Ah, gay cruising, for some gay and bi men it’s a rite of passage, for others it’s a no-go activity, but we’ve been looking at our website’s stats and we’ve discovered when gay cruising grounds are at their most popular, by analysing the hits and web searches we get for anything to do with cruising.
Now clearly anything that involves taking off some or all of your clothes in an outdoor or public setting is going to be more popular in the hotter summer months, but don’t be mistaken in thinking that guys don’t go cruising during the winter months as well. However, we have to say we think that nudist beaches are going to be pretty quiet past September.
The difference between Winter and Summer can make a big difference when gay cruising
Searches on our website are half in the wintery months as people tend to look to more dating app hookups or even gay saunas, but it doesn’t mean that all menfolk stop their outings.
Many use messaging sites, like ours, to let other guys know that they’re going to be at the location at a certain time – and don’t forget many cruising sites can take place indoors, in toilets, shopping centres and service stations. Gloryholes are incredibly popular in indoor settings and not something you can recreate in an outdoor setting.
So, when is the most popular time for cruising? Well, digging into the analytics of the past three years of searches on our site for cruising grounds, we have found that queries and visits to our cruising listings have peaked in August and July, not surprising when you consider the weather.
But you might be surprised to learn that the least popular cruising month isn’t December or January when it’s coldest in the UK no, it’s surprisingly April and March.
This is the exact date when gay cruising is the most and least popular.
But if you’re looking for the cruisiest day of the year, it’s the 18th of August, that’s when traffic peaks each year (on average) on our site. The least cruisiest, is March 5th.
Preventing HIV transmission involves adopting a combination of strategies to reduce the risk of exposure. Here are some of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent HIV:
Use Condoms: Consistent and correct use of condoms during sexual intercourse can significantly reduce the risk of HIV transmission. Male and female condoms are readily available and provide a barrier against the virus.
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis):PrEP is a medication taken by HIV-negative individuals to prevent infection. It is highly effective when taken as prescribed and can be a useful prevention tool, especially for those at higher risk.
Limit Sexual Partners: Reducing the number of sexual partners can lower the risk of exposure to HIV. Knowing your partner’s HIV status and discussing sexual health openly can help make informed decisions.
Regular Testing: Knowing your own and your partner’s HIV status is crucial. Regular testing allows for early detection, enabling timely access to treatment and preventing further transmission. There is at-home testing now which is easy to do. See our at-home HIV Testing review here.
Avoid Sharing Needles or Syringes: If you use drugs, avoid sharing needles or syringes, as this can increase the risk of HIV transmission. Use clean needles and sterile injection equipment.
Use Sterile Instruments for Tattoos and Piercings: Ensure that any instruments used for tattoos, piercings, or other body modifications are sterile and properly cleaned to prevent the risk of HIV transmission.
Educate Yourself: Stay informed about HIV transmission and prevention methods. Understanding the virus and its modes of transmission can empower individuals to make informed choices about their sexual health.
Kick Stigma out: HIV-related stigma, which includes negative attitudes, prejudice, and discrimination towards individuals living with HIV or perceived to be at risk, can create barriers to effective prevention and care.
Seek Support and Counselling: If you are in a relationship with someone living with HIV or if you have concerns about your risk, seek counselling and support services. Open communication and education can help address fears and reduce the risk of transmission.
Remember, the most effective prevention strategy may vary depending on individual circumstances. It’s essential to consult with healthcare professionals for personalised advice and guidance based on your specific situation.
New transmissions of HIV have declined by 42% from 2019 to 2022 new data shows.
The number of new HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men fell by 42% from 1,239 to 724 between 2019 and 2022, according to the latest HIV Action Plan monitoring and evaluation framework (MEF), published today. However, the UK’s Government hopes to reduce transmission by 80% by 2025.
Meeting HIV targets
England also met the UNAIDS 2025 95-95-95 targets for the third time with 95% of all people with HIV being diagnosed, 98% of those diagnosed on treatment and 98% of those on treatment being virally suppressed and unable to pass on the virus.
While there has been a notable decline in cases among white gay and bisexual men from 2019 to 2022, there is a disparity among ethnic minority gay and bisexual men, with new HIV diagnoses not decreasing at a similar rate.
Ethnic minority groups still at risk
In 2022, ethnic minority groups accounted for 42% (304 out of 724) of diagnoses in GBMSM (Gay Bisexual and Men who have sex with men), compared to 34% (417 out of 1,239) in 2019.
While there was a 13% decrease in overall new HIV diagnoses in England, dropping from 2,819 in 2019 to 2,444 in 2022, there was an increase from 2,313 to 2,444 between 2021 and 2022. To meet the 2025 transmission target, there would need to be a yearly reduction of 627 in HIV transmission.
