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Contributors
Welcome!
Editorial
Hello and welcome to Issue THREE of Between The Covers: The Trans Issue.
Rachel Hughes Alastair Rose Scott Baxter
Writing Ruth McKenna Christopher Clair-Ward Scott Baxter
Guest Contributors David Barbour Han Deacon Laquerrière Sam Renton Fraser Serle Oliver Wain
Proofing Jennifer Goff Kevin Simpson
Design Scott Baxter
Photography Steven Mclaren for the Thebans
Stock Images Pexels.com Unsplash.com The Gender Spectrum Collection
Cover:
To coincide with Waverley Care’s report into the sexual health needs of trans men, trans women and non-binary people in Scotland, ‘There Needs to be Care Throughout’, we have dedicated this issue to our trans community. As well as information on the report, and details of the new trans content on the SX Website, we are delighted to publish a number of guest contributions from members of our trans community in this issue. We have an interview with our colleague Oliver Wain, illustrations by artist Han Deacon, a personally written article on mental health and the Caledonian Thebans by Sam Renton, a poem by Laquerrière, and a number or articles on trans community groups and venues. As well as articles written by members of your trans community we have our regular articles on sexual health, advice on alcohol, and coming out. We have also published more stories from our Bottoms Up series written by gay and bisexual men who have had challenging experiences with alcohol. We hope you enjoy Issue THREE of our magazine. Please send us an email with your comments or
The Gender Spectrum Collection
suggestions for future articles: info@s-x.scot
Between The Covers is created by SX Scotland.
Find us on social media:
Waverley Care, 1-3 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6NB. Tel: 0131 558 1425
Facebook: @sxscotland
Scottish Charity Number: SC036500 Registered Company Number: SC253043 Reproduction, in whole or part, is strictly forbidden without permission.
Twitter: @sxscotland
The mention or appearance of any person in the magazine is no indication of their sexual orientation or health status. While content is believed correct, SX Scotland is not responsible for errors or omissions. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. SX Scotland recognises the owner’s rights of any material used. SX Scotland does not accept liability for any loss or damage of any material submitted.
Instagram: @sxscotland
Editorial A time to speak and a time to be silent. At school, teachers tried to tell us to “see the world through other people’s eyes”, in an attempt to widen our understanding of the world. However, one teacher tried a different tack, if slightly clumsily, to teach us about empathy. He suggested that, as members of society, we all wore different pairs of tinted glasses – the colour, of which, was unique to every individual. But if we sought to see the world through another person’s eyes (through their glasses) we couldn’t just take off our own and put on theirs, we had to, in fact, put their glasses on over our own. I told you it was clumsy. Anyway, the lesson, I believe, was that it is impossible to truly see the world from another person’s perspective – we can only alter our perception part of the way. This allegory stuck with me as I progressed through school and began to discover that I was gay. I realised that part of being gay meant that I saw the world differently to most people around me. By the time I came out in the late 1980s, Section 28 was taking effect in schools and gay rights activists stormed the BBC News at Six to protest. HIV numbers were rising and victims succumbing to AIDS were stigmatised in the press. There were continuing arguments in the House of Commons over equalising the age of consent. Without many allies outside the gay community, the constant media attention became mentally isolating. The version of ‘homosexual’ portrayed in the media was never how I saw myself and there were few opportunities for gay people to speak and be seen for who we believed we were. The events of the 1980s and 90s may have ground my lens but it was the LGBT+ community that I became part of that polished it. Today, another letter in our LGBT+ alliance has been pushed into the spotlight. Trans people are more visible in our everyday lives than before. Trans people have always existed within our community, and society, but the fear of coming out, or exposure, kept many living lives society demanded. Thankfully, society is changing again and more trans people feel safer to live their true lives. However, this is despite trans people continuing to be killed throughout the world for who they are and their portrayal in the media as a spectacle, discussed as ‘others’ on radio and television, and rarely interviewed to hear their story; a life seen through their own lens. The irony is not lost on me. Knowing inside you are not the person as others see you, the fear of telling friends and family in case of rejection or abandonment, the anger of being told “it’s just a phase”, the frustration of not being
taken seriously by medical practitioners, enduring the gossip about you, tolerating the lost promotions or job opportunities because of prejudice, the minority stress from everyday engagement with people, the distress from turning on the television and again seeing our community misrepresented or biasedly reported. Anyone who has had to come to terms with their sexuality should be able to empathise with the struggles that trans people have to come to terms with their gender identity. The LGBT+ community is in a better position than it was 30 year ago; protections under the law and in society have helped. However, there is no equality until we are all equal. I’m not trans, but I can see and identify with the struggles faced by trans people. But I realise that I’m wearing slightly different tinted glasses. My own experiences have a lot in common with trans people’s, but they are not identical. As allies, when trans voices speak we should make sure that they are heard. And whenever possible we should make sure that trans people can speak for themselves, and not speak for them – no matter how well-intentioned we may be. At SX we are privileged to, in a small way, provide this platform for trans voices to speak. We ask that you listen. For more information please see the dedicated pages on our website. You can also chat to us through our website using the live chat service, drop us a message on Grindr and Scruff, or email us: info@s-x.scot
