Black History Month matters because the story of Britain remains incomplete when Black lives, achievements and experiences are pushed to the margins. It gives us an opportunity to recognise people whose contributions have too often been overlooked, and to understand how our shared past shapes the communities we live in today.

That is why the decision by St Helens’ Reform-led council not to observe Black History Month is wrong. Council leader George Woodward has described the celebration as “racist” and “divisive”. Those words turn the purpose of the month upside down. Recognising people who have been excluded from our national story is an act of inclusion.

We should be precise: reporting confirms a refusal to observe the month, rather than a blanket ban on every mention of it. But the message sent by that refusal is damaging enough. It tells Black residents that recognising their heritage and contribution is somehow incompatible with bringing people together.

Black history is British history. It encompasses the horrors of slavery and colonialism, but also resistance, creativity, public service and achievement. It includes those who helped rebuild Britain, staffed our hospitals, shaped our music, strengthened our businesses and challenged injustice. These stories belong to everyone.

Across the Liverpool City Region, we cannot understand our history without confronting the wealth generated through the slave trade and recognising the communities that helped shape the region. Pride in where we live should give us the confidence to examine its history honestly.

There is also a human reason to mark this month. Children need to see that people like them have helped shape the world. Their classmates need to learn that achievement, courage and leadership have never belonged to one ethnicity. Understanding each other is a foundation for respect.

Arguments about scarce council resources deserve scrutiny, but describing Black History Month as a “subversive woke” movement offers prejudice where there should be leadership. A council should serve all its residents and help everyone feel that they belong.

The same principle applies when recognising LGBTQ+ history or the experiences of refugees. Visibility can challenge the ignorance that allows discrimination to grow.

St Helens deserves leadership that brings people together through understanding, curiosity and respect. Black History Month offers that opportunity.

The council should reverse its decision. A stronger community is built by listening to all its stories. Refusing to recognise some of them diminishes the whole community, including us all.

There was a time when politicians would have hesitated before openly attacking diversity, inclusion and equality.

Not anymore.

Across politics, attacks on diversity have become increasingly normalised. Diversity is dismissed as “woke”, equality initiatives are portrayed as unnecessary bureaucracy, and minorities are too often turned into convenient political dividing lines.

That should concern all of us.

Because diversity is not an ideology. It is a fact.

Our communities are made up of people of different races, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, backgrounds, abilities and experiences. Recognising that reality does not divide society. Pretending those differences — and the inequalities that sometimes come with them — do not exist is what causes harm.

The argument we increasingly hear is simple: stop talking about identity, stop treating groups differently and just treat everybody the same.

But equality has never been that simple.

Treating everybody identically only produces equality if everybody begins from the same position and faces the same barriers. They do not.

For LGBTQ+ communities, we know this from history.

The rights many of us now take for granted were achieved precisely because people challenged discrimination. Same-sex relationships were criminalised. Gay men were dismissed from jobs. LGBTQ+ people were treated as mentally ill. Section 28 deliberately restricted discussion of homosexuality in schools.

Progress did not happen because society stopped talking about inequality. It happened because people refused to ignore it.

The same lesson runs through the history of HIV.

HIV stigma was allowed to flourish partly because those most affected were often people society was already comfortable marginalising: gay and bisexual men, Black African communities, migrants, people who use drugs and others whose voices were too easily ignored.

We have made extraordinary medical progress. Today, effective HIV treatment means people can live long, healthy lives, and someone with an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmit HIV.

But science alone cannot eradicate prejudice.

People still fear taking an HIV test because of stigma. People living with HIV still encounter ignorance and discrimination. LGBTQ+ people continue to experience inequalities in healthcare, housing, employment and personal safety.

That is precisely why the political retreat from diversity matters.

When politicians repeatedly portray diversity as a problem, something changes. Language once considered unacceptable becomes mainstream. Prejudice is given permission to dress itself up as common sense. People who already feel vulnerable hear something very clearly: perhaps your equality is negotiable after all.

And there is another side to this debate which is too often forgotten.

Diversity works.

