RedThread Issue 33 SPRING

ISSUE 33 SPRING 2019

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Sex, Mind, Body

Also in this issue:

04

Bent Air Joy

08

NSP

10

Hep C cure

+ Speaking out

The Tasmania Tuxedo + Intersection

From the editor

Spring edition

WELCOME TO ISSUE 33 OF RED THREAD. We love spring, don’t we. Teased by the warmer air and the lure of promise, we open up to sharing - our spare time, our plans for summer, our love of all things bright and beautiful.

based lube Margaret Atwood $17 wrote, ‘In the spring, at the ater based lube 75 ml $4 end of the day, you should smell like dirt.’ ater based lube 500 ml $10

A beautiful image, that reminds us of getting amongst it, like my ool Street, HOBART - 5pmfarmer friends’ pigs, in a new paddock that’s been prepared freshly for them.

This publication is an initiative of the

Tune in whenever you are in the big smoke and tell your Malben friends to keep an ear out for us on Wednesday nights at 11:00pm.

You’ll also find an article from the fellow Tasmanian street rag, Tas Editor: Health Promotion Program at the Matt Anning Tuxedo.

Go and have a look; you’ll Tasmanian Council on AIDS, Hepatitis Contributors: also find Speaking of sharing things, it’s a good idea to Matteo Senesi the latest on Hep C, the and Related Diseases, (TasCAHRD).

NSP, Hep A, TasPPL, and superstars start the seasonViews with expressed a sexual in health check Man2Man are too; Sarah Lenehan amongst messing it all up,authors thingsand candoget Blake the Northwest coast, Sam from those of the notfrisky Grant Matt Newell at this time of year. necessarily reflect the views of Watson and Alice Cuthbertson.

Tracey Wing

DLY ORTED BY

TasCAHRD.

At its easiest, sexual health starts with an Phone: 03 6234 1242 appointment with a sexual health clinic.

Email: projects@tascahrd.org.au The hard part is Post: overcoming the initial social GPO Box 595 Hobart barriers. That requires courage to have Tasmaniathe 7001 a chat. After thatWeb: it’s tascahrd.org.au the quickest in and out you’ll experience.

As we Man2ManTas always say here at Facebook: TasCAHRD, Testing is Sexy; if you can play with TasCAHRD receives funding from the confidence, then you are a turn-on.

Crown, through Department of Health

Our colleagues at TasCAHRD Design & Layout: Ede Magnussen Printing courtesy of: PROUDLY SUPPORTED Xerox Hobart

Human Services, tois provide In this edition ofand RedThread, there quitethese a bit services. of sharing going on. Congratulations to Finn, Arden and the guys and gals at Edge Radio; Our local Show BENT AIRin this mag?

Would you likeTasmanian to see your LGBTIQ businessRadio or service advertised is now syndicated

by Melbourne’s 94.9 Contact TasCAHRD for rates – pr ojec t s@t a scJOY ah rFM. d .o r g .au .

NG2 some of the content of this magazine may be offensive to some readers Red thread Magazine - Spring 2019

e Resource for Men in2 Men

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BY

CONTENTS

CONTRIBUTORS:

Bent Air Joy

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Hepatitis A vaccine for at risk groups

5

Tasmanian Project for Positive Living, TasPPL

6

Mind and body connection

7

NSP harm reduction

8

Hep C Test Cure Live

10

Speaking out: The Tasmania Tuxedo

12

Intersection: are sexual identity and sexual health linked?

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Artist profile: Alice Cuthbertson

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NSP outlets & pharmacies

20

Services directory

22

Editor Matt Anning

Robert Johnston

Design and Layout Voguish Design

Nikole Lane

Richelle Menzies Simone-Lisa Anderson Bethany Nolin Alice Cuthbertson The Tasmanian Tuxedo Finnian Danger

Did you know you can buy beppy sponges, condoms and lube at the TasCAHRD office?

Nigel Mallett House 319 Liverpool Street Hobart Open 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

WARNING: some of the content of this magazine may be offensive to some readers.

TasCAHRD receives funding from the Crown, through the Department of Health and Human Services, to provide these services.

Views expressed in Red thread are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of TasCAHRD. This publication is an initiative of the Health Promotion Program at the Tasmanian Council on AIDS, Hepatitis and Related Diseases (TasCAHRD).

Would you like to see your business or service advertised in this mag?

Contact TasCAHRD for rates – projects@tascahrd.org.au

$30 MEMBERSHIP

ISSUE

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TUMN

2018

ISSUE 26

Join or renew now and receive: • Free copy of this magazine to your home

27 AU

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• VIP invites to events and fundraisers Email or call now to join TasCAHRD or renew your membership. *all fees go directly towards providing material, emotional and social support to people living with HIV.

Email: mail@tascahrd.org.au or Phone: 03 6234 1242

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Australia says YES!

