About us

About this website

Exasperated by questionable and unrewarding Internet search results, we are a group of queer gay men* who wanted reliable and relatable health and well-being stuff in one place. We also wanted a straight-talking approach to content (that’s not been dumbed-down) and we didn’t want ads, pop-ups, or banners.

So, we got off our arses in 2015 and built this website, a health and wellbeing life manual of sorts, divided into six awesome sections: about YOU, about MEN, about your BODY, about SEX, about STIs and about DRUGS — with hundreds of links to help, support and further reading. But don’t take our word for it, check it out for yourself. Feedback and suggestions are always welcome.

With new and updated topics added regularly, the website is three times its original size and, as MENRUS.CO.UK continues to grow, content increasingly reflects the wider LGBTQ+ community.

Lovingly maintained by volunteers, MENRUS.CO.UK is our take on being gay today and joining up the dots of our health and wellbeing. It’s not perfect, it’s sometimes messy, but it’s ours.

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Volunteer led

MEN R US is written and edited by gay men, all volunteers, with additional content (used with permission) from a wide range of organisations and community groups in fields of health, health promotion, sexual health, HIV prevention, substance use, and the LGBT community.

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Q&A

Q: When did it start?
A: Developing the project proper started in 2011, writing in 2012, while funding was secured in 2014. MENRUS.CO.UK was built in 2015 and launched on 1st November.

Q: What did it cost?
A: £10,000 initially grant for a bespoke website built in WordPress, and a computer (2014) and a second £10,000 grant (2016) is allowing us to develop the website (2016/ 2017).

Q: How big are you?
MEN R US is made up of six key sections: YOU, MEN, BODY, SEX, STIs, and DRUGS comprised of 285,658 words (3/10/23). Checked and corrected monthly; the website contains 15,525 hyperlinks (3/10/23). We aim to have less than 1% broken links at any one time (thanks to Tom). We currently average 0.1-0.2%. At an average reading speed (250-300 words/ minute) it will take you about 14 hours to read MEN R US in one go – without clicking the links or watching any of the films. The website has doubled in size since 2015, with MORE added in 2018.

Q: Why is the website so London-focused?
A: The funding has only gone so far, and it’s our home. More funding and we’ll go further afield.

Q: Who funds you?
A: Day-to-day running costs are currently met by a core grant from Awards for All (the Big Lottery).

Q: Are you a charity?
A: No. MEN R US is part of the Gay Men’s Health Collective (GMHC) which is a company limited by guarantee and community interest company.

Q: Where are you based?
A: We don’t have a street office as such. However, based in Camden, London we work via a network of home offices.  Our registered address is in Aldgate E1.

Q: Who writes, runs and updates the site?
A: Volunteers, though we think of ourselves as informed gay men, certainly not experts. If we need help we go get it. Overall, GMHC operates its three projects with 81 hours/ week (approx).

Q: What happens if something is wrong or I’d like to see something added?
A: Let us know and see what we can do. MEN R US is not perfect, it’s part of our charm.

Q: How can I help?
A: Email us. We’re always on the lookout for volunteers to help write, edit, update and proof.

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A glimpse into our world

If you’d like a glimpse of what makes us tick and smile then watch this selection of short films. Enjoy!