Organisations make better decisions when different experiences are represented. Healthcare works better when services understand the communities they serve. Employers benefit from wider perspectives. Communities become stronger when people feel they belong rather than feeling they must hide part of themselves to be accepted.

At Sahir, we see the importance of this every day.

We support people living with HIV, LGBTQ+ people, refugees and asylum seekers, families, young people and communities from across the Liverpool City Region.

Behind the political arguments about “diversity” are real human beings.

A teenager wondering whether coming out will cost them their family.

A trans person deciding whether they feel safe enough to ask for healthcare.

Someone newly diagnosed with HIV terrified that their friends will reject them.

An LGBTQ+ asylum seeker who has escaped a country where being themselves could mean imprisonment, violence or death.

To them, diversity and inclusion are not fashionable slogans.

They can mean being listened to rather than dismissed. Receiving appropriate healthcare rather than avoiding it. Finding safety rather than facing hostility. Belonging rather than merely being tolerated.

Of course diversity initiatives should be effective, evidence-based and accountable. Like any policy, they should be open to scrutiny and improvement.

But there is a vast difference between questioning how we promote equality and questioning whether equality itself has gone too far.

That is the line we must not allow political debate to erase.

Diversity is not something Britain should fear.

It is part of who Britain is.

And at a time when attacking diversity has become politically fashionable, those of us who believe in equality should be prepared to say something unfashionably simple:

Our differences are not the problem. How we choose to treat one another is.

Every year on 14 July, we mark World Non-Binary Day, a day that sits exactly halfway between International Women’s Day and International Men’s Day. It’s a symbolic reminder that not everyone experiences or expresses gender in the same way.

For many people, being non-binary isn’t a political statement or a trend. It’s simply the most honest way to describe who they are.

Non-binary is an umbrella term used by people whose gender identity doesn’t fit exclusively as male or female. Some feel they are both. Some feel they are neither. Others experience gender as something more fluid. What unites them is a desire to live authentically, rather than trying to force themselves into categories that don’t reflect their lived experience.

The UK Census found around 30,000 people identified as non-binary. While that may seem like a small number, every one of those people deserves the same dignity, respect and opportunity as everyone else.

For many non-binary people, life can be challenging. Something as simple as introducing yourself, filling in a form, using a public toilet or correcting someone who has used the wrong pronouns can become a source of anxiety. Public debate about gender often means people become the subject of discussion rather than participants in it.

You don’t need to fully understand or relate to someone’s experiences of sex and gender to treat them with kindness. Respect doesn’t require complete understanding, it simply requires recognising another person’s humanity

Using someone’s name and pronouns, listening to their experiences, and avoiding assumptions about who they are costs nothing. Yet those small acts can have an enormous impact on someone’s wellbeing and sense of belonging.

At Sahir, we know that everyone deserves to feel safe, valued and able to be themselves. For more than 40 years we have supported LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV across the Liverpool City Region, and we have seen first-hand the difference that acceptance and inclusion can make.

This World Non-Binary Day, let’s choose curiosity over judgement, compassion over hostility and respect over division. We may not all share the same experiences, but we can all choose to treat one another with dignity.

Because everyone deserves the freedom to be themselves.

Simon Harris

CEO – Sahir

By Christine Goffinet

Chair in Virology

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

For over 125 years, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) has been a world leader in global health research, helping to identify, treat and eliminate some of the world’s deadliest diseases. Today, my research team is focused on finding a cure for HIV, a life changing disease that affects over 112,000 people in the UK, and millions worldwide.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is one of the greatest achievements in global health research. It can keep the virus suppressed and can allow people to live long, healthy lives. But it isn’t a cure and was never designed to be a permanent solution. Many suffer side-effects, serving a daily reminder of their HIV status.

Worldwide, 39 million people live with HIV, and 1.3 million acquired the infection last year. Keeping them on ART for life costs over $21.9 billion annually and access to these drugs depends on political will, continued funding, and complex supply chains. The fragility of this system was recently brought into stark relief by significant funding cuts to global HIV programmes. These cuts are projected to drive up new infections and deaths in the coming decades. A cure wouldn’t remove the need for HIV investment overnight, but it would create a far more robust and reliable system.