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Red thread Magazine - Spring 2019

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By Finnian Danger

Bent Air Joy

FOR OVER FOUR YEARS NOW, TASCAHRD HAS SUPPORTED BENT AIR, TASMANIA’S ONLY LGBTI RADIO PROGRAM. BENT AIR IS AN ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR QUEER PEOPLE LIVING IN HOBART AND BEYOND, COVERING LOTS OF LOCAL ISSUES, FEATURING GUESTS FULL OF KNOWLEDGE, AND SHARING INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE COMMUNITY. BENT AIR HAS GONE THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT HOSTS, TIME SLOTS AND SHOW STYLES, BUT CAME TO REST IN MY HANDS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. Between myself and my co-host Arden, we have a great time chatting to locals and dropping fun facts. Some of my personal show highlights include chatting to sex workers, discussing religion and being queer with a future Baptist pastor, laughing it up with drag queens, and getting serious about the ‘AIDS Crisis’. Bent Air really has something for everyone.

I’ve dropped into the mag today because I have some wonderful news you. As of August 10th, we have been syndicated by JOY 94.9FM, an entirely queer radio station over in Melbourne!

JOY is an independent voice for LGBTI folks and is listened to by over 500,000 people in Melbourne alone! This is huge for us and for TASCAHRD, and we want to thank JOY for reaching out across the ocean and putting us on their airwaves.

You can listen to Bent Air live on Edge Radio 99.3FM on Thursdays 11:00 am – 12:00pm, listen back on the website whenever you’d like, and now you can tune in on JOY 94.9FM in Melbourne on Wednesday nights from 11:00 pm.

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Red thread Magazine - Spring 2019

By Nikole Lane

Hepatitis A vaccine for at risk groups Program Fact Sheet Consumers Free hepatitis A vaccine is currently available for Tasmanians who are at increased risk of getting the disease in Australia.

What is hepatitis A? Hepatitis means inflammation or swelling of the liver. Hepatitis A is an infection caused by the hepatitis A virus.

How is hepatitis A spread?

Hepatitis A virus is in the faeces of an infected person and is spread when the virus from an infected person is swallowed by another person through: •

eating contaminated food

•

drinking contaminated water

• handling contaminated objects (eg soiled nappies from an infected person)

How many doses of hepatitis A vaccine are needed?

• direct contact (including sexual) with an infected person.

Two doses of vaccine given at least six months apart provide long-term protection against hepatitis A disease.

Immunisation provides very effective protection against hepatitis A infection.

Who is eligible for the free vaccine?

The program will continue until the end of April 2020. Tasmanians eligible for free vaccine include:

If you have had one dose of hepatitis A vaccine in the past there is no need to start the course again. You only require one more dose for long-term protection.

What else should I ask about?

• all men aged 16 to 69 years who have sex with men

At the same time, check if you are need, and are eligible for, free hepatitis B vaccine.

• any person who has injected drugs within the past 12 months

Where can I find more information about hepatitis A?

•

people who experience homelessness

•

inmates of correctional services.

•

DoH Hepatitis A Disease Fact sheet

Where is hepatitis A vaccine available?

• tasCAHRD (Tasmanian Council on AIDS, Hepatitis & Related Diseases)

Vaccine is available from general practitioners and sexual health clinics. The vaccine is free, but a consultation fee may be charged.

• Call the Public Health Hotline – Tasmania on 1800 671 738 to speak to a Clinical Nurse Consultant.

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By Richelle Menzies

Tasmanian Project for Positive Living, TasPPL I AM RICHELLE, THE NEW CLIENT SUPPORT COORDINATOR AT THE TASMANIAN PROJECT FOR POSITIVE LIVING, TASPPL. IN THIS ROLE I WILL BE SUPPORTING PEOPLE LIVING WITH, OR AT RISK OF, A BLOOD BORNE VIRUS (HIV, HEP B AND C), PROVIDING INFORMATION, CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION. I come to Tascahrd with over a decade at the Queensland AIDS Council (QuAC) as the Rainbow Pride @ Work Coordinator and a previous history working in sexual health, needle and syringe programs, women’s health and sexuality education.

I am looking forward to getting out and about around the state, connecting with organisations and people living with HIV and other blood borne viruses. It will be an opportunity to meet those already connected with Tascahrd, those who have not accessed our services before and those who may not know about us yet. I would love it if people could pass my details along to anyone who they think may be interested.

