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Hang out in your car and see who’s about. Head on over to the bushy area if someone catches your eye. Be wary of non-cruisers and dog walkers.
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If you’ve not been hooking up with other guys during the COVID-19 lockdown and have had no sex with other people since March, now could be the perfect time to get yourself tested for HIV, says, HIV expert Matthew Hodson.
Taking to social media, Matthew, who is the Executive Director of AIDSMAP, told his followers, that if they hadn’t had sex for five weeks or more, that they could be confident that an HIV test result would be highly accurate, adding that the lockdown has created an opportunity to “root out undiagnosed HIV”.
Many people have adhered to Government guidelines about self-isolating.
In a current poll (it is live and subject to change) we asked our readers whether they had abstained from sex with people outside their own homes. The vast majority of people (around 66 per cent) who answered said that they had.
Only around five per cent said that their behaviour had not changed since the beginning of lockdown at the end of March.
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Speaking in a video, Matthew said, “lockdown means far fewer people are having sex, meaning that far fewer people will have just acquired HIV. This is crucial because people are at their most infectious when they’ve just got.
He went on to say that they were “already anticipating that the number of new infections will go down even faster than before”.
He added that we have the “opportunity to end new HIV infections altogether”
The idea is if everyone tests now and receives their HIV status by the time lockdown ends, that anyone who has newly acquired HIV can be on treatment. When people are “virtual suppressed” (UEqualsU) HIV cannot be passed on to anyone else.
The charity Saving Lives is offering readers of THEGAYUK a free at-home HIV Testing Kit.
You can order a FREE at-home HIV test kit from Saving Lives if you use the promo code: GAYUK20.
Want to know what an at-home HIV test is like? Read our review here.
Although it may seem that many health services might be running at a reduced capacity or you’re unable to physically attend NHS services, but Doctor Naomi Sutton took to social media recently to remind us all that you can still get sexual health advice and, if necessary, access medications and testing if you need them.
She wrote,
“The #NHS is still open! Please seek medical advice if you need it.
“Sexual health services are operating phone consultations, posting contraception, screening tests and medication when needed and seeing patients face to face where necessary”
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Hang out in your car and see who’s about. Head on over to the bushy area if someone catches your eye. Be wary of non-cruisers and dog walkers.
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Pansexuality, might not be on your radar as much as homosexuality or bisexuality, but it’s all-inclusive nature has got people falling in love with the sexual and romantic orientation that is pansexuality – which is, essentially hearts, not parts – you fall in love and lust with the heart of someone, not just their biological sex or gender expression.
We asked readers for their best description, here’s what one person told us
“As a 21-year-old pansexual male, I found that there was a lot of stigma that went with being pansexual and many people don’t understand/know what it means.
“To me, it’s different for different people, I personally think that in my eyes, gender/sexual-orientation does not count towards anything in the way of attraction and in the way of love. I believe that you fall in love with the person and not their genitals or what gender they are attracted to.
“I have dated various genders, various people with different sexual orientations and yes they have been very different partners and have been very different relationships however the one thing that is, all the same, is the feelings towards that person. The spark that I have felt towards each individual person and that feeling was not towards there genitals, it was towards them as people.
“My opinion of pansexuality is love.
Another user, Alex, told us,
“Love without gender, connection without exclusion, and plenty of fish in the sea”
and another, Eggy, wrote,
“sexual attraction regardless of gender”
Want to add your thoughts? Use the comment box below.
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Cruising Grounds are defined as open spaces where men look for sex with other men. They are also known as dogging areas.
These cruising/dogging areas can be parks, lay-bys, beaches and other public spaces. These are known as Public Sex Environments (PSEs)
Cottaging is looking for, or having sex in a public toilet – this includes any toilet which is open to the public such as Theatres, Service stations, Shopping Centres, Cinemas and Transport toilets.
There is no specific law against cruising in the UK. Sex in public places is NOT illegal as long as other members of the public cannot see you having sex – or are unlikely to come into contact with you whilst you are engaged in sexual activity.
Police do not have the right to stop and search you for being in or near a cruising ground, unless they suspect you have or are just about to commit a crime.
Police guidelines suggest that police should only respond to complaints made by the public and not to proactively prohibit men from cruising.
However, the police may introduce measures to stop cruising in an area, which Nottinghamshire police recently announced for a famous cruising spot in Mansfield.
Cottaging (having and looking for sex in a public toilet) is illegal in the UK, so using any of the listings on this site is entirely at your own risk.
You risk being arrested for cottaging if you are caught in a public toilet, even if you are having sex behind a closed stall door. It is still against the law and you risk criminal proceedings if you are caught.
In some areas of the UK police patrol public toilets which are known for cottaging.
Always ask to speak to the duty solicitor at the police station before being interviewed or accepting a caution.
A caution or conviction will result in a criminal record for a sexual offence which you will have to disclose in any criminal record checks.
Your safety is paramount. Cruising grounds have been known to harbour individuals who would like to harm you. It may be wise to carry a rape alarm and to be extra vigilant, especially in the dark. You should get to know your local cruising ground, finding out the exits, dead ends and shortcuts.
If you take your car to a cruising/dogging ground, keep your valuables out of sight or leave them at home.
Always make sure you’ve brought plenty of lube and condoms.
You always have the right to say no to the sex you don’t want. Make sure you know your own boundaries and stick to them. If you find yourself forced into an uncomfortable situation move away or leave the area.
If you are attacked get help by calling out for help.
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Look out for toilet attendants and other users. Head to the last cubicle and quietly cough to see if anyone’s inside. If you’re in the cubicle and want some company open the door
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