We’re in an STI crisis. Once again, Black women are being left behind

The gonorrhoea vaccine should be a major breakthrough, but young Black women are being left out of sexual health policy – with devastating effects.

Pic: Unsplash

In May last year, Bailey*, a 28-year-old postgraduate student who moved to the UK from Kenya, walked into a new sexual health clinic after noticing unusual symptoms. Her regular clinic had shut down indefinitely.

She was hoping for answers and reassurance, instead, she was met with dismissive questions and racialised assumptions. She was al…