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Red thread Magazine - Spring 2019

On the plus side of a role like this I get to see this amazing state and meet interesting people, hearing their stories and exploring the ways TasPPL can support them. So, if you would like to connect with me drop me a line at people@tasppl.org.au or call 03 6234 1242 on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

By Richelle Menzies

Mind and body connection HAVE YOU EVER FELT THAT YOU CAN’T GET INTO SEX BECAUSE YOU WERE TOO MUCH IN YOUR HEAD? IT’S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND CAN STEM FROM A RANGE OF THINGS: INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS RELATED TO PERFORMANCE, BODY IMAGE, OR SELF-ESTEEM; STRESS OF WORK, STUDY, HEALTH, FINANCES OR LIFE IN GENERAL; PREVIOUS MESSAGES ABOUT SEX FROM FAMILY, PEERS, PARTNERS, SCHOOL OR CHURCH; OR SIMPLE LIFE EVENTS SUCH AS HAVE YOU LEFT THE IRON ON OR PAID THAT BILL. But on the flip side our brain is our biggest sex organ and can be what enhances our sexual interactions. The anticipation that our mind can create can increase our desire, fuel our imagination and have our body in a state of high excitement.

So how do we move from being in our heads in a way that impacts on our ability to enjoy sex, to a way that increases our capacity to be in the moment, in our bodies and experiencing pleasure?

Focus is the answer…..focus on pleasure, sensation, fantasy.

An easy way to practice this is to engage all of the senses: what you can see (your lovers body and face), hear (their breath or your own quickening with desire), smell (cologne, perfume or their own sexy musk), taste ( their lips, skin or your own) and finally touch (warm/cool and soft/hard of skin on skin).

Your mind may wander and that’s ok, don’t focus on the thoughts or try and push them away but let them drift on by, like leaves floating on a stream and just gently bring yourself back to your senses.

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By Bethany Nolin

NSP harm reduction PEOPLE USE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. THEY USE THEM FOR FUN, TO RELAX, TO SOCIALISE, OR TO COPE WITH DIFFICULT LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY USE DRUGS FOR THE EFFECTS THEY WANT TO EXPERIENCE; NOT FOR THE PROBLEMS THEY SOMETIMES CAUSE. IN AUSTRALIA, WE HAVE POLICIES THAT USE HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES TO MINIMISE THE HARMFUL IMPACTS OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. HARM REDUCTION IS A PRACTICAL AND EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH THAT RECOGNISES DRUG USE WILL HAPPEN AND IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS AND ALCOHOL THAN TRYING TO STOP USE ALTOGETHER.

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Red thread Magazine - Spring 2019

One of the major harms associated with injecting drugs is the transmission of blood borne viruses including HIV and hepatitis B and C. In response, Needle and Syringe Programs (NSP) have operated in Australia since 1986 and have been one of the most successful public health programs used to reduce transmission rates.

NSP outlets supply new, sterile injecting equipment for free or low cost to help decrease the re-use and sharing of equipment. Not only does this reduce blood borne virus transmission and exposure, but helps to reduce other health related harms associated with injecting drugs. Additionally, NSPs reduce the number of improperly discarded injecting equipment by providing safe disposal options.

Needle and Syringe Programs provide confidential and non-judgemental information, support, and resources to people who inject drugs. The provision of NSP services does not increase drug use nor does it encourage people to inject more frequently. Those who access NSPs are more likely to reduce or stop injecting drugs than those who don’t because of the opportunities for conversation with specialist workers. Importantly, NSPs can provide links to clinical services for the testing and treatment of blood borne viruses. Vending machines provide an option for people who want to access injecting equipment after hours.

Australia is known to have one of the best NSP models in the world, and has directly contributed to the decrease of hepatitis B, C, and HIV in both people who inject drugs and the wider community. While this is good for individual and community health, it is also beneficial to our economy. The savings to our healthcare system in avoided treatment costs for HIV alone is more than 20 times the cost of running NSP.

In Tasmania, there are over 100 Needle and Syringe Program outlets that operate through a range of different service providers. NSP outlets are categorised into primary and secondary outlets based on their location and the services they provide.

Primary outlets have been established specifically to provide NSP services, are staffed by specialist workers, and carry a range of injecting equipment. Secondary outlets provide injecting equipment as part of the services offered within a health or community organisation and have staff members who are trained to provide NSP duties.

Many pharmacies in Tasmania have also elected to be part of the Needle and Syringe Program and provide injecting equipment for a fee. For a complete list of Needle and Syringe Program outlets in Tasmania, please see page 20-22.

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By Robert Johnston

Hep C Test Cure Live HEPATITIS C – SOMETIMES CALLED HEP C OR HCV – IS A BLOOD BORNE VIRUS THAT CAUSES DAMAGE TO YOUR LIVER. YOU CAN GET HEPATITIS C IF YOUR BLOOD COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE BLOOD OF SOMEONE WHO HAS THE VIRUS. ANY BLOOD TO BLOOD CONTACT POSES A RISK. THIS MAY HAPPEN WHEN SHARING INJECTING EQUIPMENT, WHEN USING UNSTERILISED TATTOO AND BODY MODIFICATION EQUIPMENT, AND WHEN MEDICAL OR DENTAL PROCEDURES ARE PERFORMED WITH UNSTERILISED EQUIPMENT.

