NEWS: CHEM-SEX Panel Discussion At RVT

<p>Sleazy Michael Presents</p> <p>'CHEM-SEX; Danger in our Bedrooms, our Lives, our Communities'</p> <p>A panel discussion at the RVT</p> <p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/GregMitchell">by Greg Mitchell </a>| 16th November 2013</p><p></p><p> </p><p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4601894052.jpg" width="461" height="171" alt="The Panel" title="The Panel"/></p> <p></p><p>“ChemSex” and “slamming” (injecting drugs) have become terms that are perhaps too familiar to gay Londoner’s looking to hook up online. The use of Crystal Meth (“Tina”), Mephedrone (“Meph”) and GBL (“G”) to facilitate sex is overwhelming sexual health and psychiatric services. There are increasing HIV/Hep C infections, increasingly busy PEP clinics, and increasing numbers of gay men presenting with drug-induced psychoses at drug services and A&E departments. London saunas are also challenged to address the collapses and deaths from GBL that happen too often at those venues.</p><p></p><p>Equally as worrying though, is the devastation ChemSex reaps within our gay communities. Those looking to hook up innocently online have to navigate their way through a complicated dialogue of self-harm and drug use; too many of our gay brothers struggle to enjoy sober sex at all, having developed a psychological dependence on chems that solve problems such as feeling unsexy or unattractive; or simply that chems deliver the kind of fantasies we feel guilty pursuing, having grown up in a world where gay sex equals disease, sin and rejection.</p><p></p><p>What are the causes of this syndemic? What might the solutions be? While health services struggle to cope with the fallout, the solution might be right in front of us; addressing the poor sense of community cohesion, or brotherhood; or the lack of concern we have for ourselves and our shags. We hope to answer; what can we do ourselves, as a concerned community?</p><p></p><p>The second of Michael Peacock’s community discussions happens on Nov 21 at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, with a diverse panel of opinionated people ranging from ex and current drug users, experts and scene celebrities. Host Maria Kinsella and the panel hope to stimulate debate from the audience so that we can address these worrying trends together, as a concerned and cohesive community.</p><p>7pm Thursday 21st November ( discussion from 7.45pm ) at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT)</p><p></p><p>372 Kennington Lane
Vauxhall
London
SE11 5HY

</p><p>2 mins walk from Vauxhall Victoria Line & Overland & 2 min walk to buses</p><p></p><p>Tickets (£5) can be purchased from</p><p> http://rvt.org.uk/whatson/single/sleazy-michael-presents-a-panel-discussion </p><p>Profits donated to Peter Tatchell Foundation</p><p></p><p>Organised by Michael Peacock.</p><p>Host; Maria Kinsella</p><p>Honored guest; Peter Tatchell</p><p>Panel; </p><p>• DJ Fat Tony</p><p>• David Stuart, Antidote</p><p>• DJ Peter Steven Wilson</p><p>• Mark Ford, Sweatbox sauna</p><p>• Alex Palumbo</p><p>• David Regan, Mr Eagle 2013</p><p></p><p></p><p> </p>