Your Weekly Wrap Up | 10-16 Feb đŚ
From a major HIV prevention breakthrough in Scotland to the US Vice Presidentâs controversial claims about buffer zones â hereâs what you need to know this week.
Self-care note: This newsletter talks about abortion and conversion therapy. If you find this distressing or triggering, remember to take it at your own pace. You may prefer to read small sections, wait until you feel ready to read it all, or choose not to read it at all.
Love is in the air â or at least, conversations about it are. From policy shifts to public health breakthroughs, this weekâs stories explore the evolving landscape of relationships, rights, and wellbeing.
In Scotland, a new campaign is calling for a ban on conversion therapy, while across the Atlantic, the US Vice President is stirring controversy with claims about Scotlandâs buffer zones law. Meanwhile, the country has approved a major advancement in HIV prevention, just as Keir Starmer made history by taking a public HIV test. Plus, new research on STI trends and sex work laws is shaping crucial conversations around health and safety.
Have a story we should cover? Submit it here. In the meantime, read on for this weekâs biggest stories.
US Vice President attacks Scotlandâs safe access zones đŤ
US Vice President JD Vance has been accused of "dangerous scaremongering" after attacking Scotlandâs Safe Access Zones law, which prevents harassment outside abortion clinics. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Vance claimed that Scottish authorities were warning residents against "private prayer" in their homes. Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who introduced the law, called his comments "total nonsense," stressing that the legislation only applies to public spaces and was designed to ensure access to healthcare without intimidation.
The Scottish Government clarified that Safe Access Zones apply to public spaces â not private homes. However, the law states that if an act in a private place (such as a house) can be seen or heard from a public area and is intended to influence, impede, or harass clinic users, it could be considered an offence. The government says the law balances the right to protest with the right to access healthcare safely. Critics argue it restricts religious expression, while supporters highlight that similar protections exist in England and across Europe.
Source: STV News
Keir Starmer takes HIV test to normalise testing and tackle stigma đ
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a public HIV test at 10 Downing Street, joined by singer Beverley Knight, as part of HIV Testing Week. The initiative aims to encourage routine testing and reduce stigma around the virus. Starmer described the test as âquick and easyâ and urged other world leaders to follow suit.
An estimated 107,000 people live with HIV in the UK, with around 4,700 unaware of their status. During HIV Testing Week (10-17 February), 20,000 free, confidential home test kits are available to encourage more people to check their status. Starmer has pledged to end new HIV transmissions in England by 2030, with ÂŁ27 million allocated to expand testing in NHS emergency departments.
Scotland approves long-acting injectable PrEP for HIV prevention đ
The Scottish Medicines Consortium has approved Cabotegravir (Apretude), a long-acting injectable form of PrEP, for use in Scotland. Unlike traditional PrEP, which requires a daily pill, this new option is taken every two months. Experts say the approval is a step forward in making HIV prevention more accessible, particularly for those who struggle with daily medication.
While PrEP has been a game-changer in reducing HIV transmission, there are still inequalities in who can access it. Campaigners are calling for expanded distribution beyond sexual health clinics, including through community pharmacies and digital services, to ensure more people benefit from this life-saving treatment.
Source: Terrence Higgins Trust
The Equality Network launches campaign against conversion therapy đłď¸âđ
On Valentineâs Day, LGBT+ charity Equality Network launched a nationwide billboard campaign warning of the ongoing harm caused by conversion therapy. The billboards, displayed in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen, feature a broken heart with the message: "Roses are red, violets are blue. Do what youâre told, and donât be you."
Conversion therapy, which attempts to suppress or change a personâs sexual orientation or gender identity, remains legal in Scotland. While the Scottish Government has pledged to ban the practice, campaigners are urging urgent action, calling it a form of abuse that causes severe mental and physical harm. Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart reaffirmed the governmentâs commitment to ending conversion therapy, stating that "no one should be subjected to harm because of who they are or who they love."
Source: The National
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Organisations call for sex work decriminalisation âď¸
With the majority of Britons agreeing that consensual adult sex work should be fully decriminalised, organisations and experts are calling for a change in the law.
It is currently legal for a consenting adult to sell sex in the UK except in Northern Ireland, but some activities are criminalised. These include owning or managing a brothel, i.e. any premises where more than one sex worker operates.
Sex worker-led organisations and campaigners consider these offences as restrictions on the rights and safety of sex workers (e.g. working together can prevent sexual harassment) and call for the full decriminalisation of sex work, to protect the safety, health and rights of sex workers.
