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Annual Report 2002-2003

Events and Resources

‘A safe haven where gay men can be themselves and not have to worry about the, often intimidating, outside ‘heterosexual world’.’

‘An unfriendly lonely place where gay men with money are invited, put under pressure to have the perfect body, gorgeous clothes and a tan to die for.’

These descriptions are of gay bars and, whilst they are contradicting each other, are both very accurate. Our work in gay bars/venues plays a very important role in HIV prevention. Working in a gay bar/cafe setting gives us the chance to have direct contact with gay men whether it be in the form of posters, postcards, GMH volunteers, or events which involve gay men in the bars. The promotion of Gay Men’s Health on the scene is vital to the success of our overall work. It is essential for Gay Men’s Health to be known and trusted by the gay community. The Events and Resources Manager maintains the good working relationship we have built up over the years with the venues to ensure we have continued access to the bars/clubs/saunas. Through liaising with bar owners/staff and customers, advertising, holding events in bars, distribution of informative materials and condoms and lubricant we have achieved a good relationship with gay men in Edinburgh and Lothian.

Events this year have included fundraisers, Halloween and Valentines parties all involving the bars, bar customers and GMH volunteers. We also held a strong presence during the Pride Scotia festival in July with our campaign Life Stuff 03’. As part of the Testing Barriers Project, Life Stuff 03’, introduced a weekend of events involving all bars on the gay scene. Preparatory work for the weekend included training bar staff on issues surrounding the theme of the weekend, HIV Testing, combating stigma and prejudice against HIV positive people.

The materials distributed in venues this year include posters on safer sex, HIV testing, the national syphilis campaign and our own community magazine Core which is distributed in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen. We have continued to supply condoms and lube to all gay venues. This allows gay men to have constant access to condoms suitable for safer anal sex, day and night. We have distributed over 100,000 condoms and 110,000 sachets of lubricant in the last year.

I would like to thank all of the venue managers/, staff and owners who have worked with Gay Men’s Health and have supported our work over the last year.

The Barony Bar
The Blue Moon Café
CC Blooms
The Claremont Bar
Frenchies
Habana
The Laughing Duck
The Newtown Bar
Planet Out
No 18
Sala
The Stag and Turret
Steam Works
The Town House Sauna

Paul Robertson

Events and Resources Manager

Annual Review 2002-2003

> Introduction
> Community Development
> Core Magazine
> Counselling
> Events and Resources
> Fatigue
> Figures
> Testing Barriers Project

Last updated 14th July 2004

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