The Arrow | Damian Siqueiros | 25 Aug 2016 | 4m 43s
Understanding | Washington Reader Award 2016 | 2m 59s
The Language of Love | Kim Ho | 11 Apr 2013 | 9m 28s
Panti’s Noble Call | The Abbey Theatre | 2 Feb 2014 | 10m 47s
Ronni and I | Guy Shalem | 26 Mar 2013 | 20m 56s
Generations HIV | Ryan, 1972, (#548) | 31 May 2015 | 2m 13s
Open Mic | Adam Tyree | 30 Jan 2019 | 16m 27s
Together | Three Flying Piglets | 2015 | 2m 54s
Get It On | Durex | 25 May 2009 | 30s
Young Love | Eli Lieb | 10 Jul 2013 | 3m48s
Tea and Consent | Thames Valley Police | 16 Nov 2015 | 2m 46s
Be Carefree, Not Careless | WEEKDAY x RFSU | 20 Oct 2014 | 2m 7s
Ormie the Pig | Arc Productions | 31 Oct 2013 | 3m58s
Alchemy | Three Flying Piglets | 13 Oct 2013 | 1m 46s
London in 1927 & 2013 | Simon Smith | 30 Dec 2013 | 6m 2s
The Gay Men Project | Kevin Truong | 10 Nov 2014 | 7m 07s
And the Band Played On | Final Scene | HBO | 8 Feb 2009 | 4m 27s
Alien Song | Victor Navone | 24 Apr 2007 | 1m

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Walter Walrus artwork

WW QUEER ILLUSTRATOR | MENRUS.CO.UKNo hesitation in giving a shout out to WW, a London residing freelance queer artist. A gifted illustrator in his own right, WW also has the rare knack of visualising the impossible into a slick elegant relatable comic book-style format.

A founding GMHC volunteer, WW has been instrumental in defining the style and tone for our extensive work on chemsex, and safer chemsex booklet, particularly (seven editions over five years).

Safer Chemsex Booklet |  PDF | 2021

He is also a keen cyclist and storyteller, dog person and disco fanatic, and collects short shorts in his downtime.  GMHC doesn’t hesitate to support WW in his work and we urge you to use him (terms and conditions apply).

Contact him via Instagram or our contact page.

Walter Walrus @wwoflgbt

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Acknowledgements and thanks

Huge thanks to the many volunteers who contribute thousands of hours researching, writing, editing and proofing content. Thanks also to Creative Conceptions, Exchange Supplies, Global Drug Survey, LGBT Hero, NAM Aidsmap, National AIDS Trust, Release, Harm Reduction International, David Stuart, Slate Web Design, Wikipedia, Work In Process, and Men’s Sexual Health which sadly closed in early 2014.

 

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Photographs

Illustrating this website has been challenging on a shoestring budget. The majority of photographs (including diagrams and illustrations) are paid for from 123RF royalty-free stock photos. Many of the photographs of naked men (eg: SEX and STIs) are sourced from Butch Dixon and UK Naked Men who kindly gave us permission to use photographs from film shoots.

Other sources are acknowledged accordingly. Please let us know if we have credited incorrectly. It will be the sin of omission rather than any attempt on the part of MEN R US to defraud or pass off. No assumptions should be made about the sexuality, HIV status or views of individuals or organisations featured on MEN R US.

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Cookies

We collect information directly from you in a number of ways. One way is through our use of ‘cookies’. Most websites use cookies in order to make them work, or to work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the website. They help us to understand how our customers and potential customers use our website so we can develop and improve the design, layout, content and function of the site. Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer’s hard drive by websites that you visit. They save and retrieve pieces of information about your visit to the website – for example, how you entered the site, how you navigated through the site and what information and documentation was of interest to you. This means that when you go back to a website, it can give you tailored options based on the information it has stored about you on your last visit.

Some of our cookies are used to simply collect information about how visitors use our website and these types of cookies collect the information in an anonymous form.

The rules about cookies on websites have recently changed. If you are uncomfortable with the use of cookies, you can disable cookies on your computer by changing the settings in the preferences or options menu in your browser. You can set your browser to reject or block cookies or to tell you when a website tries to put a cookie on your computer. You can also delete any cookies that are already stored on your computer’s hard drive. However, please be aware that if you do delete and block all cookies from our website, parts of the site will not then work. This is because some of the cookies we use are essential for parts of our website to operate. Likewise, you may not be able to use some products and services on other websites without cookies. To find out more about cookies, including seeing what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org. If you do not wish to accept cookies from our website, please leave this site immediately and then delete and block all cookies from this site.