Source: Cosmopolitan UK
STI cases continue to grow across Europe đŚ
The latest annual report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control highlights a significant rise in syphilis and gonorrhoea cases in recent years, while chlamydia remains the most commonly reported bacterial STI in Europe.
In 2023, syphilis cases increased by 13% compared to 2022 and doubled since 2014. Gonorrhoea cases saw a 31% rise in 2023 compared to 2022 and more than a 300% increase since 2014.
The ECDC emphasises the importance of public awareness, prevention, and testing to avoid further transmission and prevent health complications.
Source: Euronews
A womenâs health research centre will open in April in Wales đĽ
A research centre dedicated to womenâs health will open in Wales in April, with a ÂŁ3 million investment from Health and Care Research Wales. The goal is to better understand the health needs and issues of people assigned female at birth.
The opening of the Womenâs Health Research Wales centre is part of the Womenâs Health Plan for Wales, a set of initiatives published in December, that also includes the allocation of ÂŁ750,000 for research on the health of people assigned female at birth and a focus on selected areas, such as menstrual health and endometriosis. The government has promised that womenâs health hubs will be set up for âevery part of Walesâ by 2026.
Source: Wales 247
Italian prisons launch âlove roomsâ đŤ
Two prisoners have been granted permission to have private visits with their partners, without the supervision of prison officers, for the purpose of sexual intercourse.
The decision follows legal action taken by the prisoners after being denied private time with their partners. One of the prisoners requested the visits to pursue fatherhood, while the other expressed a desire to be intimate with his wife.
The judges ruled in favour of them and ordered the prisons to establish a dedicated space, that some have called 'love rooms'.
Source: La Repubblica
Women achieve gender parity with men in US big screen lead roles for first time đż
For the first time in the US, women achieved gender parity on movie screens in 2024.
One study found that among the 100 top-grossing films last year, women were the main characters in 42 per cent of the films, as much as men, while 16 per cent of the remaining films featured an ensemble. Another ongoing study has also found that 54 per cent of films last year were led or co-led by women.
At the same time, the number of films that were led by a person of colour last year decreased, and there is still a huge gap in the representation of women over the age of 45 compared to men.
Source: The Guardian
Thatâs all for this weekâs wrap up, but plenty is happening beyond the headlines. From workshops to book clubs, hereâs whatâs coming up across Scotland.
Join artist and consent educator Tom Krasny for a twelve-week series of evening classes introducing terminology and practical tools for practicing consent and boundaries
Do you struggle with identifying and naming your needs and wants? Do you find accessing your "no" or accepting "no" challenging? This course will support you in learning to recognise your boundaries and practise communicating them in a welcoming and well-held environment.
In a small group of up to ten participants, we will go at the group's pace, learn terminology and orientation around consent and boundaries, and do low-stake exercises in pairs or small groups (for example: practice saying 'no' to requests, and responding to 'no' with gratitude).
What is consent?
Consent is an ongoing, embodied practice of relational decision-making. It starts with our inner dialogue. When we encounter external suggestions and requests, they prompt a response in the form of bodily cues and thought patterns. Gradually, we will learn to direct attention to these patterns, identify, and interpret them to guide us in decision making. This will support you in accessing your no, showing up authentically, kindly and honestly in relationships â overall, summoning more of what makes you feel happy, connected and fulfilled.
Other spicy (and cuddly) events happening soonđśď¸
Desire Paths: Reading Queer Edinburgh. 19-25 February, Edinburgh.
Sex Positive Book Club Glasgow (whole book). 20 February, Glasgow.
Reading from Eve by Jo Clifford. 20 February, Edinburgh.
Fierce Salvage, launch event. 21 February, Edinburgh.
Sex Positive Reading Group (chapter-only). 25 February, Glasgow.
Are you hosting or have you spotted an event about sex, relationships, feminism, and other related topics that we have missed (especially outside of the Central Belt)? Send it over at events@pillowtalk.scot!
The purpose of Pillow Talk Scotland is to provide information. You must not rely on the information on this newsletter as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other healthcare professional. You must always consult your doctor or healthcare professional if you have any concerns about your medical condition, diagnosis or treatment. Pillow Talk Scotland is not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damages resulting from the use of information contained within this site. If you have a complaint or wish to report any inaccuracies, you can email us at contact@pillowtalk.scot.
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