Cases of HIV have risen in Women and ethnic minority groups
The recent increase can be attributed in part to a slowdown in the progress toward the elimination in heterosexual women and ethnic minority groups. Despite a decrease in cases among heterosexual women from 589 in 2019 to 447 in 2021, there was a 26% rise from 447 to 564 in 2022.
While diagnoses among white British women declined by 39% between 2019 and 2022, there was only a 6% reduction among black African women. Among heterosexual men, new HIV diagnoses decreased by 25%, falling from 458 in 2019 to 281 in 2022.
Photo by https://pixabay.com/users/geralt
Dr Alison Brown, Interim Head of HIV Surveillance at UKHSA, said, “England remains a world leader in efforts to reduce HIV transmission and ensure that those diagnosed have timely access to effective treatment.
“While there is much to celebrate, with numbers of HIV diagnoses continuing to decrease in certain groups, there is also much more to do. HIV diagnoses are increasing among heterosexual populations, particularly among women.
“It is concerning that testing levels in these groups has not recovered to 2019 levels, prior to Covid-19. So please, no matter your gender or sexual orientation, get regularly tested, use condoms and get PrEP if you’re eligible, to protect you and your partners’ health.”
Professor Kevin Fenton, government’s Chief Advisor on HIV and Chair of HIV Action Plan Implementation Steering Group said, “This week’s announcement to start new research on an expansion of the HIV opt-out emergency department testing programme, demonstrates the government’s commitment to keep the momentum up to end new transmissions of HIV within England by 2030.
“HIV opt-out testing is successful at reaching everyone, including women and those from ethnic minorities, who are living with HIV without knowing. It is a huge step in the right direction, and today’s research shows we need to do more to make sure these groups are effectively being targeted.
“I believe we can meet our 2030 targets and thank the UKHSA for its research to point us in the right direction – and identify where more can be done.”
Richard Angell, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, said, “We have all of the tools we need to end new HIV cases by 2030 and diagnose those out there who are unaware they’re living with HIV. But with just six years left to achieve that goal, we need to do more and do it faster. Crucially, we also need to ensure that the progress we’re making is felt by all of the groups impacted by HIV – without exception. That includes for women, heterosexual men and people from racially minoritised communities, where testing levels continue to lag both behind pre-Covid levels and those seen among gay and bisexual men.
“The announcement of £20million funding to expand opt-out HIV testing in A&Es to an additional 46 hospitals is great news as this approach is proven to help address inequalities, with the proportion of women, older people and those of Black ethnicity diagnosed in A&Es higher than those found in sexual health. But this landmark expansion is only part of the puzzle and needs to happen in parallel with the better utilisation and availability of HIV prevention drug PrEP, ramping up testing in a wide range of settings and, of course, tackling the highs levels of stigma still surrounding HIV.”
Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of National AIDS Trust, said, “This period of time is absolutely crucial in our fight to end new HIV transmissions. Though the data shows some really encouraging progress, it also demonstrates how important it is to tackle inequalities across different communities as our key focus.
“PrEP and opt-out testing are game-changers, but they’re not enough if they’re not reaching the right people. People who adhere to their medication cannot pass the virus on. This is also known as Undetectable = Untransmissible (U=U) and it is a vital message in the ongoing fight against stigma and discrimination, however, not enough people are aware of it. Tailored engagement and interventions which involve the communities that we are trying to reach must be the starting point to addressing inequalities.”
The year 2022 also saw the highest ever number of tests in sexual health services among gay and bisexual men, but numbers have remained lower than pre-pandemic levels for heterosexual men and women.
In 2022, 40% of women attending sexual health services were not offered an HIV test compared to 27% in heterosexual men and 23% in gay and bisexual men. Women, and ethnic minority populations were also less likely start or continue PrEP.
UKHSA continues to work with DHSC and partners towards the HIV Elimination Action Plan, including supporting the evaluation of the Opt-out testing programme to increase HIV diagnoses and providing guidance to clinicians to help get people with HIV access treatment.
UKHSA will also be working to understand why women are less likely to be offered a HIV test to help tackle inequalities.
Ummm, yes. In fact, many many people who use Grindr do so discreetly.
When you open Grindr, you’ll likely come across profiles without photos or those using only a torso image or unrelated pictures. These are discreet users, often indicating their intention by including “DL” in their profile or using words like “discreet.”
There are various reasons why someone might choose to use Grindr discreetly. As always, if you’re unsure or have doubts about the information shared by someone you’re chatting with on a dating app, it’s best to block them and avoid meeting up. You can find more dating app safety advice here.
The Discreet App Icon (DAI) provides the option to alter the appearance of your Grindr app icon on your smartphone, ensuring your privacy. This feature is accessible on both Android and iOS platforms and is free for all users.
To configure your DAI, follow these steps:
Tap on your Profile icon.
Access Settings ⚙️.
Scroll down to the Security section.
Choose the Discreet App Icon.
Select your preferred Grindr app icon appearance on your device.