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BE SAFER 2024

SAFER 2023-24

About Safer

Get your hands on a Safer pack by completing our contact form  – selecting ‘The Safer Pack’ from the drop-down menu. Don’t forget to include your address in the comment/ message box.

About the campaign

“Safer” is a health and wellbeing campaign for gay men* through the distribution of 20,000 packs across Greater London. Between June and September 2023, packs are being sent to 260 scene venues (inc. shops and saunas), sexual health and drug services, HIV and LGBT+ organisations, and accident and emergency departments. Packs contain booklets and leaflets on health and well-being, safer chemsex, safer hook-ups, and sexual health.

  • Health and wellbeing (A5 booklet)
  • Hook-up Safer (A6 booklet)
  • Overdoses and calling 999 (A6 leaflet)
  • Safer chemsex (A5 booklet)
  • HIV/ STI/ HCV “Risk-O-Meter” (A5 leaflet)
  • Your rights on arrest (A6 booklet)
  • Covering leaflet with Hep C home testing kit slips (A5 leaflet)

What the campaign is about

Whether you are new to gay life, your scene, or have been around the block a few times, this pack should have something for you. It’s been produced to help you stay safer and signpost to the support you may need when you need it. While there is a focus on chemsex, many issues addressed in the pack affect us across the board, whether it’s safer hook-ups, assessing risks we take sexually, connecting with communities, groups, and identities, or finding ways to improve our mental health and well-being.

There are also huge drives in Greater London to eliminate new HIV infections by 2025, Hep C by 2030, and to increase awareness of monkeypox (MPOX) vaccination.

There is no escaping from it, we are living through tough times, so we hope you find the information here useful. Some of the pack is our take on being gay today and joining up the dots of our health and well-being. It’s not perfect, it’s sometimes messy, but it’s ours. And if the pack is not for you, don’t sit on it: pass it on to someone who may need it.

* and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and the wider LGBT+ community.
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Safer Pack Survey

SURVEY2We will send you a Safer pack if you don’t have one. Simply complete our contact form, select Safer pack from the drop-down menu, and insert your address in the comment/ message.

Completing our survey

It’s just possible we like surveys less than you, but completing our survey helps fund more health promotion like this, and ways to improve our health and well-being.

The survey is mostly tick-box questions, anonymous and takes less than 5 minutes (we’ve timed it). So, please help us to support you. The survey findings will be published on MENRUS.CO.UK with links posted on social media in December 2023 (est).

About the Safer pack

Where did you get the Safer pack?

Where did you get the Safer pack?

What was your first impression when you opened the pack?

What was your first impression when you opened the pack?

How useful are the booklets and leaflets to you?

How useful are the booklets and leaflets to you?

Would you like to see more health promotion like this?

Would you like to see more health promotion like this?

HIV and Hepatitis B and C testing

Have you had an HIV test?

Have you had an HIV test?

Have you been tested for Hepatitis B?

Have you been tested for Hepatitis B?

Have you been vaccinated against Hepatitis B?

Have you been vaccinated against Hepatitis B?

Have you been tested for Hepatitis C?

Have you been tested for Hepatitis C?

Monkeypox (MPOX)

How concerned were you when MPOX hit the news headlines in 2022?

How concerned were you when MPOX hit the news headlines in 2022?

Have you been vaccinated against MPOX?

Have you been vaccinated against MPOX?

Chemsex

Which of the following have you used in the last 3 months?

Which of the following have you used in the last 3 months?

Is chemsex a health issue for the LGBT+ community in London?

Is chemsex a health issue for the LGBT+ community in London?

Do we have the right chemsex support services in London?

Do we have the right chemsex support services in London?

Do you think the resources in this pack can help reduce drug harms?

Do you think the resources in this pack can help reduce drug harms?

Nearly finished

How much confidence do you have in the Metropolitan Police Service (Met) serving the LGBT+ community?

How much confidence do you have in the Metropolitan Police Service (Met) serving the LGBT+ community?

About you

In which London Borough do you live? (If you live outside London, please say which town or city).

