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Published: August 15, 2024 by mbelfield
This August and September, LGBT Foundation proudly celebrates 30 years of pioneering sexual health support through its ground-breaking Condom and Lube Distribution Scheme. For three decades, this initiative has provided millions with safer sex packs and has ignited essential conversations around sexual health, promoting safer and healthier relationships within LGBTQ+ communities.
To honour this remarkable milestone, LGBT Foundation is launching ‘Clutch Your Pearls’—a vibrant campaign inviting everyone to join in celebrating and reflecting on three decades of innovation, community, and impact and open, joyful, and positive discussions about sex, relationships, and sexual well-being, ahead of Manchester Pride Weekend across the August Bank Holiday and well into Sexual Health Week beginning on the 9th of September.
Since its inception in 1994, the Condom and Lube Distribution Scheme has given away over 31 million free condoms and lube, offering vital resources to those in need. Initially launched by Healthy Gay Manchester under Dr Paul Martin OBE’s leadership, the scheme was a direct response to the rising HIV infection rates among men who have sex with men. What started with volunteers hand-making safer sex packs for Manchester’s Gay Village has grown into one of the UK’s most trusted sexual health services, reaching over 90,000 people annually across Greater Manchester and beyond.
“Over the past 30 years, our free condom and lube packs have reached countless people, each one a small yet vital gesture of care and support for our communities,” said Dr Paul Martin OBE, Chief Executive of LGBT Foundation. “Today, our distribution scheme has expanded from its local beginnings to become a beacon of safety, queer love, joy, and passion for LGBTQ+ people across the UK. Each free pack symbolises our commitment to ensuring that our community has access to the resources needed to maintain positive sexual health”.
“As we celebrate this significant milestone—our pearl anniversary—we recognise that attitudes towards discussing sex have changed, some may still hesitate to talk openly about queer relationships, and queer sex. We strive to be the charity that transforms these conversations and dispels the stigmas and misconceptions that have long surrounded LGBTQ+ sexual health.”
Clutch Your Pearls will feature a series of events dedicated to sexual health and sexual well-being including a grand celebration at Manchester Pride. Highlights include:
For more information about LGBT Foundation’s Celebration of 30 Years of Condom and Lube Distribution, visit lgbt.foundation. For details on LGBT Foundation’s Sexual Health service, visit lgbt.foundation/sexualhealth or call our national helpline on 0345 3 30 30 30.