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Contents Welcome p3 Editorial: A time to speak and a time to be silent p4 Opinion Piece: There needs to be care throughout p6-9 New Trans Content for SX Website p10-11 The Warriors of Thebes p12-14 Community Groups p15 Bottoms Up: Alcohol Sex and Me! p16-17 Meet the Team: Oliver Wain p18-19 Trans Guys and Condoms p20 Redesigning Internal Condoms p21 Queer Creatives: Han Deacon p22-25 Trans Guys and Negotiating Sex p26-27 Queer Creatives: Laquerrière p28-29 Trans Guys and Mental Health p30-31 The Library is Open p32-33 The Deal with Alcohol and Sex p34-35 Community Cafe: The Pink Peacock p36 The SX A to Z p37 Listings and Support p38-42 The Bare-Back Interview p43
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OPINION PIECE: There needs to be care throughout The sexual health needs of gay and bisexual men, and men who have sex with men (GBMSM), in Scotland have been well documented by researchers. However, the sexual health needs of trans and trans masculine GBMSM are less well understood and, likewise, little is known about the needs of non-binary people who top or bottom. There is little research on the experiences of trans (1) (including non-binary) people accessing sexual health services in the UK, particularly in Scotland. Recognising the need for better evidence about trans people’s sexual health, Waverley Care recently partnered with Scottish Trans Alliance to investigate the experiences of trans people engaging with sexual health services in Scotland. Here, we share some of our research findings on access to HIV and STI prevention, focussing on the experiences of our trans male and non-binary participants. Throughout 2019, a team of trans and cis (2) researchers from Scottish Trans Alliance and Waverley Care spoke to just under 300 trans people about their experiences of accessing sexual health services in Scotland. We ran a national online survey, as well as a series of focus groups and interviews. To the best of our knowledge, the project was the first national study of trans people’s sexual health in Scotland. In some areas, the experiences reported by trans men and non-binary people were positive. Around 70% of trans men who responded to our survey said that the correct pronouns were used by staff, that they had been offered the right STI tests for their anatomy, and that their privacy was upheld. Around 90% of non-binary participants felt that they were offered the right STI tests and 80% said their privacy
was upheld. However, only 40% said that staff had used the right pronouns when talking to or about them. There were other areas for concern. In our focus groups and interviews, trans men and non-binary participants talked about the barriers they faced to accessing HIV prevention tools. Although the current NHS PrEP criteria does explicitly mention trans men, it does not provide guidance for nonbinary people. Non-binary participants therefore explained that it was challenging for them to understand whether or not PrEP was right for them.
“As a non-binary person, I would find it challenging to understand whether or not I am eligible under the [NHS PrEP] criteria above, and would find it even more challenging if my sexual partner(s) were also non-binary.” The people we spoke to felt that the criteria should talk more explicitly about body parts and kinds of sex, to enable people to understand if they could
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access NHS PrEP. Indeed, participants felt that this approach should be embedded within sexual health services, with the focus placed upon anatomy and different types of sex. Some participants made the point that this approach would make services more inclusive for all, as it would encourage services to focus on the needs and experiences of the individual, rather than making assumptions about the type of sex a person was having based on their gender and sexual orientation.
“[I would prefer] we talk about body parts, we talk about type of activity. We talk about what parts of the body we’re using for that activity. None of this is gendered. None of this is based on your status in any way, other than the bits that you have and the type of activity that you’re involved in.”
A further difficulty reported in relation to PrEP was around dosing. Currently, event based dosing (where PrEP is only taken around the days a person is having sex) is not recommended for trans men. However, some participants had been given inconsistent information about this. In one case, a person had been told they could use PrEP on an event basis, but fortunately had later been telephoned by their clinic to clarify that this wasn’t accurate. The point has been made elsewhere that far more research is needed on PrEP use among trans men, including how usage is affected by the changes that can take place in the vagina when oestrogen is reduced (vaginal atrophy) and interactions between PrEP and testosterone therapies. PrEP wasn’t the only area where participants struggled to access HIV and STI prevention. One participant talked about the difficulty of getting accurate information about condom use as a trans man. The participant had been asked by a nurse if he was ‘sure’ that regular condoms would not work for him. The nurse had eventually provided the correct information – that internal condoms (sometimes described as ‘female condoms’) should be used – but it would be hoped that sexual health
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practitioners would have a thorough knowledge of condom options for different bodies. Again, the kind of condom recommended should be based on the person’s anatomy and the kind of sex they describe having, rather than an assumption about the person’s gender or sexual orientation. Our final research report makes a series of recommendations to the NHS and third sector sexual health services, as well as the Scottish Government and trans advocacy organisations. Many of our recommendations focus on training for the sexual health workforce and we’re pleased to report that several NHS boards have already requested training. Key within our recommendations is also that opportunities should be created for trans people to be involved in the design and delivery of sexual health services. Involving trans people as equal contributors is absolutely key to ensuring services are inclusive of and accessible to all.