In which London Borough do you live? (If you live outside London, please say which town or city).

Are you:

Are you:

How old are you?

How old are you?

Please describe your ethnicity

Please describe your ethnicity

Any final comments?

Tell us what you liked and didn't like about this campaign.

Tell us what you liked and didn't like about this campaign.

Click here to start the survey
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The Connections Puzzler

Eight years, eight icons, eight connections, eight answers. Consider making a note of the years first. Answers can be submitted in any order.

The Connections Puzzler
Your Puzzler Answers

Answer 1

Answer 1

Answer 2

Answer 2

Answer 3

Answer 3

Answer 4

Answer 4

Answer 5

Answer 5

Answer 6

Answer 6

Answer 7

Answer 7

Answer 8

Answer 8

Name

Name

Email address

Email address

Click here to enter your answers

The small print

The first 50 entries with the correct answers to all eight questions will receive a bespoke prize tailored to the campaign. The Connections Puzzler starts 12:00 on 1 June 2023, finishing at 12:00 on 31 March 2024 or when 50 prizes have been won.

No purchase is necessary. One entry per person. Prizes will be sent to UK addresses only. Responsibility will not be accepted for entries lost and illegible entries. Those not in accordance with the entry instructions will be disqualified. GMHC’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Open to all residents of the United Kingdom, excluding GMHC employees, volunteers, their partners, shags, family and friends, agents, or anyone directly connected with GMHC. In unforeseen circumstances, GMHC reserves the right to offer alternative prizes of equal or greater value. Only the maximum number of prizes will be awarded. The competition is organised by the Gay Men’s Health Collective (GMHC).

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CAMPAIGNS 2018-22

Our campaigns

Under the project name Three Flying Piglets, GMHC volunteers have been making short films for MENRUS.CO.UK for eight years to raise awareness of this health and well-being website.

As part of our “G Aware: Our Lives Depend On It” campaign, we released four 30-second film messages on St Valentine’s Day 2020 to raise awareness of the potential dangers associated with “G”, particularly the risk of “spiked” drinks and lubricants used in sexual assaults. In November of the same year, we ran a “Play Safer” Drug Use” campaign with several new films.

In May 2021, the “Hook-Up Safer” campaign provided practical tips to make hooking up safer “…whether you’re new to hooking up, or been around the block a few times” and in September of the same year, ran the “Quatro” campaign which promoted the website more generally. The “Hook-up Safer” campaign was run again in January 2022 with three new films,

We also make short films on health issues such as Sex and consent, and to celebrate Pride, LGBT+ History Month, and Christmas (our Antidote to Christmas videos). More here.

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"Hook-up Safer" Campaign 2.0

HOOK-UP SAFERComprised of three 30-second films, this hook-up safer campaign is running from January 2022 on social media with an emphasis on hooking up safer generally.

It aims to provide practical tips (and tricks) to make hooking up safer “…whether you’re new to hooking up, or been around the block a few times”:

  • Benefiting from the hook-up safer booklet tips (“Heading Home”)
  • Letting someone know where you are (“Hooking Up Somewhere New?”)
  • Knowing the ambulance crew may ‘bring friends’, the police. (“Overdose? Calling 999?”
HEADING HOME | 2022 | 30s
HOOKING UP SOMEWHERE NEW? | 2022 | 30s
OVERDOSE? CALLING 999? | 2022 | 30s

Hook-Up Safer booklet

Full list of tips and tricks from our hook-up safer booklet:

