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Be Sure, Be Safe, Be Sexy is the message for visitors to Manchester Pride 2008

18 August 2008

Be Sure, Be Safe, Be Sexy is the message from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and partners to thousands of people who are preparing to converge on Manchester for the 18th annual Pride Festival over this coming bank holiday weekend, with a new web site besurebesafebesexy.com to provide all the information you need for a happy and healthy time.

Manchester Pride 2008, the annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual event, attracts visitors from every part of the UK and the continent of Europe to a range of events including a colourful parade.

“This weekend has established itself as one of the highlights of the calendar in Manchester. The carnival atmosphere encourages people to let their hair down and enjoy themselves,” said Dr. Lorraine Lighton, HPA North West’s Regional Sexual Health lead.

“However, there is a risk that when people are in festive mood they may be tempted to take risks with their sexual health that they wouldn’t do otherwise. Manchester has some of the highest levels of sexually transmitted infections outside London, especially HIV and syphilis.

“So our message to our visitors is; enjoy our city and all the events and nightlife of this great weekend, but be sure you get checked if you think you may have put yourself at risk, be safe by using condoms to protect yourself and your partner, and then you can feel more confident about yourself and be sexy.”

“It would be a great shame if people came to Manchester to enjoy the festivities and left with unwanted souvenirs that tarnished forever their memories of a great festival. That is why we have been working with our partners in the NHS and the Lesbian and Gay Foundation to develop the besurebesafebesexy.com website. It provides all the information you need to keep healthy, including links to information about clinics and other sexual health services throughout the North West.”

Press release issued by Hugh Lamont, Regional Communications Manager, HPA North West. Tel 0151 482 5728 or 07764 906508.

 

 

Last reviewed: 19 August 2008