Ruth McKenna (she/her), Senior Research and Communications Manager, Waverley Care.
Notes: (1) Throughout the article, we use the term ‘trans’ (short for transgender) as an inclusive umbrella term for anyone whose gender identity does not fully correspond with the sex assigned to them at birth. (2) Cis is a term used to describe people whose gender fully corresponds with the sex assigned to them at birth.
For more information on the ‘There needs to be care throughout’ Report, please visit the Waverley Care website. See dedicated pages for trans content on our website. Chat to us through our website using the live chat service, drop us a message on Grindr and Scruff, or email us: info@s-x.scot
NEW TRANS CONTENT FOR SX WEBSITE Over the past year and a half, we have been working to make the content of our website and our work truly representative of the community we serve. Whilst we acknowledge we still have further to grow and to learn, we are happy to announce that our website will have content that delivers sexual health and wellbeing information for trans men in our community in our usual sex positive style. The content is our first step to making sure we provide relevant, useful and empowering information for all men in our community. All of this would not be possible without the input from trans members of our communities in Scotland, such as the Scottish Trans Alliance, the wealth of knowledge from trans and sexual health activists such as Cliniq in the UK and worldwide. In November, we launched inclusive, as well as bespoke information, for trans men. This includes sexual and reproductive health, relationships and mental wellbeing. We expanded the following areas of information to be inclusive of trans men: • Good pleasurable sex • Mental health • Coming out • Advice around getting tested • Sexual health risk Language has an exceptional ability to empower or invalidate communities, that’s why we worked with our partners and communities to agree appropriate terms and vocabulary for use in this content. But we also want this information to be right for you, so feedback is important to us throughout both our services and information. This information brings together the experiences of men in our community and the expertise of our partners like Scottish Trans Alliance to provide trans
men a resource they can use with confidence and enable them to be more informed when it comes to sex, health and wellbeing.
What’s next? We at SX provide sex positive health and wellbeing information for all gay and bisexual men, and all men who have sex with men. Our new trans content is the first step, and next we want to take on recommendations from the recent research, “There needs to be care throughout” which you can read about in this magazine, as well as expand our Chemsex section to be provide tailored information for trans men. In the meantime, we want to hear from you as members of the community as to what information is important and what changes we need to make to truly represent you. In 2021, we will be looking to undertake group reviews and feedbacks for the website and the future direction of this service. In the meantime, please send any comments or suggestions on the current website content to: info@s-x.scot Please state ‘Trans content’ in the subject line. Christopher Clair-Ward (he/him) Health Improvement Coordinator See the dedicated pages for further content on our website. Chat to us through our website using the live chat service, drop us a message on Grindr and Scruff, or email us: info@s-x.scot
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THE WARRIORS OF T
Sam Renton (he / him), plays for the Edinburgh inclusive rugby team, The Caledonian Thebans. In a personal, and candid, article, Sam tells us how his journey, from high school to playing for the Thebans, helped with his mental health. Transgender people are more likely to suffer from mental health issues than people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, heterosexual and cisgender. Each person is different, but some of the trans related causes could be dysphoria: how people are perceived in their physical frame, their voice, their gender expression, but also being born into a world where society is still deciding trans rights. With a lack of education at school around wider LGBT+ identities, and what it means to be anything other than heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual, I became depressed at the thought of being different. I’ve always been told that high school was ‘the best days of your life’. If high school was the best days, then my life was going to be a ‘great depression’. I spent most of high school trying to find out who I was, while trying to fit in and planning for the future because it seemed that anything less than university was a failure. The immense pressure I put myself under was amplified by school. The need to do well,
to find yourself, to figure out your future plans, was terrifying. Much of what I loved, I gave up. I tried to be a stereotype, a girly girl with the brain of a boy. Uncomfortable in almost every situation, I knew something was different. I had no education besides Urban Dictionary and I was questioning who I liked and what gender I was for five long years. I thought exams were the end. When I left high school I thought it would end, away from the pressures and cliques of high school, but it just came back. In 2018, I finally realised that I was transgender, seven years after beginning to question everything. Those seven years can be summed up in one word: depression. I didn’t know what that meant or what the symptoms were, but I now know that I was depressed. My depression continued and it was all I could see. I had good days and bad, and my bad days sometimes had suicidal thoughts. My future was bleak, I thought that it wasn’t going to go away
THEBES
and I was stuck with these feelings. I tried individual sports, playing video games and throwing myself into work. Each worked for a little bit and then I was back to depression. I needed more and needed to find something I loved doing.