But, if the need is so great, why hasn’t a cure been found? HIV is a very sophisticated virus. It hides, dormant, inside immune cells, invisible to treatments and the immune system. My team is seeking to outsmart the virus with “shock and kill” treatments; waking the sleeping virus up, and then using natural immune signals to help the body’s own immune cells to recognise and destroy it. This is cutting edge science being worked on right here in Liverpool.

LSTM’s research also focuses on HIV as a global disease. Most HIV cure research focuses on the viral subtype most common in the US and Europe, but a different subtype found in Southern African and Southeast Asia accounts for nearly half of infections worldwide. A cure for only on subtype will never be effective, so I’m reaching out beyond Liverpool, working with researchers in South Africa, Malawi and beyond to develop a truly global and lasting cure.

An HIV cure can’t be designed solely in a lab. Recently, Sahir House and George House Trust invited us to learn from people living with HIV at an event titled “Have Your Say on HIV Cure Research”. We had fascinating discussions, learning that some were happy to continue ART indefinitely, but that many were desperate for a cure. It was also clear that proving people’s cured status was essential, although this would require finding an alternative to a standard antibody test because HIV antibodies would always be present even if cured. We’re now working with both organisations to expand this work with an ongoing Patient Advisory Group, so community voices can continue to shape our research.

There is a famous, anonymous quote that I often think about, “One day, I’d love to say, ‘I used to have HIV'”. These words inspire me, finding a cure and helping to realise this person’s dream keeps me going. The power of these words also shows that the voices of people with HIV are essential in shaping LSTM’s work and convincing funders and governments to continue supporting research efforts.

I’m grateful to Sahir House and George House Trust for their partnership, and to everyone who has shared their experience with us. If you’re living with HIV and want your voice heard, we’d love to hear from you.

Well, April was a busy month, both good and bad.

It was great to see our local celeb, Danny Beard coming second on CBB – personally I think he was head and shoulders above everyone and should absolutely have won this outright.

Danny of course is a staunch supporter of our trans-siblings and used his very first interview, the moment he was through the door, to support them. This of course brings me onto the other big subject from April – the ruling on trans and sex at birth etc.

I’ve been doing a lot of work with trans women over the past two years, helping them overcome the mental challenges they face when using their newly trained, femme voices. Unsurprisingly, many of them have contacted me since the announcement to express their fears.

As a gay, cis-gender male, I won’t pretend for one minute I can truly know how this makes my trans-siblings feel. However, we can all offer our support and stick together as a community. I always like to think back to the 1980s and 90s, when of course AIDS/HIV was ripping through our communities; I lost many friends at the time. Some of our biggest allies were our lesbian sisters, fighting for research and lobbying our MPs. Why? Well, you’ll have to ask them, but I like to think it was down to the sense of community we need to have to survive what the world throws at us. It may be a soundbite, but we are all genuinely, stronger together. It’s good for our sense of self and our mental well-being.

Just as in the same way gay men were blamed for everything wrong in society in the 1980s, our trans community are copping for the vile rhetoric at the moment. Reach out – offer your support – we are all in this together.

Moving onto this month’s Mental Health topics. Mental health is so misunderstood and carries so much stigma. Much of the stigma is due to misunderstanding, or lack of knowledge. One word which is sure to get people worries is ‘Psycho’ or ‘Psychosis’ to give it its proper name.

Just hearing the word can often conjure up frightening images, often fuelled by sensationalised media portrayals. However, the reality of psychosis is often far removed from these dramatic depictions. It’s crucial to understand that psychosis is primarily characterised by a disconnect from reality, affecting how a person thinks, feels, and perceives the world around them. It’s not about inherent danger towards others.

In simple terms, we can think of psychosis in some ways like being very unwell with a high fever. When someone has a severe temperature, they might say things that don’t make sense, become disoriented, or even hallucinate. Their grip on reality is temporarily altered by their physical illness. Similarly, in psychosis, changes in brain function can lead to a temporary detachment from reality. Postpartum psychosis, which can occur after childbirth, is a specific example where hormonal shifts can contribute to this altered state, much like a physical illness impacting mental clarity.

