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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 7(2)

Gay men’s sex venues, the men who use them, and gay community perceptions: insights from a convenience sample of gay men attending a community festival in Melbourne

Anthony M. A. Smith A B , Jeffrey W. Grierson A and Henry von Doussa A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: Anthony.Smith@latrobe.edu.au

Sexual Health 7(2) 177-181 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH09055
Submitted: 20 May 2009  Accepted: 28 January 2010   Published: 14 May 2010

Abstract

Background: Despite being understood as sites for the potential spread of sexually transmissible infections, we know remarkably little about gay men’s sex venues and how they are perceived in the gay community. The present paper aims to describe community attitudes to sex venues and towards the gay men who use them. Methods: Self-administered questionnaire at a gay community social event. Results: Men who use gay men’s sex venues differ from non-users in relation to their age, the number of casual sexual partners they have, their openness about their sexuality and their comfort with sexualised spaces. Also, not all venues are equal and appear to attract diverse clienteles with particular characteristics. Conclusion: Differentiation among gay men’s sex venues and the men who use them may offer opportunities for targeting interventions for sexual health promotion.

Additional keywords: homosexual men, sex-on-site venues, sexual behaviour.


Acknowledgements

The project was funded by the State of Victoria through its Department of Human Services (DHS). The views and conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of DHS. The manuscript was improved by the input of two anonymous reviewers.


References


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