Each ruck, maul and scrum looked so intense, but it was love at first sight. My earliest memories are of football, playing all the time with my family. I knew nothing about the sport, I just liked playing. I was never able to join a team until high school. A girls team. I stayed for a week and my love was lost. I was a boy playing
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on a girls team. It didn’t feel right. I also liked rugby when I played in high school, and in an all boys’ P.E. class. In 2019, I decided to watch the Six Nations and quickly grew to enjoy watching it. Each ruck, maul and scrum looked so intense, but it was love at first sight. I quickly decided that I wanted to play rugby, but I had no real experience and didn’t know where to start. I looked into local teams, which were largely made up of guys from school. I realised that the playing season was almost over and that it was just going to be awkward to play with guys who knew me as something different. Wanting a fresh start, I looked at the local leagues after a friend mentioned an inclusive Edinburgh rugby team, the Caledonian Thebans. I debated my options, realising that they would have had trans men play with them and would know what to expect. At Edinburgh Pride last year, I spoke to a few of the guys from the team and picked up a leaflet about bootcamp: a six week programme covering the basics of rugby for beginners as well as more advanced players.
A nervous wreck, I had a two hour journey on two buses to the training ground and the same to get home. It was a journey I made every Tuesday evening starting that July. It felt right, everyone was so warm and welcoming from both coaches and players. Suddenly, my future wasn’t so bleak and I excitedly waited for the following Tuesday. My two year wait for an appointment at the Gender Clinic now didn’t seem too far away.
I’m still waiting to begin my life, but rugby has made my life easier; rugby saved my life and changed my outlook. When the playing season began in August, I waited for clearance from the Clinic to play, however, I still trained and gave 100% and watched each game I could. I played my very first game at Corstorphine in blistering heat on 21st September 2019. It was the best ten minutes of my life and I couldn’t have been happier. I bought my Thebans club tie that day and I found my place, where I fitted. Each training session and game improved my mental health, both by becoming fitter and meeting new people that I would call my family. My dysphoria wasn’t affecting me as much and my depression was almost completely gone. I even had my first broken nose in November that year, which was painful and yet amazing at the same time. It was at that point I
realised the genuine care the Thebans guys had for me. When people told me that sport helps your mental health, I never believed them. And if someone had told me, back in high school, that I would be playing rugby with the nicest guys I’d ever meet, I wouldn’t have believed them either. Now it’s completely different: the Thebans have been there for me through thick and thin. I can count on them and they’re the group I feel most comfortable around. I’ve never been looked at any differently because I’m transgender, I’m always treated as an equal. I’m still waiting to begin my life, but rugby has made my life easier; rugby saved my life and changed my outlook. There are many inclusive clubs for different sports and groups and it’s a great opportunity to fall in love with something and meet up with people who you have at least one thing in common with.
To find out more about the Caledonian Thebans, visit their website.
COMMMUNITY GROUPS
Trans Masculine Scotland (TMS) is a support group run by, and for, the trans masculine community. They welcome all trans masculine people (including non-binary), aged 16 and over who were assigned female at birth, or socialised as female. TMS organise monthly meetings, which are held in Edinburgh and Glasgow in alternate months. They also organise events and meet-ups, details of which can be found on their blog. To help maintain a safe space for everyone attending, their meetings are not open to cis allies. However, if a trans masculine person would like a cis person to accompany them, for whatever reason, please email the organisation to discuss before attending.
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LGBT Youth is Scotland’s national charity for LGBTI young people. They work with 13–25 year olds across the country and also deliver the LGBT Charter Programme to schools, organisations and businesses. The goal of LGBT Youth is to make Scotland the best place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex young people to grow up. They play a leading role in the provision of quality youth work to LGBTI young people that promotes their health and wellbeing, and are a valued and influential partner in LGBTI equality and human rights.
Members attending TMS events must agree to their Safe Space Agreement, which can be found on their website.
LGBT Youth currently offer digital support where you can get support from youth workers wherever you are in Scotland. There is a LiveChat feature on their website, which is an easy way to chat with trained youth workers in real-time about whatever is on your mind. From questioning your sexual identity, coming out and relationship issues to bullying and sexual health.
TMS also has an active secret Facebook group where being a member won’t show on your Facebook account. Email TMS if you’d like to be added to the group or message them on the @ transmasculinescotland Facebook page.
Sessions run at the following times: Monday: 6pm to 8pm Tuesday: 3pm to 5pm Wednesday: 4pm to 6pm Thursday: 6pm to 8pm
Like many LGBTQ+ grassroots community organisations run by volunteers, TMS are always looking for donations. If you are interested in donation please email TMS directly.