Schizophrenia is perhaps the most well-known term, but psychotic symptoms can also occur in other illness such as bipolar disorder or severe depression. While the symptoms can be distressing, it’s important to remember that these are signs of an underlying health issue that needs understanding and support, not something to be feared.

I think it’s also important to mention the potential link between cannabis and other drug use, particularly high-potency strains and early or heavy use, and the increased risk of developing psychosis in vulnerable individuals. While cannabis doesn’t cause psychosis in everyone, it can trigger or exacerbate psychotic symptoms in those who may have a predisposition to it. This highlights the importance of being aware of the potential risks, especially for younger people, under 25, whose brains are still developing.

Of course, I never, ever make judgement on drug use, and being from the inner city, being gay, and having been around the block many times, know just how much a part of our culture drugs can play. Whether it is trying to block something out from our past, trying to fit in – or just partaking in the odd chem sesh which turns into a deeper habit, drugs are all around us.

There are of course many sources of help out there if you are worried about your own drug use. One which people tell me is particularly helpful is ‘Talk to Frank’, 24/7 on 0300 123 6600. It is not specifically aimed at our community; however you can call in confidence, without judgement, which is of course the most important thing in my book.

I’ll be back with this column in June, in the meantime, if you’d like to get in touch then please contact me at solutions@martinfurber.com

The clocks are springing forward on the last Sunday in March, and while we might grumble about losing an hour of sleep, let’s look at this as a fantastic opportunity to inject some sunshine into our lives – both literally and metaphorically.

Here in the North, we know a thing or two about appreciating a bit of extra daylight. After those long winter months, the longer days and brighter evenings are like a breath of fresh air. And it’s not just in our heads – there’s actual science behind why we feel better when the sun shines.

Our bodies are naturally attuned to the rhythms of the sun. Sunlight triggers the production of vitamin D, which plays a crucial role in regulating mood, boosting the immune system, and promoting bone health. Studies have shown that increased exposure to sunlight can lead to a rise in serotonin levels, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, sleep, and appetite.

So, how can we make the most of this extra daylight and use the clock change as a springboard for improving our mental well-being?

First and foremost, let’s talk about sleep. Yes, we lose an hour, but this is a great time to re-evaluate our sleep habits. Sleep is absolutely vital for our mental and physical health. It allows our bodies to repair and our minds to recharge. Aim for a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends, and create a relaxing bedtime routine.

Routine, in general, is a great thing for our mental health. Our minds appreciate a bit of structure. With the extra daylight, this is a great time to create a new routine or re-establish a good old one.

The longer days also provide an opportunity to reconnect with nature. Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and boost cognitive function. Even a short walk in a local park can have a positive impact.

And let’s not forget the power of social connection. With lighter evenings, it’s easier to meet up with friends and family. Social connection is essential for our mental well-being. It provides a sense of belonging, support, and connection.

The clock change is a gentle nudge from nature, reminding us to embrace the light, reconnect with ourselves, and prioritize our well-being. Let’s use this opportunity to spring forward into a brighter and happier season. After all, a little bit of sunshine can go a long way. And who knows, you might just find that you’re feeling a little bit brighter, a little bit lighter, and a little bit more ready to tackle whatever comes your way.

April, is ‘Stress Awareness Month’, and let’s face it – those of us who identify under the rainbow flag seem to experience more than our fair share of it as we journey through life, so I thought that is a good subject to talk to you about this month.

We all know that feeling of being stressed – that knot in your stomach, the tension in your shoulders, the racing heart. But have you ever stopped to wonder what’s actually happening inside your body when you feel stressed? It’s not just in your head; stress has a very real and tangible impact on our physical health.

As a solution-focused therapist, I believe in empowering people with knowledge. Understanding the physical connection to stress can help us recognise the signs and take steps to manage it effectively. So, let’s delve into the fascinating world of how stress affects our bodies.

