OUT LGBT Well-being is now 15 years old. Over the years the organisation has grown and expanded its services to LGBT people. OUT’s work have proven to be much needed and complementary. OUT provides excellent direct services, do research, mainstream LGBT issues within service provision such as health care and lobby for legal reform and protection. OUT has had many successes in the past including playing a leading role in securing same sex marriage and doing the first quantitative research on the experience of LGBT people. The organisation manages a full time community centre and a clinic.
As from October 2009 the OUT Clinic and Wellness Centre will start providing Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) treatment. PEP significantly reduces the chances of getting infected by HIV after exposure to the Virus. It reduces your changes of becoming infected after unsafe sex especially unprotected anal sex. PEP treatment usually costs between R400 to R500 and now provides LGBT people with the opportunity to get this potentially life saving service in a LGBT friendly environment for a minimal administrative fee of R20. Says Elmie Joubert (the OUT Clinic Nurse) “PEP should not be seen as a replacement for safer sex strategies such as condom and lubrication use, but rather as a last resort for those who have encountered an accidental exposure”. You need to start this treatment within 72 hours of exposure.
In July 2009, OUT moved to new offices at 1081 Pretorius Street. The new offices house the PRISM Lifestyle Centre, the OUT administrative offices, and the OUT Clinic. The new landline number is 012-430 3272, the new fax number is 012-342 2700, and the new postal address is Postnet Suite 107, Private Bag X 15, Private Bag 0102. E-mail enquiries: administrator@out.org.za; www.out.org.za