  • If you’re sexually active: your sexual health matters. This includes condoms and lube, PrEP, U=U, check-ups, and STI self-test kits.
  • If a hook-up doesn’t feel right: don’t think with your cock! Think twice before agreeing to meet up.
  • Let someone know where you’re going. Keep your phone charged, and keep the location GPS on.
  • Have an exit plan home, keeping money or cards in a safe place.
  • Sex should be consensual. That’s both of you, not just one of you, and you can change your mind anytime.
  • If you use drugs: know what and how much you’re taking. Pace yourself, and take breaks.
  • Be aware that some drugs are odourless and tasteless, and have been used to spike drinks and lube.
  • When calling the emergency services for an ambulance, be aware the police may also attend.
  • Know where to get professional help and support should you need it. If in doubt, phone a helpline or ask a friend.
  • Know your rights and where to get legal help in the event you are questioned and/ or arrested by the police.
  • All hate crime matters so report it to the police or through a third party.
  • When hook-ups don’t go to plan, we often don’t talk about them when they go wrong. Chatting it through with a friend can help.

A free single copy is available here where you will find other booklets and leaflets (the link takes you to the GMHC shop).

Hook-up safer campaign | MEN R US
Safer hook-ups | MEN R US
Play Safer Chemsex | MEN R US
Calling 999: what is most likely to happen | MEN R US

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The "Quatro" Campaign

A pretentious campaign title for four quirky 30-second idents to promote MENRUS.CO.UK on social media from September 2021.

RISE | Aug 2021
30-second ident for MENRUS.CO.UK

BEIGE | Aug 2021 
LIFE | Aug 2021
NO SIGNAL | Aug 2021

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"Hook-Up Safer" Campaign 1.0

HOO-KUP SAFERFrom May 2021, the campaign aims to raise awareness of practical tips to make hooking up safer “…whether you’re new to hooking up, or been around the block a few times.”

  • If you’re sexually active: your sexual health matters. This includes condoms and lube, PrEP, U=U, check-ups, and STI self-test kits.
  • If a hook-up doesn’t feel right: don’t think with your cock! Think twice before agreeing to meet up.
  • Let someone know where you’re going. Keep your phone charged, and keep the location GPS on.
  • Have an exit plan home, keeping money or cards in a safe place.
  • Sex should be consensual. That’s both of you, not just one of you, and you can change your mind anytime.
  • If you use drugs: know what and how much you’re taking. Pace yourself, and take breaks.
  • Be aware that some drugs are odourless and tasteless, and have been used to spike drinks and lube.
  • When calling the emergency services for an ambulance, be aware the police may also attend.
  • Know where to get professional help and support should you need it. If in doubt, phone a helpline or ask a friend.
  • Know your rights and where to get legal help in the event you are questioned and/ or arrested by the police.
  • All hate crime matters so report it to the police or through a third party.
  • When hook-ups don’t go to plan, we often don’t talk about them when they go wrong. Chatting it through with a friend can help.

It is the third of three connected campaigns, others being “Play Safer” and “G Aware: Our Lives Depend on It”.

“Hook-Up Safer” is comprised of:

Social Media

May-July, 2021 (Twitter, Facebook)

Content

Content at MENRUS.CO.UK here with links to related topics including safer hook-ups; consent and sex; violence, sexual assault and rape; reporting hate crime and hate crime support; LGBT+ helplines; drug, alcohol and chemsex service listings; your sexual health; London sexual health services and self-test kits; London accident and emergency (A&E) service listings; being online; catfishing; gaslighting; safer drug use (harm reduction); calling 999 and the police; drugs and the law and legal help; and safer chemsex.

An A7 booklet (8 pages)

Hook-Up Safer | PDF

A 30-second film

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"Play Safer" Drug Use Campaign

PLAY SAFER | MENRUS.CO.UKThe Gay Men’s Health Collective’s gay men’s health website MENRUS.CO.UK announces the November 2020 launch of play safer – a social media safer drug use campaign.

Linked to information, guidance and support pages, a series of eight 30-second film messages aim to inform gay and bi men about some of the risks associated with recreational drug use and chemsex. In particular, the use of ‘G’ to spike drinks and lubricant, understanding the police do attend with ambulances accidental overdoses callouts and knowing how to hook-up more safely.