If you’d like to chat online but aren’t free during the LiveChat times – get in touch with LGBT Youth and let them know. They may be able to open it for you. If LiveChat isn’t open you can also send them a message by emailing them.
Social Media: Website Twitter Facebook
Social Media: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook
BOTTOMS UP: ALCOHOL, SEX AND ME In 2019, we created a new web page, dedicated to personally written articles by gay and bisexual men who have had challenging experiences with alcohol during their life. By creating this page we hope readers, who may also have issues with alcohol, will be able to relate to the events and experiences that the writers have been through. In conjunction with the web page we have also begun a series of podcasts read by the actor, and friend of SX, David Mahoney. David brings to the Bottoms Up project years of acting experience and a very personal interpretation of our contributors’ writing. The current collection of written pieces is available on our website, and the first podcast is available on Soundcloud and iTunes. Here is a taster...
Untitled By Fraser Serle I grew up thinking I knew all that there is to know about the dangers of drinking too much alcohol, or so I thought. But no one ever told me about ‘beer goggles’, and like when you have a hellish hangover you vow ‘never again’. My most memorable beer goggles experiences were getting off the with same guy twice, it was only when I felt his moles that I remembered we’d met before… and then there was the farter... instead of jumping in a cab home with my housemates I went off with a random man at the end of the night.
He lived in a hovel, and after sex just guffed without shame. The point of this story is that we all have different motivations for modifying our behaviour; for me sexual regret (usually caused from getting a lumber when pished) is mine. Information about the risks of liver disease, cancer etc... are too abstract. So, if you’re concerned about how much alcohol you drink, find your reason to make a change. And if you slip up then don’t fret. I know alcohol gives me the horn and can get me into bother, so I now drink much less, pace myself with water or often don’t booze at all.
Nature’s Cruel Trick By David Barbour
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Dear God I do hate hate you My God you’re a prick, For creating a world where so few men like dick Save for their own Which they’d probably lick It’s caused me no end of trouble and strife Your Bible’s demand that men find a wife The book makes it plain and abundantly clear It’s intrinsically evil to ‘choose’ to be queer You create us all sick Then command we be well, And for lots of us gay folk Life can be hell So we drink, dance or fuck Do whatever we can, To blot out the pain Of your spiteful grand plan Of course I do jest For it’s people I fear, Who created your myth As the evidence makes clear It’s not you at all It’s them that’s to blame, For attacking the love That dare not speak it’s name But when it does And it does more and more, We encounter the problem I mentioned before We live in a world Where so few men like dick, It’s nobody’s fault Just nature’s cruel trick Whether people or nature You will no less find, That these issues can drive one Out of one’s mind So we drink, drink dance or fuck Do whatever we can To blot out the pain… But I’m fucked if I can.
If you’d like to read other submissions for Bottoms Up you can find them on our website. We’re always looking for submissions – from blog articles or stories to monologues and poems. They can be humorous, serious or anonymous. If you’re interested in submitting a piece for the magazine, or our website, contact us: info@s-x.scot
MEET THE TEAM Our colleague, Oliver Wain (he/him) works as a Peer Engagement Officer with Waverley Care. We’ve taken the opportunity to ask him a few questions about his work with us and how he sees our work with trans men developing in 2021.
Between the Covers (BtC): Tell us a bit about yourself, and how you got involved in activism?
Oliver Wain (OW): I’m Oliver, a researcher from the peer-led trans and non-binary sexual health research project, ‘There needs to be care throughout’, that was recently published by Waverley Care. To be honest, I can’t remember how I got involved with activism. I’m not sure how much of an activist I was at university but in my first job I played quite an active role lobbying for better working conditions for disabled employees, so that’s probably how I got involved. That was when I realised I wanted to work for a charity. BtC: What was your involvement with the ‘There needs to be care throughout’ research? OW: I was one of the interviewers and focus group leaders. I’ve also helped write parts of the report, been involved in some of the analysis and now involved in presenting and promoting the research to the people who can change practice for the better. BtC: How do you relate to the experiences that were evidenced in the research, if at all? OW: I had accessed sexual health services in the past, (including with SX!), and found practitioners usually weren’t able to answer questions I had about condoms, or STIs, in relation to trans bodies. Many participants had similar to worse experiences, of a lack of knowledge or trans competent care. I wasn’t surprised, it felt like ‘oh you’ve experienced this too’ acknowledgement. I was surprised, though, by some participant’s experiences in relation abortion care or miscarriage support. Those were the experiences where I felt ‘this is why this research is needed, it’s just really necessary’.
