One of the gay community’s most respected charities, GMFA turns 25 today.
To celebrate its 25th birthday, GMFA has launched a fundraising appeal to raise £25,000 to invest in its future.
The charity was started 25 years ago, in 1992, by a group of gay men who saw that there was a lack of resources specifically for people like themselves. Since its inception, it has tirelessly worked to bring awareness about the sexual health issues facing gay and bisexual men in the UK.
It even produced one of the sauciest magazines available in the UK, FS magazine, which was distributed amongst London’s gay bars.
Ian Howley, Chief executive of GMFA says,
“Over the last 25 years, GMFA has been at the forefront of innovated measures of HIV prevention. Since 1992, GMFA has provided frank and honest information about HIV, STI and safer sex. We’ve also supported gay men living with HIV and led with powerful HIV stigma campaigns. We reach over 1.5 million people through our website alone. Our campaigns have a social reach of over 4 million. And our FS magazine is leading the way by highlighting issues that gay men face on a daily basis.”
Despite the important role that GMFA plays in the sexual health arena, it receives no statutory funding.
Ian continues,
“The future of GMFA is uncertain, but we believe that we are the best in this sector to help gay men take control of their own lives. And we do this as five men sitting in an office with the help and support of our volunteers and donors”.
In 2013 the charity had its funding cut from the Pan-London HIV Prevention Programme, which was funded by the NHS. The cuts came at a time when new HIV infections amongst gay men were at an all time high. Higher than the levels recorded in the 1980s.
Donate to the GMFA25 appeal: https://www.gmfa.org.uk/appeal/gmfa25-appeal
Donate by text: GMFA25 £10 to 70070