Information, guidance and support

Information, guidance, and support can be found under key headings, links to related content:

  • What safer drug use and harm reduction looks like
  • Using GHB and GBL, including spiking drinks and lubricants
  • Calling 999, ambulance callouts, and the police
  • Sex and consent, and safer hook-ups
  • Sexual health, and safer chemsex
  • Drug, alcohol, and chemsex, support services

Spiking

Though ‘G’ is used recreationally facilitate and enhance sex, there are ongoing concerns about its use in spiking drinks and lubricants. Spiking is when alcohol or drugs are added to a person’s drink without their knowledge with the intention of sexual assault or rape. This is against the background of the convictions of Stephen Port, Gerald Matovu and Brandon Dunbar for murder, and Reynhard Sinaga for multiple rapes; and there are reported cases of sexual assaults combined with other crimes, including theft and burglary: UK ramping up its efforts to tackle a wave of chemsex crimes; Buzzfeed, 12/03/20.

Quotes

“Play Safer is a valuable tool to help and inform some younger friends of mine experimenting on the gay scene in London (yes even in a pandemic). Boys will be boys and I don’t always have a structured approach or the patience to enumerate all the common sense advice I have picked up over the years to navigate gay life. My memory is not what it once was and I hate nagging. MENRUS.CO.UK is my ultimate cheat sheet.” LO, London

“Frank, easy to read, and packed full of practical information. The guys writing this have taken time to research something which ‘does what it says on the tin’. Anyone looking for help should find it here.” MS, Uxbridge

“Found some of the legal information; regarding processes with the police and ambulance, really interesting and something about I had no knowledge of before. Play Safer is a mine of hugely useful information.” CB, Watford

“Who hasn’t hooked up without telling anyone? Who hasn’t accepted a drink or drugs without knowing what you’re taking from someone you don’t really know? Just tell a mate you’ve got lucky, know when and what your taking, and set yourself limits. It’s a start. I’ve volunteered for this campaign and none of this makes for comfortable reading. But its goal is simple: ensure gay and bi men play safer and don’t become statistics.” JD, London

“The LGBT+ Advisory Group welcomes the ‘Play Safer’ campaign. We have been concerned about the developments in the use of ‘G’ to spike drinks and lubricant to incapacitate victims. Whereas the media has raised the profile of these issues, this campaign will give much needed practical and useful harm reduction advice to our community.” LGBT+ Independent Advisory Group

Campaign films

Films made by volunteers, for gay men by gay men. Hyperlinks to Three Flying Piglets at Vimeo (opens in new tab):

Spiking drinks and lubricant with ‘G’ | “Spike” | 30s
Overdoses, ambulance call-outs and the police | “Just saying” | 32s
The difference between GBL and GHB | “Why it matters” | 34s
Safer hook-ups | “What could possibly go wrong?” | 46s  
Safer hook-ups | “He knows” | 42s
Measuring ‘G’ correctly | “The drop” | 30s 
Safer drug use | “Out of this world” | 32s
Accepting ‘G’ from strangers | “Sweets from strangers” | 24s
Sex and consent | “Are you OK with what happened last night?” | 1m

About play safer

Devised by gay men with direct knowledge and experience of recreational drug use, problematic drug use, withdrawal, and recovery. This campaign is a follow-up to our “G Aware: Our Lives Depend On It” campaign (February 2020).

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"G Aware: Our Lives Depend On It" Campaign

GHB AWAREOn St Valentine’s Day 2020, the Gay Men’s Health Collective (GMHC) is releasing four 30-second film messages on social media to raise awareness of the potential dangers associated with “G”, particularly the risk of “spiked” drinks and lubricants used in sexual assaults.

GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and GBL (gamma-Butyrolactone) are known collectively known as “G”. They are used recreationally and consensually to facilitate and enhance sex. “Spiking” is when alcohol or drugs are added to someone’s drink without their knowledge with the intention of sexual assault or rape. Most recently, G has been added to lubricants for sex.