BtC: How did you involve community members in this research? OW: One of my many hats at the time was being on the committee of Trans Masculine Scotland, a community group for trans men, trans masculine folk and non-binary people who were assigned or socialised as female. I also got involved in pretty much every possible social thing when I moved to Edinburgh, so I had a lot of pals and connections – and that came to my advantage when sharing the research. I also made sure some of the funding we got for the project went towards appropriate compensation and payment for those involved, such as paying them for their time, travel expenses and even food – one group got vast quantities of pizza! This is because I’m well aware that we’re all broke, but also how often we get asked to take part in research like this for free and feel obliged to contribute so that the research doesn’t end up misrepresenting our views. BtC: What do you think are the biggest barriers for trans people accessing sexual health? OW: The research survey we did suggested that some people didn’t experience barriers at all! But for those of us that do find it hard, it was things like fear, anxiety, and the perception that any sexual health experience might be bad or had bad experienced in the past. I think accessibility plays a huge role as well though, with physical or mental health issues, or the spaces just being too overwhelming and not set out for the comfort of the service user, but the convenience of the clinician. Some of this has changed now since COVID-19. I’ve been really glad to see remote testing postal kits at Waverley care and at my local sexual health clinic, which had been mentioned a number of times last year in the research.
BtC: What are your thoughts, or recommendations, to make sexual health services inclusive? OW: I would say read the report, especially if you work for a sexual health clinic. Think about and be mindful that the implementation of these recommendations from the report will benefit trans people and also benefit many other groups such as neurodiverse people, people living with a disability, sex workers or people who’ve experienced trauma.
Image courtesy of Han Deacon.
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BtC: What would you like people to know about your experience of accessing sexual health care? OW: I would like people to know that it’s ok to ask for what you need. Clinicians can sometimes feel a bit uninformed with trans people, but you can just sit down and say: “I’d like to be tested for this, I’d like to listen to my music while you take a swab there, I need my friend to be with me for this part because I find it really distressing”. Even: “I need to step outside for a few minutes as I’ve found that really stressful and a bit much”. Asking for stuff for accommodations, is OK. You can also absolutely say “I don’t consent to that” if you don’t feel comfortable with something. It’s your body. BtC: What would you like other trans guys to be aware of when accessing sexual health care? OW: Again, that you can ask for what you need. Sexual health services are still set up with cis people as the imagined service user, so sometimes you need to tell the clinic how it should be for you. Often though, these are basic needs everyone should have met, regardless of how you identify – we all deserve to feel safe, respected and be treated with dignity when accessing sexual health care! I would like people to be aware that they can use a pseudonym to access services if you’re concerned about your sexual activity potentially being a problem in your transition. Most people don’t know that the NHS has a really convoluted and poorly designed notes system, so in sexual health they don’t automatically share notes with your GP without your explicit consent. However, this isn’t the same with sharing with the Gender Identity Clinic (GIC), as sexual health and gender services are on the same system. This means sometimes a clinician might think it best to read all your notes on the system before they meet you, which sometimes is best practice as you don’t have to explain everything, but at other times you might want to only share personal info when you become comfortable with your clinician. You have to keep the same pseudonym throughout sexual health treatment though, so they know your history! I don’t want people to be scared about sharing their sexual history, but I think people should be aware and know the option is there.
BtC: What do you think SX needs to do to ensure its more inclusive of Trans guys? OW: I think SX are doing a pretty good job already! I would like to see SX have more/any peer support roles by, and for, trans guys. What I love about SX is the peer-led model, and I think we need more trans people involved to make it truly peer lead – by cis and trans folk. Representation is key, and at SX I think there’s a way to go to diversify the staff from the cis white male. BtC: What are you working on now? OW: Mostly promoting the research at various events, but actually preparing to start a public health masters next year – I was inspired to do so by this work actually! I’m also working on my fitness for a duathlon and triathlon in 2021, and learning to drive.
For more information on the ‘There needs to be care throughout’ report, please visit the Waverley Care website. See dedicated pages for trans content on our website. Chat to us through our website using the live chat service, drop us a message on Grindr and Scruff, or email us: info@s-x.scot
TRANS GUYS AND CONDOMS There are a number of types of condoms that trans guys can use to protect themselves from blood-borne viruses, STIs and pregnancy. Internal condoms Internal condoms are condoms that can be inserted into your front hole or anal passage. Similar to other condoms, they are available in latex and latex free, and are used for preventing HIV, STIs and pregnancy. If you intend to use internal condoms for anal sex, make sure you remove the internal ring before inserting. The internal ring has the potential to be painful within the anal passage and increases the chances of the condom coming out. Remember to never use the same condom for your front hole and your anal passage.
Condoms for cocks
Condoms for a prosthetic penis or sex toys When it comes to sex toys or insertables, it’s advised to use a condom for a number of reasons. Firstly, HIV and STIs can be transmitted via body fluids that can remain on the surface of sex toys. Secondly, by using a condom it will take less time to clean the object after use.
