The second day Jason spoke about activism coming from the porn industry, and the work of Porn4PrEP in collaboration with healthcare institutions. The work was highlighted along with the teaching approach of context-dependent memory: a psychological principle that found when a learner is in the same emotional state as when they learned information, they can recall that information 50% better. This principle is well-known and applied in many industries but rarely applied to sex education. If harm from STIs is to be taken seriously, the approach should be explored. Porn4PrEP was doing just that.

The third day Jason reminded those in the forum the importance of not separating HIV stigma from homophobia, as he had noticed during attendance. Yes, not everyone who catches HIV is a gay man. But addressing homophobia is a very direct way of reducing HIV stigma, which has become very intertwined culturally. Reducing homophobia can reduce barriers for some people coming in for HIV testing, regardless of their sexuality. Jason listed a number of effective ways that homophobia can be addressed: from the obvious, such as decriminalisation in nations; to the often overlooked, such as perspectives addressing hygiene fears surrounding anal sex by making douching more common knowledge. Other methods included the alternative interpretations of original Abrahamic faith texts. A link was made between patriarchal cultures and seeing homosexuality as more feminine, suggesting that gay men could be treated with less respect in this circumstance. All these approaches had impacts on HIV rates by fear of association.

During the forum, Jason and Ashton participated and spoke in a number of specialist sessions, such as asking what the world had learned from watching the UK try for PrEP. Porn4PrEP was well received and made its mark for porn actors.

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The PrEP Impact Trial has been announced to start in September.

Why has it taken so long?

Plans have been delayed for many reasons, including developing the infrastructure for making PrEP available, training medical professionals, and identifying who is eligible to have PrEP in England.

What does this mean?

With NHS England using generic versions of PrEP, Gilead, the manufacturer of Truvada, is under pressure to match the price of generics. With the trial underway, the NHS can look at taking PrEP beyond a trial and creating wider UK access. Wales, Scotland and England are making progress with PrEP, but other parts of the British Isles are likely to progress slower. One strength of having the trial in action means that results can be collected on its effectiveness against HIV, and how cost-effective it is for the NHS. The argument for PrEP on the NHS is much stronger, with figures and results to back it up.

How can I participate in the trial?

If you’d like to participate in the PrEP Impact Trial and are based in mainland England, visit your local GUM clinic from September. If you’re outside mainland England, visit PrEPWatch to see what is happening for you locally, and how to demand PrEP in your area.

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Porn4PrEP has worked with Public Health England, who were given responsibility from NHS England, to organise roll-out plans for PrEP. With community feedback groups, Public Health England developed a strategy to do so. Unfortunately, without the same resources as NHS England, they struggled to gain access to PrEP.

This news from Scotland makes it harder for NHS England to deny PrEP as an effective sexual health tool in the UK. Up to this point, Gilead has not reduced the cost price for PrEP enough, leading to ‘administration trials’ offering generic PrEP at lower costs.

Robert McKay, national director for Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland, said:

Today, Scotland has made history in the fight against the HIV epidemic. PrEP can now be used as a vital tool – alongside condom use, regular testing and early treatment – to help bring an end to HIV transmission in Scotland.

Porn4PrEP praises the progressiveness of NHS Scotland’s confidence to influence pharmaceutical companies to meet the needs of the nation.

Learn more in this article from The Guardian, which highlights the effectiveness of PrEP as a prevention tool:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/10/people-risk-hiv-scotland-prep-drug-nhs-aids

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