"We are in a mess. The length and breadth of Britain, employers and services have no idea what the law says about how trans people should be treated. Trans people are experiencing increased harassment and abuse when we try to do such basic things as use the loo in a café or go out shopping."

I also want to express my love for Dr Beth Upton. That woman truly has more courage than any of us.

This World AIDS Day, let us reflect on how far we've come since the dark days of the 1980s, and let that knowledge inspire us to redouble our efforts against HIV and AIDS today.

There is still much more to do if Scotland hopes to be a world leader in ending new transmission of HIV by 2030, but this initiative is a welcome reminder of the power the Scottish Government has to change lives for the better.

Opt-out testing is a vital tool in the fight against HIV transmission. In Scotland, 98% of people who know their HIV status are on treatment, and people on effective treatment cannot pass it on. Finding undetected cases is the key to breaking chains of transmission.

NHS Grampian was the first to begin opt-out testing at its A&E department at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in October and it is now set to be expanded to NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde by March, with other areas to be added as the evidence allows. www.nhsgrampian.org/news/2025/oc...