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Red thread Magazine - Spring 2019

If you get hepatitis C, the first six to 12 months of infection is called acute hepatitis C. During this time, some people will naturally clear the virus from their body. But most people will not clear the virus during this time, and they will then be living with chronic hepatitis C.

Sometimes, hepatitis C symptoms can be masked by other health problems. The only way to know for sure is to get a blood test.

Getting tested for hepatitis C begins with making an appointment with a doctor, nurse or clinic. This includes: •

General Practitioners

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Health Services •

Youth Health Services

Unless treated, chronic hepatitis C is a life-long illness.

•

Sexual Health Clinics

•

Viral Hepatitis Specialist Clinics

You can Be Treated and Cured of Hep C.

Checking for hepatitis C involves blood tests, but virus testing is not included in routine blood tests, so you need to make a specific request. Because hep C has an acute phase and a chronic phase, testing for hepatitis C may require more than one visit to your doctor and more than one blood test. Also, you may need to wait several months between having some of the tests to see if your body can naturally clear the virus. Not all doctors, nurses and clinics will take a blood sample for the blood tests, so you will be referred to a pathology clinic.

Before the year 2016, people living with chronic hepatitis C in Australia had limited options in terms of treatment. The old medications used to cure hep C needed to be taken for 6 – 12 months, were not very effective and could cause severe, sometimes long-lasting side effects.

Then along came direct- acting antivirals (DAAs). These new drugs can cure chronic hepatitis C in 8 to 12 weeks, have a cure rate of over 95% and deliver minimal side effects for most people. And unlike the old treatments, DAAs are taken orally – usually one tablet a day. Importantly, the new treatments are subsidised by the Australian government making them affordable and accessible to those with a Medicare Card or Health Care Concession Card. The Australian government has also provided unrestricted access to hepatitis C treatment, so DAAs are available to anyone over the age of 18 and a person can access DAAs more than once. Additionally, DAAs are available to people who are currently injecting drugs.

Hepatitis C is a slow acting virus and many people living with chronic hepatitis C do not experience any symptoms until their liver is already damaged; this can take many years.

If you test positive for chronic hepatitis C, your doctor, nurse or clinic will do a pre-treatment assessment to help them work out the best treatment for you. This could include more blood tests, an Ultrasound scan or a Fibroscan.

Both the Ultrasound and Fibroscan are simple, quick and pain free ways to check for liver damage.

The costs associated with getting tested for hepatitis C will vary. You will have to pay a consultation fee for visits to your doctor, nurse or clinic if they don’t bulk bill, and there may be out of pocket costs for blood tests if your doctor, nurse or clinic uses a private pathology service. Check with your choice of health professional for details to avoid getting caught out with an unexpected medical bill.

For more information: Call TasCAHRD on 03 6234 1242 Visit testcurelive.com.au

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The Tasmanian Tuxedo

Speaking out The Tasmania Tuxedo www.thetasmaniantuxedo.com A JOURNEY OF ACCEPTANCE ON TASMANIA’S NORTH WEST COAST TASMANIA’S NORTH WEST COAST PROVIDED SAM WATSON WITH AN IDYLLIC CHILDHOOD. FROM SOCCER, BASKETBALL AND SURF LIFESAVING THROUGH TO FISHING, KAYAKING, STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING AND BUSHWALKING. “I WAS VERY ACTIVE AS A KID AND EMBRACED EVERYTHING THAT THE OUTDOORS HAD TO OFFER. ULVERSTONE WAS A GREAT PLACE TO GROW UP AND I’LL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT IT GAVE ME.”

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Red thread Magazine - Spring 2019

“Growing up, I’ve always sought out experiences to broaden my understanding of the world. I have a real interest in political and international relations and have jumped at opportunities to be involved in events like the UN Youth, the Global Young Leaders Conference held in the USA, Youth Parliament, Lions Youth of the Year, My First Speech Competition, Tasmanians United for Marriage Equality, HEYWIRE and Australian Young Labor. They’ve all been great experiences – I’ve been able to learn and develop while influencing positive change.”

“I’d always been pretty open and flamboyant but coming out on the North West coast as a young gay man was a risky move. Historically it’s been a pretty sheltered community with attitudes that have traditionally been less than supportive. My home town, Ulverstone, was once labelled the most homophobic in Australia.”

“I always knew my family and close friends would be supportive. It was more the reaction of my Catholic school I was concerned about.

It was taken out of my hands one day…I’d walked out to recess to join a group of girlfriends…that morning they said ‘we know you’re gay, just tell us’…I panicked and ran off to the bathroom to calm down for a while. After I finally plucked up the courage to admit it to them, they were fine and we carried on as if nothing was any different.”