There is concern in the press and media, and by the police, about the evolving use of G for spiking. There are reported cases of sexual assaults combined with other crimes, including theft and burglary. This is against the background of many personal accounts, and the convictions of Stephen Port and Gerald Matovu for murder, and Reynhard Sinaga for multiple rapes.

These 30-second film messages aim to encourage users and non-users alike to be aware of the dangers and reduce the risk of drug harms. Believed to be the first in the UK, the campaign has been created by gay men with direct knowledge and experience of recreational drug use; and problematic drug use, withdrawal, and recovery. Other organisations have welcomed the campaign and this work:

LGBT+ Independent Advisory Group
“This campaign is long overdue, very welcome and resonates with our priorities. We hope this campaign will give much needed practical and useful advice to our community which is often overlooked, or our issues trivialised.”

DCS Helen Lyons (MPS Lead Responsible Officer for Sexual Violence), Metropolitan Police Service
“The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) recognises that crime in a Chemsex context is not an isolated issue of sexual offending or substance misuse. Chemsex related vulnerability and offending are considerably under-reported, levels of complexity are vast, and the overwhelming nature of the scene can negatively impact on many aspects of a participant’s life. The MPS LGBT+ Advisory Group have described Chemsex as the ‘crisis of our time’ for LGBT+ communities and we know there have been more than 60 fatal overdoses linked to GHB / GBL in London alone.

From a policing perspective, crime in a Chemsex context can incorporate elements of sexual offending, vulnerability, substance misuse, child sexual exploitation (CSE) and mental ill-health.

The MPS and the National Prison and Probation Service have established the London Chemsex Working Group (LCWG) with the aims of reducing harm and vulnerability relating to Chemsex, raising awareness amongst professionals of Chemsex in order to increase identification of Chemsex cases, encouraging information sharing between agencies to identify and safeguard those whom are vulnerable and to enhance the strategic coordination at a London level when responding to Chemsex incidents whilst promoting a public health response to Chemsex related issues.”

Mainline Chemsex Team, Amsterdam, Netherlands
“GMHC is an innovative organisation of driven and enthusiastic volunteers, who succeed over and over again in tackling the complex chemsex phenomenon with the right tone of voice, always finding a balance between a humorous and serious non-judgemental approach. Mainline’s chemsex team absolutely supports this taboo-breaking campaign.”

Stephen Morris, Chemsex & Crime Lead, HM Prison & Probation Service (SOTU London Division) Please note: this quote was supplied and added to this page after the media release date.
“Currently HMPPS in London have over 100 men convicted of chemsex related crimes and assessed as high risk of harm and high risk of re-offending On average there are 2-3 new cases appearing before the courts each month. This is regarded as an underestimate due to identifying features of the chemsex context not always being identified in the early stages of the criminal justice process.”
 
Ben Collins, International HIV Partnerships, the European Chemsex Forum Secretariat
“I am charmed by GMHC and their work. The love and attention they show toward people engaged in chemsex has been highlighted at the 3rd European Chemsex Forum in Paris. I encourage you to share their tools with those who may benefit.” 

GMHC volunteers have developed these messages to actively engage gay men in chemsex harm reduction; a response, in part, to what they believe is a lack of up-to-date content by some organisation websites with safer chemsex information. This is based on two recent reviews which found virtually no mention of drink or lubricant spiking.

“We actively encourage our colleagues and partners in the chemsex field to review and update their safer chemsex information, ensuring gay men are provided with consistent harm reduction, signposting, advice and support”. Patriic Gayle, GMHC

The videos will be promoted through social media, and include signposting to safer drug use information and support at www.menrus.co.uk

Campaign film messages

The Droplet | Three Flying Piglets film for MEN R US | 2020 | 30s
Out of this world | Three Flying Piglets film for MEN R US | 2020 | 32s
Sweets from strangers | Three Flying Piglets film for MEN R US | 2020 | 27s
Why it matters | Three Flying Piglets film for MEN R US | 2020 | 30s

Safer chemsex harm reduction messages

To reduce the risks of using G and mindful of potential drug harms GMHC recommends:

