FS: Are We Not Men?

Are gay men, as some would have it, ‘the biggest suicide cult in history’ or are we just having a good time? It’s well known that we have sex with more people than our heterosexual brothers. We’re also more likely to take drugs and drink to excess – and are much more likely to prance around in nightclubs with our tits to the wind. Is this indicative of great pain or of joy?

Often we are told that the reason that gay men take drugs, abuse alcohol or have lots of random hook-ups is because we don’t really like ourselves; that the casual homophobia we have been subjected to in our childhood has been internalised, and so we seek to escape by losing ourselves in sex and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. I think that’s part of the story but I’m not convinced it’s the whole one...

A cracking piece by Matthew Hodson in FS Magazine; Is It Because We're Gay Or Is It Because We're Men?

Now read on...

Sex Survey: Oh Really?

UK-based gay men’s charity GMFA has carried out its biggest ever survey into gay men’s sex lives – with results that are both encouraging and others that are slightly worrying.

Of the 3,000 responses, high numbers of men admitted not using condoms when they had sex – although the majority of respondents also claimed to have had a sexual health test in the past twelve months.

In addition, over half of the men in the sample had fewer than five sexual partners in the last year – with 58% saying that they had had sex in the last week.

However, some of the most interesting results were those concerning HIV awareness and treatment.

Over half of respondents had not been diagnosed with HIV admitted that they were worried about becoming HIV-positive – but only a third admitted to using condoms the last time they had anal sex.

By contrast, 90% of gay with HIV said they used condoms the last time they had a sexual partner – and 71% claimed that they would use PrEP immediatley if it was available on the NHS...

Pink News. 

Yes, very interesting, but for the love of cock, you can't generalise from a self-selecting online survey.

And any sex survey should be taken with a rather large pinch of salty spunk.

The full survey results are in FS magazine's The Sex Issue.

Fagburn wonders if PN have read the editorial? 'Stats can be great to use. We love using them. But they can be manipulated to create a headline that doesn’t paint a full picture...'

IRONY EXPLOSION!!!

PS Yes, Gay Star News got the same press release and used the same headline (with added anal).

Chemsex: Exterminate! Exterminate!

So looking ahead, what’s the future for chemsex within our communities?

Easy. We’ll eradicate it. Quicker than it started. We’ll do it through kindness, tolerance, and dialogue. We’ll do it by reflecting on what it means to be an awesome, great gay man, and by being productive, fearless contributors to a robust gay community. How many gay men does it take to screw in this lightbulb? Every single damned one of us, together. I have faith. See ya later chemsex, you’re licked. 

The quite astonishing conclusion to an article in FS by David Stuart.

David runs the 'chemsex clinics' at 56 Dean Street.


Surely the first drugs worker/campaigner who wants to 'eradicate' drug use since Nancy 'Just say no' Reagan?

Here's a role play video where David advises a chemsexer he'd be happier if he went for nice romantic meals instead.

PS Thanks to How Upsetting.

David Stuart will be talking at this next month, The Rise Of Chemsex.

Joining Matthew [Todd] in an explosive discussion will be William Fairman and Max Gogarty directors of the new feature length documentary ‘CHEMSEX’; David Stuart, Substance Use Lead at 56 Dean Street and Pat Cash organiser of the popular ‘Let’s Talk About Gay Sex and Drugs’ events...

Forgive me, but don't all the panellists agree that 'Chemsex = sad/bad/mad/wrong'?

If so, I can't see the 'discussion' being that 'explosive'.

What's that phrase? 'A herd of independent minds...'

Theatre News: The Clinic

Two boys go on a date through Grindr. One is trying to reduce his use of mephedrone and G, the other is struggling with his recent HIV diagnosis.

When their date goes wrong, their paths spiral in different directions. Symptoms of modern gay London are encountered from slamming to intimacy problems, and the mental health effects of growing up LGBT in a straight man's world.

But avenues of support exist in both boys' shared sexual health advisor, and a remarkable trans woman who runs the beauty clinic in Vauxhall. And at the play's heart lies a very contemporary gay love story.

Written by Patrick Cash, The Clinic is informed by many hours of interviews and unprecedented access to NHS sexual health clinic 56 Dean Street in Soho. It is directed by Luke Davies (LAMDA), produced by Lead Substance Use Advisor at 56 Dean Street David Stuart and features a cast of legendary gay scene figures and incendiary new queer talent.

The Clinic is at King’s Head Theatre, 115 Upper Street, Islington, N1 1QN, Monday 24th to Saturday 29th August.

Hilariously the play features Fagburn's old chum, Stewart Who?, playing a character based on his nemesis, David Stuart.

Here's an Attitude online interview with the cast.

Full disclosure; The Clinic is written by Patrick Cash, who once wrote a very nice article about Fagburn. 

I am sure he will deftly critique the media's current moral panic and hysteria about chemsex...

David Stuart writes on the joy of chemsex in the new FS magazine.

FS: Racism And The Gay Scene

FS magazine - special issue.

FS: Next Question

FS magazine marks World Mental Health Day.

FS Magazine: Why Do You Have Body Image Issues?

I really can't imagine why so many gay men have body image issues, FS.
Do tell.