“I guess I noticed a little bit of backlash, but being the youngest of five I think I’m pretty resilient.” Sam goes on to explain, “I will always be grateful for the support I received from my teachers at school, however their personal support was not reflected by the Catholic Diocese. Just a few short weeks after I came out, they sent home a booklet to all families explaining why same-sex marriage was wrong.

It was then that I knew I needed to speak out.”

Sam’s political ambitions soon kicked in and he decided to get serious about campaigning for change. An issue so close to Sam’s own heart was not only set to benefit from his debating, campaigning and negotiating experience, but also from his youthful enthusiasm. “I really felt like if I was serious about taking on this issue, then I needed to be in Hobart and in a more supportive school. It was a really tough decision to move away from the community I had grown up in and wasn’t one I made lightly.”

A move to the state’s capital saw Sam land at The Friends’ School. “Friends’ allowed me to extend the realm of student leadership.

We hosted events and initiatives that really pushed students to inquire, and I could feel the community behind me whenever we did something to promote diversity. At our graduation last year, I encouraged the entire student body to use the fantastic education they were receiving to change the world for the better… and that’s honestly how I feel. I’m so grateful for what I received there.”

Surrounded by support, Sam channelled his energy into being the Young Spokesperson for Tasmanians United for Marriage Equality. “I was heavily involved in the campaign leading in to the postal vote and it allowed me to speak up for the rights of diverse young people. Campaigning is essentially a form of storytelling, so I got really good at telling mine.”

Recalling that period, Sam explains, “I was on my way to training one day when my friend told me his Nan wasn’t going to vote yes until she read my story. I knew then that if I had just managed to change one mind, then sharing my own story was worth it.” He laughs as he speaks about his own family, “All my family have been great. I remember Nan ringing to tell me she’d run all the way to the post box to vote yes.”

Despite the positive outcome of the postal vote, Sam says it took its toll on many in the

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Red thread Magazine - Winter 2019

community. “The fact my home voted yes really made me feel supported, however the bitter debate that ensued throughout the campaign came at a cost and damaged people in ways that will take years to repair.”

Sam embraced the chance to document a raw and honest account of his experiences by submitting an audio recording for ABC’s Heywire competition. The annual call for stories from youth in regional areas puts young Australians at the centre of conversations that shape their communities. Sam laughs about the response he received from the organisers, “They called me to ask two questions… ‘Is this actually a true story? And ‘Are you really from Ulverstone?’ When I answered yes to both, they said ‘Well guess what, you’ve won.”

“It was nice to finally tell my story like that,” says Sam of the Heywire experience. “While my friends had their girlfriends and public kisses, I had to keep mine secret – we shunned each other in public. Ulverstone was declared the most homophobic town in Australia by Lonely Planet, that gives you a pretty good idea of what I was dealing with. Only a few years before I was born, anti-gay rallies were still being held in the civic centre in town and being gay was a criminal offence.”

Tasmania imposed harsh penalties for homosexual activity right up until 1997, at which point it became the last Australian jurisdiction to decriminalise homosexuality. Following the change, political and social attitudes morphed rapidly, favouring LGBTQI+ rights and leading to

Tasmania becoming the first Australian state to introduce a relationship registration scheme to include same-sex couples.

This vibrant and confident young man is optimistic about the future. “I really hope to reach others and promote more open conversations,” says Sam. “Tassie has had a 25 year transition… we’ve gone from homosexuality being a criminal offence to us now having the best laws in the country. That’s great progress, but there’s still more to be done.”

Sam’s quick to identify some of the gaps.

“While winning the debate and legalising same-sex marriage was an important step forward, we have a way to go yet and it’s why I continue to advocate for LGBTQI+ support in schools, especially for youth living in rural Australia. I know my home town still has a lack of role models and support services,” he states.

“There’s no same-sex sex education in schools.

Yes, we talk about being accepting, kind and welcoming but that’s just part of it. We have a lot more to do in terms of support services and visibility.”

Words + images courtesy of The Tasmanian Tuxedo. Read the full story over on www.thetasmaniantuxedo.com

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By Simone-Lisa Anderson

Intersection:

are sexual identity and sexual health linked?

Ok… bear with me for a moment...

If the World Health Organisation currently defines sexual health as” “…a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity.

Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled.” (WHO, 2006a) and sexual identity can be split into: Sexual orientation: An inherent or immutable enduring emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to other people, and: Gender Identity: One’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves.

One’s gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth and then let’s add this for a deeper understanding (from the Human Rights Campaign): Gender expression: External appearance of one’s gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, haircut or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine.

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The we have to ask: Are these all inherently linked?

In my humble opinion (I say with an intersex sway)… yes.

Now, let me support my statement.

