RFSL’s work with health and HIV prevention
Below you can read about some of the work RFSL's Health and HIV unit does.
Sexual health and HIV prevention
RFSL has been working with sexual health and HIV prevention since the start of the HIV epidemic in 1982. RFSL works with a sex-positive approach aimed at the groups most affected by HIV and sexually transmitted infections, which, among others, are men who have sex with men, trans people and newly arrived LGBTQI people.
RFSL’s work has contributed to a more in-depth knowledge on sexual health and HIV in our target groups than in the population in general. Among other things, we work with HIV- and syphilis testing, safer sex-workshops aimed at newly arrived LGBTQI people, outreach work around HIV and safer sex for men who have sex with men and trans separatistic workshops that focus on sex, lust and pleasure. We also do political advocacy work around sexual health in our target groups and run campaigns to spread knowledge and counteract stigma connected with HIV.
The operation is run throughout the country; by supporting RFSL’s branches in their HIV preventative work, and by running campaigns, holding lectures and debates nationally. You will find your closest RFSL branch on this page.
An important part of RFSL’s work with health and HIV prevention is Sexperterna Chatt. Sexperterna Chatt is run by RFSL Stockholm on behalf of RFSL, funded by the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s operating grant support. The target groups are mainly men who have sex with men and trans people. Sexperterna Chatt is online at Qruiser, Instagram and Facebook two-three nights a week, and on the website sexperterna.org. Here, people from the target groups can ask questions and order free condoms and lube.
Mental health and suicide prevention
LGBTQI people generally have a poorer mental health than heterosexuals, and more often have suicidal thoughts. RFSL work towards reminding authorities, healthcare and society overall of this. We also take special measures to improve the situation for LGBTQI people, for example by offering support to trans people through our info-mail Transformering. We also work to raise the knowledge within RFSL so that more people who are active within our organisation should have knowledge about suicide prevention and what promotes mental well-being.