself and your partners from HIV and STIs
- Regular staff updates about HIV/STI issues and the Everywhere Project
- Commitment to anti-discrimination in relation to HIV positive staff and customers.
Dr Sherriff said that any businesses that meet these standards can then receive Everywhere branding and certificates to display.
He said: “This will give a clear message to customers that condoms will be available and sexual health is taken seriously.”
Dr Sherriff, Everywhere project manager at the university, said: “Embracing the European dimension is one of the most important things about this project – this is the first time anyone has tried to achieve a common set of HIV standards across different countries.
“Some countries already have their own guidelines and codes, such as France, which sets out some of the highest standards in the union.
“But having a diversity of standards can be problematic.
“The benefit of Everywhere is that the standards are common across all participating countries.
“So whether you’re in Brighton or Madrid, Budapest or Warsaw, if you see a business which has the Everywhere logo, you’ll know that venue takes your health seriously.”
He said that for many venues, having the Everywhere Seal of Approval was good for business.
Brighton Kemptown Conservative MP Simon Kirby also marked World Aids Day yesterday by taking a rapid HIV test during a parliamentary reception at the House of Lords.
Mr Kirby was given a simple finger-prick blood test and was provided with a negative result within 15 minutes.
The event was organised by the HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust to back efforts to increase HIV testing.
Currently, one in four people with HIV in Britain do not know they have it.
This is bad for their health and the health of others as they are not getting vital treatment and are statistically more likely to pass on the virus.
Mr Kirby, vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on HIV & AIDS, said: “I am delighted to support this vitally important issue.
“We all need to work together to increase HIV testing because it is in everyone’s interests.
“I hope that this World Aids Day more people who may have been at risk of HIV will decide to get tested.
“People used to think an HIV diagnosis was like a death sentence, but HIV treatment has moved on so much in the last few years.
“An HIV diagnosis today is something that could save your life, because as long as you get the treatment in time, you can expect to live well into old age.”
Sir Nick Partridge, chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “We’re so pleased Simon is helping us to raise awareness of this important issue.
“People with undiagnosed HIV are not only putting their own health at risk, they are also more likely to pass the virus on unwittingly.
“So it’s vital we encourage more people to come forward for testing.”