If you’ve had lower surgery (metoidioplasty or phalloplasty) there are a range of different condom options available for you.
You should always change the condom if you are changing partners, to ensure there is no transfer of fluids.
The most important thing is to find out which option is right for you in terms of fit. Practice makes perfect, so try out condoms of all sizes. You can also use a finger cot or use the thumb of a latex glove as a condom.
Condoms shouldn’t be used on porous sex toys made out of the following materials; PVC, jelly, rubber, thermoplastic elastomer or thermoplastic rubber (TPE/TPR). Condoms can degrade the materials mentioned above and damage the object. Condoms can, however, be used on toys that are 100% silicone, glass, medical-grade stainless steel, wood or stone with special medical-grade finish, and hard ABS plastic. You shouldn’t use silicone lube with silicone toys as they can damage the toy.
See the dedicated pages for further content on our website. Chat to us through our website using the live chat service, drop us a message on Grindr and Scruff or email us: info@s-x.scot
REDESIGNING INTERNAL CONDOMS
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Guys in our community tell us that the gendered packaging that internal condoms are available in, discourage them from using them. At SX we want the most effective protection available for those that need it.
Using the templates below you can redesign the internal condom packaging with your own designs. The designs can include illustrations, photographs, graphic designs or text. We are very interested in submissions that are sex positive.
We want to hear from you!
The white space on the image below indicates where this content should be placed on the packaging
SX is built on community voices and lived experience, which is why we want to know what you think internal condoms packaging should represent. Currently internal condom packaging is extremely gendered using terms, images and colours thought to represent femininity.
Space should be available for: - Expiry date - Kite mark - Materials - How to use diagram
How to submit: Please submit as many designs as you like to: info@s-x.scot
12cm
9cm
QUEER CREATIVES: HAN DEACON Han (they/them) is a queer Irish artist currently based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Han enjoys making narrative art and telling stories. Their work tends to focus on, and be inspired by, themes of gender, sexuality, and mental health. Han has prints for sale on their Patreon shop, and you can follow their social media through these links:
“I’ve wanted to be an artist for as long as I can remember”, says Han. They studied Illustration at Ballyfermot College of Education and Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 2018.
Website Twitter Instagram
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To read the continuation of Dark Things Linger, and to see more of Han’s work, follow this link.
TRANS GUYS AND NEGOTIATING SEX Discussing sex isn’t something to be shy about, although we know it’s not easy for everyone. The more you talk about what you like, the better the sex you’ll have when you meet someone.
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It’s important to talk about what you’re into and what feels good for you. Some guys may have preconceived ideas about what sort of sex you’re after, and if they’re right great, but if not they have to respect your decision. For example, they may assume that you want to be the receptive partner or that if you have a front hole you’re comfortable with it being part of the sex you have. If your partner makes you feel uncomfortable or ignores your boundaries, this could show that they can act in abusive ways. You can talk to us about support and advice. There are other unique circumstances, specific to trans men when it comes to negotiating sex. For example, some trans men find that sex with a gay cisgender male partner can be an extremely validating experience, especially in early years of transitions. Because of this they might not insist on safer sex. Men who are on testosterone can also notice an increased sex drive, which can also lower inhibitions when it comes to safer sex. The most important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t ever feel pressured into doing something you’re not comfortable with.
Consent Sex should be consensual and pleasurable for you and your partner(s). In other words, enthusiastic consent from your partner(s) ensures that everyone involved wants to engage in sexual activities, freely and willingly. Consent must be gained every time for every sexual act. Remember no matter what situation you are in, you can say no to sex. The important thing in getting consent is to make sure that you talk about what
you want to do and how you both feel during sex. This includes talking about what parts of your body you’re happy being involved such as your front hole, chest, etc. Consent is an ongoing conversation and sometimes this may mean pausing, or stopping altogether, to ensure that what you are doing is consensual. Make sure to get consent from sexual partners for any sex toys you’re using, even if it’s a prosthetic penis. It’s important to talk to sexual partners before, so you know that they’re up for when having sex with a toy, and to make sure you’re both consenting to the sex you’re having. If you’ve had phalloplasty, then that is regarded in law as the same as any other flesh and blood penis so you don’t need to tell partners it was surgically constructed.
Sex without a condom In terms of HIV, the risk of transmission is high because the virus can pass through the wall of the anal passage, the walls of your front hole, and the head of your cock (if you’ve had phalloplasty or metoidioplasty). Front hole sex can be an increased risk for HIV and STI transmission because of the reduced lubrication associated with testosterone therapy and hysterectomies. This is because reduced lubrication increases the risk for small tears in the skin during sex. Alongside the risk of HIV and STIs, you can also become pregnant even if you’re on testosterone, check out the section on pregnancy on our website.