I won’t write about the statistics of intersex people and STIs - because the data is swayed towards the other letters. I won’t quote international data and observational data, because that doesn’t help us understand the situation. Instead, I will write about my experiences as a parent of an intersex child.

For those who are still shaking their heads with confusion, let me write about fertility.

It’s just one of many examples, of sexual health matters that affect intersex people.

Some intersex people are infertile – yep, you heard it first here, from me – infertile. Or in my child’s case, infertile until pumped full of hormones to encourage the production of gametes.

As most people are aware, intersex is an umbrella term for a variety of ways of explaining the spectrum between totally male and totally female in the spectrum of biological sex. (There are so many spectrums that I thought I might be a bit specific at this stage). This definition is one I made up. It’s not so much a definition; it’s more an idea of explaining intersex in basic terms.

So, when we dissect this question, we note that the sexual health of some intersex people is actually a physical issue. The lack of gamete production without support means that the right to reproduction is reduced. This then brings the mental, emotional and social wellbeing of some intersex people into a cultural space that suggests reproduction is inherently expected.

The sexual identities of many intersex people are wide and varied, just like the general population at large. The one I gave birth to identifies as heterosexual (currently) and identifies with one side of the spectrum (always). This means my child has some serious cultural expectations to fulfil, with

some ignorant people demanding those expectations. I see this every birthday, every cultural holiday when relatives gather. No one really wants to hear the why; they just want their expectations filled to support their ideologies of the child’s sexual identity and their suggested but not apparent sexual health.

They have no real idea of the impact their expectations have.

I believe that cultural ideologies are the magnetic force behind the links between the two fields of sexual health and sexual identity.

The example above is reality for some intersex people. For them, the answer is yes, both sexual health and sexual identity are linked - with large metal bands (think big heavy chain) - in the current cultural quagmire we live in...

And, as always, the way forward is through education.

This is my I-story.

Red thread Magazine - Spring 2019

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By Alice Cuthbertson

Artist profile:

Alice Cuthbertson

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Red thread Magazine - Spring 2019

Creating whatever pops into my head is my favourite way of starting a piece of art. I like making pieces that can be interpreted in different ways and that have a story behind them like a children’s picture book.

My name is Alice Cuthbertson, I’m 20 years old and I live on the beautiful North West Coast of Tasmania with my 16 year old dog, Gus, who has been a character in my drawings since I can remember. I have two mums who have always believed in me and encouraged me to think for myself. I am currently in my second year of studying Visual Arts and running my website where I mostly sell t-shirts and reusable bags with my artwork on them.

When I launched my website last year, I decided I wanted to donate $2 from every purchase to an organisation I care about. I chose Beyond Blue because depression and anxiety have been tough for many people around me during my lifetime, including myself.

Creating art every day has not only been a great way for me to express myself, it has also been a wonderful way to connect with others about the stigmas around mental health in our society.

I want to speak up through my artwork to create conversations.

Instagram: _alicestudio Red thread Magazine - Spring 2019

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NSP OUTLETS PRIMARY Northwest Youth and Family Focus Inc 62 Stewart Street Devonport Anglicare 6 Strahan Street Burnie South Jordan River Services Inc. 6 Bowden Drive Bridgewater Anglicare 436 Main Road Glenorchy

South The Link 57 Liverpool Street Hobart Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre 56 Patrick Street Hobart Jordan River Services - Gagebrook Community Centre 191 Lamprill Circuit Gagebrook Tasmanian Council on Aids, Hepatitis and Related Diseases 319 Liverpool Street Hobart North

Anglicare 18 Watchorn Street Hobart

Cape Barren Community Health Centre 5 Everett Court Cape Barren Island

Clarence Community Health Centre 18-22 Bayfield Street Rosny

Flinders Island Multi-Purpose Centre James Street Flinders Island

North

Flinders Island Aboriginal Association Inc 16 West Street Lady Barron

Salvation Army 111 Elizabeth Street Launceston

Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre 182 Charles Street Launceston

SECONDARY

Ravenswood Community Health Centre 39-41 Lambert Street Ravenswood

Northwest

St Helens District Hospital 10 Annie Street St Helens

Burnie Community House 24 Wiseman Street Burnie North West Regional Hospital 23 Brickport Road Burnie King Island District Hospital and Health Centre 35 Edwards Street Currie Devonport Community Health Centre 23 Steele Street Devonport

VENDING MACHINES Northwest 40-48 Best Street, Devonport Ground level, Multi-level carpark South

Rosebery Community Hospital Hospital Road Rosebery

Anglicare 18 Watchorn Street Hobart

Smithton District Hospital 74 Brittons Road Smithton

Invermay Local Post Office 52 Invermay Road Invermay

Wyndarra Centre Inc. 43 Smith Street Smithton

Salvation Army 111 Elizabeth Street Launceston

North

Youngtown Pharmacy 369 Hobart Road Youngtown

These NSP locations have been reproduced from the DHHS webpage.