Explore the available icons based on your device type, including iOS and Android, and find troubleshooting steps if needed.
With this double penetration position the Btm faces up and lies on his back on the stomach of Top 1, who should again enter first.
Top 2 then put his penis and because of his position gets the best view, but also, again gets to control the thrusting action more.
Tip: If your Btm is a heavier guy, then he’ll need to support his weight with his elbows or hands, meaning that both his hands will be occupied, so Top 2 can always jerk him off
The King Of Club DP position is where the two Tops lie opposite each other with their butts, balls and penises meeting in the middle. Their legs outstretched past the shoulders of the other top. The two top’s legs will cross each at around the knee. The tops’ penises should meet in the middle and essentially create one dick for the Btm to lower himself onto.
The Btm will need some good upper body strength for this as he lowers himself down and steadies himself on top of the two tops. However, this is the position where the Btm has most of the control over thrusting and how deep the penetration is.
Tip: Because this is essentially creating one large penis for the Btm to sit on it can actually be harder to do. First, a lot of foreplay and fucking needs to happen before you attempt this to really relax the muscles. You could also try raising one of the Top’s hips up with a pillow under the butt, making his penis stand higher than the other, meaning the Btm can insert one, then the other
If it’s your first time to the rodeo, let me explain: the Cowboy involves one guy laying down on his back, while his man straddles him, and sits either facing his head (Standard Cowboy) or turned towards his toes (Reverse Cowboy).
The stand-out quality of this bucking bronco of a position is that it allows the receiver to control the pace and depth of thrusting – although the giver can grab his lover’s hips or buttocks to guide this too, if he wishes.
If you want to put on a show for your partner that will have them salivating as though they’ve just had an entire packet of Haribo Tangfastics poured into their gob, perching atop their crotch in the forward-facing Cowboy is the best pose to adopt. Treat them to the sight of you stroking your nipples; trailing your fingers down your torso; gripping yourself; leaning back to grasp their ankles…
As with any form of anal sex, for both comfort and safety, it’s essential to use plenty of lubricant during Cowboy nookie. Silicone-based lubes last much longer than water-based varieties. Certainly avoid any lube containing spermicidal ingredients, such as nonoxynol-9. These can irritate the lining of the rectum, causing itching and peeling not unlike sunburn, and making you more susceptible to infections. Keep such chemicals well away from your raunch ranch, pardner.
It’s fair to say Twitter / X has been rocked by many, many changes since Elon Musk bought and took it over, but one of the rumours currently circulating the mill is that Musk is thinking about charging for access.
This got us thinking, what will the gays do if X starts to charge?
We put that question to our followers and it looks as though there could be a mass exodus from the platform if a paywall were to be installed.
We asked the question: If X starts charging for usage will you… and we offered two answers, Pay up and Leave. So far as of publishing the overwhelming majority (currently over 90%) of our followers chose the Leave option.
So if X / Twitter starts charging for usage, will you
Rammy Pride is free to attend and promises to be a great event and is due to take place in the Ramsbottom Civic Centre.
This is the first pride ever for Ramsbottom.
Where is Ramsbottom?
Ramsbottom is a town located in Greater Manchester, England. It is situated in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, which is part of the Greater Manchester metropolitan county in the North West region of England. Ramsbottom is known for its picturesque surroundings, including the nearby West Pennine Moors, and it has a rich industrial history.
Who’s headlining Ramsbottom Pride 2023?
It appears as though there is no official “headliner” for Ramsbottom Pride however there will be plenty of entertainment for those who attend. There will be DJs performing throughout the day as well as performances from Emma Connor, James Gunn Johnson, The ImprompTUNES and more.
Are there tickets for Ramsbottom Pride?
No, this Pride is a free event to attend and it does not require a ticket. The event is open to everybody.
According to The Pride Shop’s Pride Date Calendar, Preston Pride is happening this weekend and it’s all due to set off from 10 AM and run until 4 PM.
Preston Pride is free to attend and promises to be a great event.
Preston Pride has been running since 2012. These events have normally included performances by various local, talented acts and stalls by LGBT+ related organisations along with a number of commercial stalls.
Preston Pride is held at the Preston Flag Market.
Where is Preston?
Preston is a city in Lancashire, England. It’s a relatively large city in the northwest of England and is historically known for its industrial heritage. See all our listings for Lancashire.
Who’s headlining Preston Pride 2023?
It appears as though there is no official “headliner” for Preston Pride however there will be plenty of entertainment for those who attend.
There will be performances from Passmore, Smashby, the La La La’s and will be hosted by drag local legends, Gypsy Darling and Hysteria.
Are there tickets for Preston Pride?
No, Preston Pride is a free event to attend and it does not require a ticket. The event is open to everybody.
After parties for Pride?
There are after-parties being held, these are at The Ferret, The Guild and Market Tavern.
