MANY in the LGBT community fear a return to the “dark ages” on HIV awareness as the government's austerity programme silences key programmes, activists were told yesterday.

To many delegates at this year’s TUC LGBT conference, coalition cuts have not only meant fewer health services available for those at risk, but also a step back in social understanding of the illness.

“One of the problems I experienced in the last 28 years of being positive is basic discrimination,” said Unison representative Gerard McGrath.