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NSP PHARMACIES NORTH

SOUTH

West Tamar Pharmacy, Beaconsfield Bicheno Pharmacy, Bicheno Bridport Pharmacy, Bridport Healthpoint Pharmacy, Campbell Town Amcal Pharmacy, Deloraine George Town Pharmacy Capital Chemist, King Meadows Priceline Pharmacy, Launceston Amcal Pharmacy, Legana Chemmart Pharmacy, Longford Longford Pharmacy, Longford Capital Chemist, Mowbray Heights Capital Chemist, Newstead Chemmart Pharmacy, Ravenswood Galloway’s Pharmacy, Scottsdale St Helens Pharmacy, St Helens St Marys Pharmacy, St Marys Westbury Pharmacy, Westbury Young Town Pharmacy, Young Town

Bellerive Quay Pharmacy, Bellerive Rhys Jones Pharmacy, Bellerive Priceline Pharmacy, Bridgewater Brighton Pharmacy, Brighton Bruny Island Pharmacy, Bruny Island Chigwell Pharmacy, Chigwell Claremont Pharmacy, Claremont Derwent Park Pharmacy, Derwent Park Chemmart Pharmacy, Dodges Ferry Dover Pharmacy, Dover Geeveston Pharmacy, Geeveston Elizabeth Hope Priceline, Glenorchy Central Advantage Pharmacy, Glenorchy Priceline Pharmacy, Hobart Mall Davey St. Discount Pharmacy, Hobart Your Hobart Chemist, Hobart Shoreline Amcal Pharmacy, Howrah Wentworth Pharmacy, Howrah Huonville Pharmacy, Huonville Priceline Pharmacy, Kingston Terry White Chemist, Kingston Chemist Outlet, Kingston Kingborough Medical Centre Pharmacy Lauderdale Pharmacy, Lauderdale Amcal Pharmacy, Lenah Valley Village Chemmart, Lindisfarne Rosetta Pharmacy, Montrose Amcal Max Pharmacy, Moonah Amcal Community Pharmacy, New Norfolk New Norfolk Pharmacy, New Norfolk Friendly Care Chemmart, New Town Amcal Pharmacy, North Hobart Tasman Pharmacy, Nubeena Risdon Vale Pharmacy, Rison Vale Eastlands Priceline Pharmacy, Rosny Park Discount Pharmacy, Sandy Bay Magnet Court Chemmart, Sandy Bay Healthpoint Pharmacy, Snug Chemmart Pharmacy, Sorell Chemist Warehouse, Sorell Sorell Plaza Pharmacy, Sorell South Arm Community Pharmacy, South Arm Capital Chemist, South Hobart Swansea Pharmacy, Swansea Triabunna Pharmacy, Triabunna Warrane Pharmacy, Warrane Amcal Pharmacy, West Hobart

NORTH WEST Bolands Pharmacy, Burnie Pharmacy One, Burnie Wilkinson’s Pharmacy, Burnie Chemmart Pharmacy, Upper Burnie Healthpoint Pharmacy, Burnie King Island Pharmacy, Currie Mersey Pharmacy, East Devonport Coventry’s Pharmacy, Latrobe Penguin Pharmacy, Penguin Turnbull’s Pharmacy, Sheffield Smithton Pharmacy, Smithton Somerset Pharmacy, Somerset Strahan Pharmacy, Strahan Priceline Pharmacy, Ulverstone Peter Thompson’s Pharmacy, Ulverstone Westside Pharmacy, Ulverstone Dixon’s Pharmacy, Wynyard Healthpoint Pharmacy, Wynyard Zeehan Pharmacy, Zeehan

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SERVICES ATTITUDE COUNSELLING

WORKING IT OUT

Attitudecounselling.com Ph 0499 184 088 (Launceston)

www.workingitout.org.au

Affordable, confidential

Q-LIFE, NATIONAL www.qlife.org.au Ph 1800 184 527 Counselling 7 days 3.00 pm til midnight

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TASMANIA https://equalopportunity.tas.gov.au Ph 1300 305 062 The office of the anti-discrimination commissioner

GAY & LESBIAN SWITCHBOARD www.switchboard.org.au Ph 1800 184 527 Counselling and referrals

SCARLET ALLIANCE TASMANIAN SEX WORKER OUTREACH PROJECT outreachtas@scarletalliance.org.au Ph 0451 835 897 www.scarletalliance.org.au

SEX WORKER OUTREACH PROJECT (SWOP)

Sexuality and gender support and counselling

SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICE http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/sexualhealth Toll Free: 1800 675 859 Clinic 60 - 60 Collins St Hobart Ph 03 6166 2672 Mon – Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (drop in on Tuesday afternoon and Thursday mornings) Clinic 34 - 34 Howick St Launceston Ph 03 6777 1371 Mon – Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (drop in on Thursday mornings) Devonport - Ph 03 6777 1371 by appointment only Counselling, support, referrals, STI/HIV testing and PrEP prescriptions