When we experience stress, our bodies activate the “fight or flight” response, an ancient survival mechanism designed to help us cope with danger. This response triggers the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare us for action.

Imagine you’re walking through a wooded area, and suddenly you see a potential threat. Your body instantly kicks into gear. Your heart rate increases, your breathing becomes rapid, your muscles tense, and your senses sharpen. This is your body’s way of preparing you to either fight or flee.

While this response is helpful in short bursts, chronic stress – the kind we experience in our daily lives – can take a toll on our bodies. When cortisol and adrenaline are constantly elevated, they can disrupt various bodily functions.

Here are some of the ways stress manifests physically:

• Muscle Tension: Stress often leads to muscle tension, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and back. This can result in headaches, aches, and pains.
• Digestive Problems: Stress can affect our digestive system, leading to symptoms like stomach aches, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Sleep Disturbances: Stress can interfere with our ability to fall asleep or stay asleep, leading to insomnia and fatigue.
• Weakened Immune System: Chronic stress can weaken our immune system, making us more susceptible to illness.
• Cardiovascular Issues: Stress can increase our heart rate and blood pressure, potentially contributing to cardiovascular problems over time.
• Changes in Appetite: Some people experience a loss of appetite when stressed, while others find themselves craving comfort foods.
• Skin Problems: Stress can exacerbate skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

It’s important to recognise these physical signs of stress and take steps to manage them. Here are some practical tips for physical stress relief:

• Deep Breathing: Slow, deep breaths can help to calm the nervous system and reduce muscle tension.
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation: This technique involves tensing and releasing different muscle groups in your body, helping to release tension.
• Physical Activity: Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and release endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects. Even a short walk can make a difference.
• Yoga and Tai Chi: These practices combine physical movement with deep breathing and mindfulness, promoting relaxation and stress reduction.
• Massage Therapy: Massage can help to release muscle tension and promote relaxation.
• Warm Baths: A warm bath can soothe tense muscles and promote relaxation.
• Prioritise Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night.
• Healthy Diet: Eating a balanced diet can help to support your body’s ability to cope with stress.

It’s about recognising that our bodies are intricately connected to our minds. By paying attention to the physical signs of stress and taking steps to manage them, we can improve our overall well-being and build resilience. Remember, taking care of your body is an important part of taking care of your mental health.

I’ll be back with this column in May, in the meantime, if you’d like to get in touch then please contact me at solutions@martinfurber.com

I first joined Liverpool Frontrunners in October 2023 with the basic goal of getting into running to improve my fitness. The thought of running alone on those pitch-black autumn evenings as a queer woman was terrifying, so Liverpool Frontrunners was the perfect solution. Now, if you had told me that after about a year I would be signing myself up for the Liverpool Half Marathon, I would’ve laughed at the thought. I could barely breathe, let alone hold a conversation whilst running, so signing up for races was the last thing on my mind. But here I am, having just completed my first half marathon alongside my fellow Frontrunners, raising money together for the incredible charity that is Sahir.

For those of you that might never have heard of us before, Liverpool Frontrunners is an LGBTQ+ inclusive running group that meets up at Sefton Park every Wednesday, light or dark, rain or shine, ready to run. The club welcomes runners of all abilities, whether you’ve completed countless marathons, enjoy a casual jog, or it’s your first time giving running a chance. We operate three loops each week, facilitated by our lovely run leaders who are there to guide you every step of the way. All LGBTQ+ people and allies are welcome to participate, running whichever combination of our loops works best, whether that’s just loop 1, the 1st and 3rd, or all three! Many of our members’ favorite section of the night is the cool, crisp pint/soft drink on Lark Lane once all the running is done.

Additionally, many Frontrunners regularly participate in Parkrun on a Saturday morning, a free 5km run that occurs in over 2,000 locations globally. We tend to meet up for a freshly brewed coffee, a Full English, and a lot of yapping following Parkrun. We’re an ever-growing community that welcomes new faces, celebrates the progress of our members, and is here for a good time.

