Community-Based Research and Younger, Scene-Attached Gay Men Ben Bavinton Christopher Brew

The Fun & Esteem Project HIV prevention with young gay men Peer education and community development approach Workshops, training, resource development, events, advocacy Pilot community research project in 2008

HIV prevention with young gay men

Peer education and community development approach

Workshops, training, resource development, events, advocacy

Pilot community research project in 2008

Project Motivations Engagement issues Specific sub-groups of men (e.g. young scene-attached men) participate in Fun & Esteem programs less than others Research issues Little research on specific sub-groups of men Research can be overly academic Research projects are expensive

Engagement issues

Specific sub-groups of men (e.g. young scene-attached men) participate in Fun & Esteem programs less than others

Research issues

Little research on specific sub-groups of men

Research can be overly academic

Research projects are expensive

Project Objectives Research Objective To collect background data to inform the development of new program responses for young men who are active on the scene and who have no interest in attending our current programs. Capacity Development Objective To increase the skills of a young gay male volunteer by providing opportunities to meaningfully contribute to the Project.

Research Objective

To collect background data to inform the development of new program responses for young men who are active on the scene and who have no interest in attending our current programs.

Capacity Development Objective

To increase the skills of a young gay male volunteer by providing opportunities to meaningfully contribute to the Project.

Methods - Selection Criteria Group Interviews: - No previous participation in Fun & Esteem or ACON workshops - Goes out to gay venues at least two (or more) times a week (on average)‏ - 29 years or under - Same-sex attracted (i.e. gay, bisexual, homosexual, queer)‏ - Identifies as male Online Survey: - 29 years or under - Same-sex attracted (i.e. gay, bisexual, homosexual, queer)‏ - Identifies as male

Group Interviews:

- No previous participation in Fun & Esteem or ACON workshops

- Goes out to gay venues at least two (or more) times a week (on average)‏

- 29 years or under

- Same-sex attracted (i.e. gay, bisexual, homosexual, queer)‏

- Identifies as male

Online Survey:

- 29 years or under

- Same-sex attracted (i.e. gay, bisexual, homosexual, queer)‏

- Identifies as male

Methods Problems Encountered Low survey and group interview turnout due to: Work commitments Social nature of research group Focus groups held at a busy time of year for both recruits and recruiters

Low survey and group interview turnout due to:

Work commitments

Social nature of research group

Focus groups held at a busy time of year for both recruits and recruiters

Findings - Overview 1. Understanding Community 2. Engagement 3. Alcohol and Drugs

1. Understanding Community

2. Engagement

3. Alcohol and Drugs

Findings - Community ‘ Community’ as an overarching of which the ‘scene’ is one part. The ‘scene’ was understood as a community ‘ Community Organisation’ was understood as inclusive of commercial venues and parties ‘ Volunteering’ was understood as including attendance of commercial venues and events.

‘ Community’ as an overarching of which the ‘scene’ is one part.

The ‘scene’ was understood as a community

‘ Community Organisation’ was understood as inclusive of commercial venues and parties

‘ Volunteering’ was understood as including attendance of commercial venues and events.

Community and Age Interviewees drew distinctions between older gay men and themselves: Older gay men were seen as ‘caretakers’ of the community Younger gay men were seen as ‘not really gay’ “ They’re [older gay men] involved in the arts and the productions and are supporting and standing up for our rights and us younger guys are too busy doing other things like getting laid. [laughs]” (Kieran)‏ “ How many times do we go: oh my god look at him [older gay man], what is he doing here, I just do it every week, I’m like ‘ew’.”

Interviewees drew distinctions between older gay men and themselves:

Older gay men were seen as ‘caretakers’ of the community

Younger gay men were seen as ‘not really gay’

“ They’re [older gay men] involved in the arts and the productions and are supporting and standing up for our rights and us younger guys are too busy doing other things like getting laid. [laughs]” (Kieran)‏

“ How many times do we go: oh my god look at him [older gay man], what is he doing here, I just do it every week, I’m like ‘ew’.”

Community and Age Interviewees drew distinctions between older gay men and themselves: Older gay men were seen as ‘caretakers’ of the community Younger gay men were seen as ‘not really gay’ “ Yeah, and I wonder whether they [younger gay men] are actually physically having sexual contact. I think if they’re just jumped on the bandwagon as in “yeah I’m gay” and it’s all about being seen they’re in the trend and its all about image, and … I don’t believe that they’re having sex.” (Kieran)‏

Interviewees drew distinctions between older gay men and themselves:

Older gay men were seen as ‘caretakers’ of the community

Younger gay men were seen as ‘not really gay’

“ Yeah, and I wonder whether they [younger gay men] are actually physically having sexual contact. I think if they’re just jumped on the bandwagon as in “yeah I’m gay” and it’s all about being seen they’re in the trend and its all about image, and … I don’t believe that they’re having sex.” (Kieran)‏