  • Measure, check and drink your own doses of G and don’t leave drinks unattended
  • If you come back to a drink later throw it away, wait an hour before dosing again, starting slowly
  • Take a supply of your own lubricant if playing with a partner(s) for the first time
  • Ensure consent is given freely and safe words are agreed
  • Seek help if you think you’ve been a victim of spiking/ sexual assault/ robbery

Further information and resources

About and using G | MENRUS.CO.UK
Safer chemsex | MENRUS.CO.UK

Sex Drugs and Murder | Dispatches | Channel 4 | 8 September 2019
A warning has been issued that rapists are mixing the drug GHB with lubricant | Patrick Strudwick | BuzzFeed UK LGBT | 8 Sep 2019

Reynhard Sinaga | Wikipedia
Reynhard Sinaga: Attorney general to review rapist’s’ sentence | BBC News | 15 Jan 2020
Detectives investigate new allegations against rapist Reynhard Sinaga | The Guardian | 10 Jan 2020

Stephen Port | Wikipedia
Stephen Port: The killer the police missed | BBC News
Serial killer Stephen Port receives whole-life prison sentence | The Guardian | 25 Nov 2016

Gerald Matovu (mentioned under Eric Michels) | Wikipedia
Serial killer’s dealer jailed for Grindr murder | BBC News | 11 Sep 2019
Serial killer’s drug dealer jailed for actor’s murder | The Guardian | 11 Sep 2019

About MENRUS.CO.UK

Exasperated by questionable and unrewarding Internet search results, we’re a group of volunteer gay men who want health, life, and well-being stuff in one place. www.menrus.co.uk is an independent free-access gay men’s health website that joins up the dots of our needs and a hub for further support and information.

It’s our take on what it is to be gay today. It’s not perfect, it’s sometimes messy, but it’s ours! www.menrus.co.uk is part of the GMHC which also makes films on gay men’s health issues and films for our allies and the wider LGBT+ community and produces safer chemsex packs to reduce the transmission of blood-borne infections and other drug harms. 

Contact

Email media@gmhc.co.uk

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Disclaimer

About us

MEN R US is intended for the purposes of information, education, satire, and amusement, namely gay men’s health, health promotion, well-being, and the prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) transmission. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental, or not. Batteries not included. No other warranty expressed or implied. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. May be too intense for some viewers. For recreational use only. Please remain seated until the ride has come to a complete stop. Browsing constitutes acceptance of agreement our terms. Men may be slippery when wet. Not responsible for direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages resulting from any defect, error or failure to perform. Parental discretion is advised. Although robust enough for general use, adventures into the esoteric periphery may reveal unexpected quirks. Not available in stores. May cause abdominal cramping and loose stools. Not designed or intended for use in online control of aircraft, air traffic, aircraft navigation or aircraft communications; or in the design, construction, operation or maintenance of any nuclear facility. May contain traces of various seeds and nuts.

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Serious disclaimer

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by MEN R US, part of the Gay Men’s Health Collective, and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Particularly, no assumptions should be made about the sexuality, HIV and/ or sexual health status or views of individuals, individuals represented in pictures and/ photographs, or organisations featured on this website.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of MEN R US, part of the Gay Men’s Health Collective. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.

Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, MEN R US, part of the Gay Men’s Health Collective takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.

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Donations

Donations



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Contact

Contact

If online, volunteers often reply within a few hours; if not, within 48 hours. This may seem a long time, but GMHC relies on its spunky volunteers who do not monitor the inbox 24/ 7. (If offered enticements, they only demand more treats).

If you are requesting printed resources or postcards, don’t forget to include your address.

MENRUS.CO.UK is not interested in article placement, advertisements, SEO or website optimisation, or third-party content of any description – so will not reply to these messages.

GMHC, 61 Mansell Street, London E1 8AN
Admin: 07791 867885 (Mon-Fri, 10-3)

MENRUS.CO.UK

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