Liverpool Frontrunners was established in 2015, making this year our 10-year anniversary (cheers to that!) The absence of LGBTQ+ sporting groups at the time presented the perfect opportunity for Liverpool Frontrunners to be born. There are many barriers that LGBTQ+ people face when trying to get involved in sport, including underrepresentation of queer people, a lack of safe, accessible options, and being deterred from participating since childhood. The aim of the club is to overcome these barriers, increase LGBTQ+ visibility, promote physical and mental well-being amongst the community, and allow queer people to embrace their whole identities to live as their most authentic selves.

We are proud to serve our local LGBTQ+ communities, providing a safe space away from homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. Liverpool Frontrunners is home to over 300 members and is proud to be one of over 120 LGBTQ+ running clubs that make up International Frontrunners, a global network that began in San Francisco in 1974.

Although we are primarily a running club, our Social Secretaries organize a variety of social events to allow us to make true connections with one another and build friendships to last a lifetime. From go-karting to scenic hikes to trips abroad, we’ve got a bit of something for everyone. Here’s what our members have to say in response to the question: ‘What do you love most about Frontrunners?’

“The beautiful friendships I’ve gained and the memories I’ve made.”
“I feel just as comfortable going out for a run as I do going out for a drink, it’s a fab group of people.”
“The support and drive from your Frontrunners to be the best runner you can be.”

Since joining Liverpool Frontrunners, I personally feel like I’ve come a long way compared to where I was when I first started (and not only in kilometers run!) In terms of my fitness level, I don’t think I’ve ever been as healthy as I am today, and I wouldn’t have had the resilience to keep running if it wasn’t for this gorgeous community. In terms of my confidence, the support I’ve found at this club has driven me to join the Committee and become a Run Leader – despite consistently taking wrong turns when left to my own instincts. In terms of embracing my queerness, I will never be able to thank Frontrunners enough for the beautiful friendships I’ve made and the opportunity to meet so many diverse, open-minded LGBTQ+ people. As a queer woman, it can feel almost impossible to find other queer women to connect with, and so being part of a club that welcomes and embraces LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people is a dream come true.

So, what did Liverpool Frontrunners do to celebrate this wonderful community and honor our 10-year anniversary? As I teased at the beginning, Liverpool Frontrunners partnered up with Sahir to fundraise for this amazing charity in the lead-up to the Liverpool Half Marathon. For many Frontrunners (myself included), this was their first half marathon, and what better way to burst onto the race scene than by raising money for an excellent cause?

Sahir is the Liverpool City Region’s largest and oldest LGBTQ+ charity, which has supported and empowered LGBTQ+ communities and people living with/affected by HIV since 1985. Much like Liverpool Frontrunners, Sahir is celebrating an important milestone this year as they reach their 40-year anniversary! By providing services such as counseling, HIV support, sexual health services, and support groups, they have helped transform lives and improve local communities for four decades.

We hoped that through this fundraiser, we could contribute to the vital work that Sahir undertakes day-in, day-out, to see a brighter, healthier future, and give back to an organization that has done so much for us already. Thanks to our generous donors, we have already increased our target twice after smashing our original goals and have raised over £1500 to date. If you are able, please click here to donate today, where 100% of the money raised will go directly to Sahir.

Sahir has a plethora of exciting events around the corner, including their Eurovision All Stars night at OMG on Friday 16th May, as well as their second annual Drag and Drop event, a charity abseil down Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral on Saturday 19th July. They also have the Pound for Sahir appeal, whereby donating just £1 a month, you can contribute to the facilitation of the vital services that Sahir delivers to those who need it most. If you’re interested in finding out more and supporting a great cause, please check out their website by clicking here.

Sahir isn’t the only one with a busy schedule for this year – us lot at Liverpool Frontrunners have plenty in store from races to kit drops to sunny socials, our 2025/26 Committee is going to be busy indeed! If you’d like to find out more about our club, please visit our Instagram page by clicking here, and we hope to see you at a Wednesday run or Parkrun soon!

Love from,
Poppy (She/Her) x