Fighting Stigma One Test at a Time

Extraordinary community heroes are the backbone of MPOWER’s work. Brídín Ní Fhearraigh-Joyce speaks to the dedicated and understanding volunteers providing rapid HIV testing in LGBTQ+ spaces and hears why they do what they do.

When you or I go to a gay bar, it’s usually to serve looks or have drinks with friends. When the fantastic MPOWER volunteers are on duty in gay spaces, they serve in a very different way.

MPOWER is an initiative that provides rapid HIV testing in gay bars, saunas, and LGBTQ+ community spaces. Davy Quinlivan, the volunteer coordinator, tells me the service would be impossible to run without the commitment of MPOWER’s volunteers.

To celebrate their dedication and to further inform of the services available, here are just some of their stories.

Bill has been involved with the LGBTQ+ movement all of his adult life. For him, volunteering allows “a sense of control over the discrimination and prejudice one faces as a member of an oppressed minority. Ireland has moved on considerably since I came out in 1965. But there continues to be discrimination and stigma. There is a worrying rise in ‘queer-bashing’ episodes. We need to continue to fight discrimination and prejudice as much as we can.” He mentions the empowerment that comes with being a part of LGBTQ+ organisations, particularly an organisation that has a game-changing target in its sights.

MPOWER has the radical goal of zero new HIV Positive cases by 2030. Jordi, another volunteer, was diagnosed with HIV in 2016 by a Barcelona-based service similar to MPOWER. He affirms that this goal “is possible, and MPOWER allows me to be part of this”. For him, volunteering is a way to “give back to the community that has always taken care of me”. Jordi’s vision is for Ireland to have zero transmission - “Nobody should get HIV in Ireland in 2023”.

Jordi continues that alongside the availability of the preventive pill PrEP, and MPOWER making testing accessible, spreading the message that U=U is essential. U=U stands for ‘Undetectable equals Untransmittable’ - meaning a person on effective treatment who is living with HIV and has an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmit HIV to others.

For Matthew, a trans volunteer, the highlight of being involved with MPOWER is dispelling the stigma and misinformation that can surround HIV and HIV Positive people. MPOWER is an incredible opportunity “to meet and chat to a huge variety of people and getting to share information about prevention and treatment, reinforce that U=U, and that HIV Positive people live full, rich and long lives”.

Ewerton tells me that the most important part of MPOWER’s work is in the early detection of someone’s HIV status. “HIV is a serious viral infection that weakens the immune system and can lead to AIDS if left untreated. Rapid testing allows for early detection of HIV, enabling individuals to seek appropriate medical care and start treatment as early as possible. Early detection significantly improves health outcomes and reduces the risk of transmission to others”. He cites his “strong sense of social responsibility and a desire to give back to my community” as his motivation for volunteering.

The testing process is completely confidential, carried out quickly by the understanding and dedicated community of volunteers. Many people enter an STI clinic with dread, expecting long waiting times and a sterile and cold environment, but MPOWER is a peer-led clinic that takes place in vibrant LGBTQ+ spaces.

Bill says that MPOWER fills the gap in a country where STI and HIV services are over-subscribed and underresourced. “There is a need to provide as many different opportunities as possible to people looking for testing and treatment. It can be difficult to get an appointment at an STI clinic for testing. Some gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and trans people find STI Clinics off-putting.” He says that MPOWER’s key difference is that the testing is delivered by GBMSM within the LGBTQ+ community. This “provides a unique environment for those reluctant to approach an STI clinic to access a testing service. Without this service, many people would not get tested and potentially would remain undiagnosed. Undiagnosed STI infections and HIV remains the biggest barrier to achieving the goal of no new cases by 2030.”

Andy’s inspiration for getting involved was how “professional, helpful, and nice” the team that he encountered was when he was getting tested. “When the opportunity arose to volunteer with the team, I jumped on it.” Visibility in community spaces is key to what MPOWER does. “Often when people apply to volunteer it is because they happened to be in a venue when testing was happening and want to help, or they saw posters and the volunteers in venues giving out flyers and partaking in information campaigns.” Volunteer Sergio says that the beauty of the service is that “I can pop into a bar or a sauna (places that me and my friends like to go and enjoy) and I have the chance to take the doubt out of my mind in around 15 minutes. It is incredible.”

Matthew agrees. “Having a friendly, peer-led space that you can access for free, outside of traditional business hours means that more people than ever before can take charge of their sexual health on their own terms. Knowing your HIV status lets us make informed decisions about our sex lives and health.”

Alan sees the testing as “an opportunity for someone getting tested to learn more about HIV and about other sexual health services in Ireland such as where to get a full STI screening as well as allowing someone to know their status and to feel safe no matter what their status is.”

The stories of the volunteers are a testimony to how they act with resilience, compassion, and kindness in all of their actions. One volunteer recalls the first time he had to give the news of a HIV Positive result to a person having a walk-in test. “It was only a matter of seconds from seeing the result to giving it to the person, but it felt much longer. They were very calm when I told them. But it was a life-changing moment. I remind myself every time it happens that it is a good thing for people to know early and that I was part of one of the most significant moments in someone’s life. That’s an incredible privilege.”

Another volunteer proves that the activism for the service isn’t solely confined to volunteering shifts. He tells me how “a friend of a friend spoke to me a while ago with the fear that he may have contracted HIV as his long-term partner had had sex with someone else. He was very anxious about it and was reluctant to go to an STI clinic. I told him about the MPOWER Rapid HIV Testing service. He felt that discretely availing of the service in PantiBar would let him find out his status without compromising his confidentiality. He was delighted with the service and said it was exactly what he needed.” Many of the volunteers encourage people in their personal life to get tested by MPOWER.

Jordi has made spreading awareness a talent. “I may not be good at maths, or at cooking; but I found out I’m great at being HIV Positive. I will always find a moment to talk about sexual health and educate my friends, family, and colleagues. I don’t feel proud of working 40 hours a week for an international business company, but I feel proud and lucky to be able to offer my skills and personality in MPOWER for free because I know how much it is needed and valued.”

Volunteer Karl has served the LGBTQ+ community all his life. Having provided care and support to people living with HIV and AIDS in the ‘90s, he wanted to help on a cause that wasn’t about lobbying but instead one that performed a practical and caring service for the community. Karl details that “so much has changed in terms of living with HIV from when I first worked in the area. Back then if someone was diagnosed the outlook was bleak and life expectancy was low. Today finding out you are living with HIV early means you can access treatments and supports so you end up living with the condition to your full life expectancy.” The majority of people getting tested receive a negative result and Karl adds, “While it’s not easy to tell someone they had a reactive result, the fact is it is a good thing to know.”

Jay, an advocate for HIV testing, describes the social aspect of volunteering and “being allowed be a part of someone’s testing experience” as his reason for serving the community in his spare time. “It’s a huge compliment that people allow volunteers to sit with them to talk through their fears, anxieties, and misunderstandings associated with HIV. I will always appreciate this.”

Volunteer Coordinator, Davy Quinlivan, tells me that volunteers are the backbone of MPOWER’s success. Though I didn’t have the chance to speak to every MPOWER volunteer, the entire group’s commitment to breaking down barriers, providing accurate information, and supporting individuals affected by HIV is changing lives and communities. The sensitivity that the volunteers extend to service users is extraordinary. The MPOWER team are community leaders who we can all look up to. With volunteers as hardworking and dedicated, LGBTQ+ people being tested for HIV are in safe hands.

MPOWER abú.

To join the community of MPOWER volunteers, visit www.mpower.hivireland.ie