Drag Race UK stars ‘give HIV the finger’ for National HIV Testing Week

Drag Race UK star Charity Kase has been joined by fellow queens to “give HIV the finger” as part of National HIV Testing Week.

Queens Elektra Fence and River Medway tested at the Terrence Higgins Trust, using a HIV self-test. This is a simple finger prick test that will give a user results within 15 minutes.

Charity, who was diagnosed with HIV at 18, was praised for speaking openly about her experience with the condition on season three of Drag Race UK last year.

Now the drag star works to raise awareness of the progress in preventing, testing for and treating HIV.

River Medway receives a HIV test at Terrence Higgins Trust (Dave Bird)

Specialist sexual heatlh nurse and National Testing Week Ambassador, Sarah Mulindwa, carried out the tests on Elektra and River.

She said: “it’s never been easier to test for HIV. You’ve got so many options now, whether you can go into a clinic or you can order a test to do in the comfort of your own home.”

Keen to show how easy an HIV test is, Elektra said: “I’m delighted to have tested alongside my sisters to show that that testing isn’t something that should be feared. HIV can affect anyone of any gender, sexuality, age, and ethnicity.”

Elekta Fence said she was ‘delighted’ to take the test alongside her ‘sisters’ (Dave Bird)

Charity said, “I’m thrilled that the girls have taken tests today to show that testing is easy, quick and painless.

“I want everyone to know that people living with HIV can live a fulfilling and happy life, but it all starts with an HIV test.”