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this is where you will find (click on them to go 'straight' to them):
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HIV prevention |
If you are interested
in meeting up with like-minded guys then there are quite a few places
to go to - ranging from cottages, cruising grounds and the beach to commercial
and non-commercial gay venues. Get in touch with us if you want more details.
If you are thinking about going to the beach, or going out cruising and want the local weather then click here. (We are sure that the rumour that more guys go cruising on a full moon is true and you can find the moon's phase here too!)
There are a number of places where you can meet other guys in north Essex. ColchesterGAYswitchboard, for example, has Drop Ins on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings in Colchester, and Sunday afternoons in Chelmsford.
| The
Fox and Hounds at Little Bromley is now sadly closed. |
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Smith's
Bar, a new bright and modern gay friendly bar in Moulsham Street Chelmsford,
why not give it a whirl? CM2 0HY
www.smiths2.co.uk
Chicagos in Chelmsford each Sunday night 21.00 till early Monday morning. CM1 0HR
Colors Basildon 21.00 -03.00 every Friday SS14 1DQ www.colorsessex.co.uk
Freedom Club / Bar 5 St. Botolph Circus (by Colchester Town railway station) Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. CO2 7EF
The Pink Panther Bar Kendall Road, Colchester CO1 2BN Gay/TV/TG friendly and no attitude
You can pick up free Action4Men condoms and water based lube packs at all these venues and talk to our outreach workers in confidence
Lots of guys are using the internet to chat and to arrange to meet up. We are in the Essex Rooms of Gaydar.Co.Uk on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
If you want a chat, free condom packs, or any information, then 'pvt' us and we'll be pleased to chat. Click here to chat in the Essex Rooms of Gaydar.Co.Uk
We are now supplying the widest types of condom in our condom packs - ultra strong, standard strength regular and standard strength larger condoms standard strength monster and standard strength tighter fitting. Recent research has shown that standard strength condoms are as effective as ultra strong condoms AS LONG AS SUFFICIENT WATER-BASED LUBE IS USED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CONDOM. This means that guys who feel that there is too much loss of sensitivity with the thicker condoms could try standard strength condoms, and guys who think that the regular size condom is too small can try the larger size. We now also supply the narrower condoms - one size does not fit all. We've included extra lube in our standard strength condom packs. Of course, we're continuing to supply ultra strong condoms which is what most guys have got used to. We can also supply femidoms for guys who like to use them (being made of polyurethane they have the advantage of it not mattering what sort of lube you use - so baby oil is ok - but they have not been tested as being suitable for guys fucking).
If guys want to use flavoured condoms (for sucking) then we can supply them too.
We want it to be as easy as possible for guys in north Essex to get condoms and water-based lube so we always have them with us when we are out and about.
FREE condom packs are now available through gay venues in north Essex - Chicagos (Predominantly gay Sunday Evenings) and Smiths2 Chelmsford (7 days), Colors in Basildon and now Freedom Bar in Colchester as well as the Pink Panther. In Harlow Bar 11 you can get condom pax. Please let us know if you visit venues and the free condom packs have run out.
PaxByPost - if you live in north Essex contact us by phone, email, letter or in the Essex Rooms of gaydar.co.uk any Tuesday or Thursday evening and we'll be pleased to send you FREE condom packs. Make sure that you tell us what type of condom you want. All our packs are sent out in plain, sealed envelopes, but let us know if its ok for there to be a hospital postmark on the envelope or if you want us to put postage stamps on it.
For many of us it takes
a while to start to understand what this 'sexuality' stuff is all about,
and it sometimes makes us feel isolated and that we are the only ones
with these feelings. That's not the case. There are lots of young men
around who either know they are gay, think they might be gay or are unsure
whether they are gay or not. We think that its good to meet up with others
who feel the same way. Going on the gay scene suits some people - but
it can be a bit intimidating and is not everyone's choice of way of meeting
like-minded people. Action for Men supports young people who are gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, interested or unsure - and their friends.
Tony 07798 608 106
Neil 07717 867 068
If you are reading this then you must have access to the internet - the GayYouthUK website is another good site to visit.
If, for whatever reason, you do not want to report an incident directly to the police you can use Essex Police's 'Third Party Reporting' system. Call any of these organisations: colchesterGAYswitchboard, South Essex Switchboard, Harlow Lesbian and Gay Helpline or TransLiving International. They will be pleased to report the incident to the police on your behalf. If you want to keep some details from the police - like your name and address - that's fine.
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Essex Police are trying hard to make good links with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities. They have policies in place to try to ensure that what they do is appropriate. In some areas the Police hold 'Drop Ins' at gay venues - opportunities to talk informally about ANY issue with the police. Look at the '4th coming' page for details of where and when Drop Ins might be taking place.
The police don't always get it right, though. If you feel that Essex Police have acted inappropriately we'd like to know about it. Very occasionally, for instance, we get told that police have raided a cottage or cruising ground. This is completely against their policy and should not happen. So let us know if you think it has happened.
Actually what we know best are some good staff at the Sexual Health Clinics. What we also know is that if you are sexually active it's a good idea to go along to the clinic every six months for a check up, You DON'T have to have something wrong to go there (though it's the obvious place to go if you do think something needs to be checked as they have the necessary skills and all your details are treated in the STRICTEST confidence).
In the north Essex area there are clinics on different days and at different times at: Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton, Colchester, Halstead, Harlow and Maldon. Sometimes appointments are needed so phone ahead (see details in 'contacts 4 u'). And don't forget - if you are going to the clinic don't pee for four hours before your appointment.
Some guys prefer to go out of the area, including into London where there are clinics specifically for gay men and specifically for young men. Contact us for details
You don't have to be promiscuous to get HIV, so we recommend that anyone who is sexually active should have an HIV test. This can be done anonymously at sexual health clinics.
There are a number of ways that people can protect themselves and others
against HIV:
* practice safer sex - always use a condom for penetrative sex
* if you have gums that bleed avoid oral sex or use a condom
* use an oral shield for vaginal oral sex
* use a condom with plenty of water based lubricant on the outside to
reduce the risk of tearing and bleeding of the anus and damage to the
condom during anal sex
* don't be forced into practising unsafe sex by loose promises of love
and relationship
* always carry condoms that are in date - carrying condoms does not make
you easy, it makes you sensible
* talk about the sex that you want with your partner before starting.
Remember it's never to late to stop
* make putting the condom on part of the sex act that you can both do
together - you'll know he is wearing it and check from time to time that
he still is
* intravenous drug users - always use your own hypodermic needles don't
share
* be aware of you own behaviour and how this puts you at risk.
HIV is not easily
passed from one person to another compared with some other viruses as
it is contained in bodily fluids. It is passed on through seminal fluid,
vaginal fluids, breast milk and blood which then
has to enter the bloodstream.
Other bodily fluids such as saliva, sweat and urine do not have enough of the HIV virus to infect another person.
Always enjoy the sex that you want to have.
If you want to contact us (we are always pleased to hear from guys) you can try any of the following:
| Tel | 01279 827508 |
| Mobile | 07798 608106 |
| action4men@nhs.net | |
| Address | Action
for Men Birchwood House St Margaret's Hospital The Plain Epping Essex, CM16 6TN |
...or chat to us in the Essex Rooms of Gaydar.co.uk every Tuesday and Thursday evening.