TASCAHRD - TASMANIAN COUNCIL ON AIDS, HEPATITIS & RELATED DISEASES www.redthread.org.au Ph 1800 005 900

TAS POLICE LGBTIQ LIAISON OFFICERS

Resources for sex workers, including cis male and transgender sex workers

www.police.tas.gov.au Ph 03 6230 2111 (Hobart) Ph 03 6336 7000 (Launceston) Ph 03 6434 5211 (North West)

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SEX INDUSTRY NETWORK

ATDC TAS – THE ALCOHOL, TOBACCO & OTHER DRUGS COUNCIL OF TASMANIA

www.swop.org.au

http://www.sin.org.au/SINmale Outreach, peer education, information, referrals, support, advocacy, working tips, resources and safer sex supplies to all male workers

TASPRIDE www.taspride.com Celebrating and uniting the Tasmanian LGBTIQQ community

http://www.atdc.org.au/ Advocating and initiatives

NUFIT GLENORCHY (ANGLICARE NSP) 436 Main Rd Glenorchy | Ph 1800 243 232 Mon – Fri 10:00 am – 4:30 pm Sterile equipment, information, education, support and referrals

To have your service listed in this directory contact TasCAHRD on 03 6234 1242 or Health@tascahrd.org.au 22

Red thread Magazine - Spring 2019

DIRECTORY ANGLICARE NEEDLE & SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAMME 18 Watchorn St, Hobart | Ph 1800 243 232 Mon – Fri 12.30 am – 4.30 pm 24 hr vending machine ($2 fee)

SALVATION ARMY NEEDLE & SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAMME 111 Elizabeth St Launceston | Ph 03 6323 7500 Mon – Fri 8:30 am – 3:00 pm

THE LINK YOUTH HEALTH SERVICE & HEAD SPACE FOR PEOPLE AGED 12-24 http://www.thelink.org.au 57 Liverpool St Hobart | Ph 03 6231 2927 Mon – Fri 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Counselling, outreach, case management, support for mental and sexual health, alcohol and drugs (incl NSP), family planning

HOBART COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICE www.hobartlegal.org 166 Macquarie Street, Hobart | Ph 03 6223 2500 7 Station Lane, Sorell | Ph 03 6265 1911 Shop 3, Covehill Fair, Bridgewater Ph 03 6263 4755

FLAMINGOS DANCE BAR www.flamingosbar.com Tasmania’s nightclub committed to providing a tolerant, safe, informative and fun environment for people of alternative sexualities and their friends to be able to enjoy themselves and socialise in a non-threatening environment

EAST COAST QUEER LIFE SUPPORT (ECQLS) Email ecqls.tas@gmail.com Ph 0467 000 748 Information and social activities

FAMILY PLANNING TASMANIA http://www.fpt.asn.au 421 Main Rd Glenorchy Ph 03 6273 9117 | Mon - Fri 9:00 am – 5.00 pm 269 Wellington St Launceston Ph 03 6343 4566 | Mon - Fri 9:00 am – 5.00 pm 1 Pine Ave Burnie Ph 03 6431 7692 (Mon, Wed and Thurs) Contraception and pregnancy counselling, sexual health checks, pap smears, information and referral

GAY FRIENDLY CAFES Basket & Green Cafe Bozzey Criterion Cafe Deloraine Deli DS Coffee House Fitzpatrick’s Inn Fleurty’s Cafe Lotus Eaters Ginger Brown Hamlet Hotel SOHO Jackman & McCross Kusinat Lansdowne Cafe Lebrina

Machine Laundry Cafe O’Keefe’s Hotel Pickled Evenings Indian Restaurant Red Velvet Lounge Republic Bar Restaurant Red Restaurant Waterloo Retro Café Stonies Fifties Cafe Straight Up Coffee & Food Tasmania Inn

PREP SAVVY GPS Dr Jennifer Mission -Sandy Bay Clinic 279 Sandy Bay Road | Ph 62236822 Book online at www.sandybayclinic.com.au Dr Natasha Lovatt - Aboriginal Health Service 56 Patrick Street | Ph 6234 0777 and Eastern Shore Doctors – Bellerive 48 Cambridge Road | Ph 6282 1399 Dr Denys Volkovets George Town Medical Centre 49 Anne Street | Ph 6382 4333 Dr Wole Olomola City Medical Practice 10 Marine Terrace Burnie Dr Jane Cooper Don Medical Clinic Shop 7 / 48-54 Oldaker Street | Ph 6441 5299 Dr Mark Ryan Newdegate St Medical Clinic 107 Newdegate St West Hobart | Ph 62314109 Red thread Magazine - Spring 2019

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