Engagement “ I live in a bubble. I work two jobs, I go out and party, I’m very social, but I don’t talk about the news, cause I don’t know about it anyway, I couldn’t care less about politics, or religion, I, if I ever go on the internet, I go on, I check net banking, I might check Facebook, Hotmail, whatever, but I don’t sit around and go ‘what’s happening’ – if I listen to the radio I listen to the song, the ad comes on it’s turned off or I completely zone out, I couldn’t even tell you what five seconds ago the ad was.” (Kieran)‏

“ I live in a bubble. I work two jobs, I go out and party, I’m very social, but I don’t talk about the news, cause I don’t know about it anyway, I couldn’t care less about politics, or religion, I, if I ever go on the internet, I go on, I check net banking, I might check Facebook, Hotmail, whatever, but I don’t sit around and go ‘what’s happening’ – if I listen to the radio I listen to the song, the ad comes on it’s turned off or I completely zone out, I couldn’t even tell you what five seconds ago the ad was.” (Kieran)‏

Reasons for Engagement Altruism Volunteering needs to be more fun Volunteering is more likely when there is a financial incentive. “ I actually feel like I'm a better person when I do it, but I don’t know what on earth is going to make other people do it, I don’t get it. I wish I could tell you.” (Adrian)‏

Altruism

Volunteering needs to be more fun

Volunteering is more likely when there is a financial incentive.

“ I actually feel like I'm a better person when I do it, but I don’t know what on earth is going to make other people do it, I don’t get it. I wish I could tell you.” (Adrian)‏

Alcohol and Drugs Interviewer: So what do you think the defining features of the gay community are? Kieran: Vibrant. Malcolm: Sex. Kieran: Drugs. Dominic: Definitely drugs. Malcolm: Sex, drugs, clothes. Short shorts. And hair. Kieran: Major drugs. Colour, colourful.”

Interviewer: So what do you think the defining features of the gay community are?

Kieran: Vibrant.

Malcolm: Sex.

Kieran: Drugs.

Dominic: Definitely drugs.

Malcolm: Sex, drugs, clothes. Short shorts. And hair.

Kieran: Major drugs. Colour, colourful.”

Alcohol and Drugs Drugs taken regularly: Ecstasy (E)‏ Crystal Methamphetamine Marijuana GHB Ketamine (K)‏ “ I’ve taken K, … it’s strange to think about it, like why would you want to zone out in a club with the thumping music, but sometimes you do, and it’s only for 20 minutes anyway, and its just this nice little feeling…it’s actually just a case of fun and zoning out.” (Adrian)‏

Drugs taken regularly:

Ecstasy (E)‏

Crystal Methamphetamine

Marijuana

GHB

Ketamine (K)‏

“ I’ve taken K, … it’s strange to think about it, like why would you want to zone out in a club with the thumping music, but sometimes you do, and it’s only for 20 minutes anyway, and its just this nice little feeling…it’s actually just a case of fun and zoning out.” (Adrian)‏

Drug Information Trusted sources: Friends Own experience Harm minimisation material Internet Drug campaigns distrusted “ I deliberately don’t get affected by the drug campaigns only because of how outrageously inaccurate they are. And how exaggerated they are. ” (Dominic)‏

Trusted sources:

Friends

Own experience

Harm minimisation material

Internet

Drug campaigns distrusted

“ I deliberately don’t get affected by the drug campaigns only because of how outrageously inaccurate they are. And how exaggerated they are. ” (Dominic)‏

Drugs and Sex “ I would never have unprotected sex because like that’s just it because… it’s like if you don’t have unprotected sex then your risk of getting HIV is really low.” (Malcolm)‏ Drugs reported as having an association with unsafe sex. Large amounts of GHB and Crystal were believed by participants to have the largest effect on their ability to use condoms. Drugs reported to increase the likelihood of sex: “ Always, yes, pretty much. Always would be the rule. Whenever I’d go out and have drugs I’d have sex.” (Malcolm)‏

“ I would never have unprotected sex because like that’s just it because… it’s like if you don’t have unprotected sex then your risk of getting HIV is really low.” (Malcolm)‏

Drugs reported as having an association with unsafe sex.

Large amounts of GHB and Crystal were believed by participants to have the largest effect on their ability to use condoms.

Drugs reported to increase the likelihood of sex:

“ Always, yes, pretty much. Always would be the rule. Whenever I’d go out and have drugs I’d have sex.” (Malcolm)‏

Implications A rethinking of community vs. scene. New models for engaging these men are needed Programs need to acknowledge their experience of drug use. More research

A rethinking of community vs. scene.

New models for engaging these men are needed

Programs need to acknowledge their experience of drug use.

More research

Project Evaluation Research Objective Difficulty engaging the target group leading to very small sample size Useful insights gained, particularly from the qualitative data Capacity Development Objective Timing of project did not go according to plan Skills of the Fun & Esteem volunteer developed

Research Objective

Difficulty engaging the target group leading to very small sample size

Useful insights gained, particularly from the qualitative data

Capacity Development Objective

Timing of project did not go according to plan

Skills of the Fun & Esteem volunteer developed