In the UK, gay & bisexual men continue to be the community most affected by HIV: over 30,000 gay & bisexual men are living with HIV.

Nationally it is estimated that one in twenty gay men have HIV, but it is significantly higher in some areas, such as London (one in ten) and Brighton (one in eight).

There has been a worrying increase in diagnoses amongst young gay men. In 2007 over 330 gay & bisexual men under the age of 24 were newly diagnosed with HIV. This is one reason why we're calling for compulsory sex and relationships education in all schools which includes appropriate reference to same-sex relationships.

Gay men have elevated health needs in other areas, for example around smoking, drugs and alcohol use and mental health. These undermine both the health of HIV positive gay men, and their ability to manage their condition well. With drugs and alcohol use and poor mental health there can be added risks of HIV infection.

In a recent study, a quarter of gay men with long-term health issues reported a mental or emotional health problem. Amongst gay men with HIV this proportion rises to three-quarters.

It's therefore important that national gay men's health strategies are developed and resourced, with full involvement of gay men themselves - linking HIV and sexual health service provision with a wider range of services meeting gay men's needs (for example on smoking, mental health and drug use).