Wanking For trans guys, mutual masturbation can carry a risk of HIV and STIs, if someone’s cum or precum or genital fluid comes into contact with any cuts, sores or areas of damaged skin around your front hole.
See the dedicated pages for further content on our website. Chat to us through our website using the live chat service, drop us a message on Grindr and Scruff or email us: info@s-x.scot
QUEER CREATIVES: LAQUERRIÈRE A Stick of Fuck By Laquerrière (he/him) Laquerrière is a bit of a creative jack-of-all-trades, who proudly runs the underground Seven Student Sex Swappers Film Company, writes excessively, sews a decent seagull costume when called for, sings crudely, and reads bedtime stories to the cat every so often. He’s currently knitting a bisexual scarf for a friend.
We’re always looking for creative submissions to feature in the magazine – from photography and artwork to writing. If you’re interested in submitting something, contact us: info@s-x.scot
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A stick of fuck My cupboards are bare; my account is vastly overdrawn my fridge shelves barren the cat’s forlorn and I am done. There is not a single fuck left to give on any shelf every room is devoid of fucks fuckpicnics short of fucksandwiches. Or fucksandwiches short of fuckpicnics. I don’t want to talk I don’t want to listen I don’t want to christen my fucks again. There will be no Ouija board games to reach at whatever the fuck was. There will be no eulogies for the elegies I shat out about a sugared cup of tea at 3am a cobblestone-street skip the noisy field of empty planes tarmac the lot with the absent fucks the abject lorryload of fucks I had to give have flown off out of Kent, out of time, out of season fuck Kent, fuck you, and fuck me too fuck a teacup into faeces fuck the tossers of every species fuck you if you’ve heard the clichés; I don’t mean a single nasty word. word.
TRANS GUYS AND MENTAL HEALTH Trans men are more likely to experience poor mental health, such as depression and anxiety, than the rest of the population. This extends to an increased risk of self-harm and suicide. Trans people are also more likely to have negative experiences in healthcare settings including gender clinics, GPs and mental health services, making them less likely to access support.
Depression Studies have shown that trans men experience extremely poor mental health as a result of discrimination, stigma, lack of acceptance and abuse. In many cases, this can lead to depression. Current evidence shows that more than half of the trans population in UK have experienced depression, and just under half have attempted suicide. These factors can arise from issues accessing healthcare, discrimination in the workplace, homelessness and problems with family. During periods of depression, community support, including friends and social groups (both in person and online) can make a very real difference for your wellbeing.
Anxiety Anxiety often impacts trans men’s ability to live their lives as they wish. There are a number of different reasons trans men may experience anxiety: from issues accessing healthcare, discrimination in the workplace, and coming out. Anxiety can often be linked to the process of transitioning and experiences of interactions with health professionals. These professionals can play a pivotal role in whether someone is able to transition
or not. During points of anxiety, community support, including friends and social groups (both in person and online) can make a very real difference for your wellbeing.
Gender dysphoria Gender dysphoria, sometimes called gender incongruence, is classified by the World Health Organisation as a sexual health matter. However, it isn’t a pathology, disease or illness. Gender incongruence is defined as a marked and persistent incongruence between a person’s experienced gender and assigned sex. This incongruence can occur at a very young age and can be quite common in childhood, when it is natural to explore gender and what it means for any child. When people continue to experience gender
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through the NHS in Scotland. This requires being seen by one of four Gender Identity Clinics in Scotland – some you can self-refer to, and others require a referral from your GP. You can find out more here. Another aspect of transitioning is socially transitioning. These are the steps you take in your day-to-day life such as changing your pronouns i.e she/her to he/him, coming out as trans to your friends and family, changing your name, and changing your gender expression, for example through the clothes you wear.
Ultimately everyone’s transition looks different and feels different for them. Transitioning doesn’t mean that you will never experience gender dysphoria again, it means that you will be more confident in the knowledge of who you truly are and having people acknowledge and respect that. Transitioning and gender dysphoria can be a difficult and confusing thing to deal with. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, there are a number of charities that specialise in providing mental health support. You can contact:
dysphoria and enter adulthood this may lead to someone seeking medical interventions to make their anatomy match their identity. Some men don’t find it necessary to change their anatomy and others see it as an essential step in their transition. To learn more about gender dysphoria, check out the information on NHS UK. Lots of trans guys begin a process known as transitioning to tackle their gender dysphoria. There are different types of transitioning and there is no one ‘right’ way to do it – it’s important to think about what steps are right for you. One aspect of transitioning is medical transitioning. This can mean taking hormones such as testosterone, to change your physical attributes. It could also mean having surgery to alter your body, such as top surgery which removes tissue and fat around the chest to give a flat appearance. Medical transitions take time, but they are available
• LGBT Helpline: Provides information and emotional support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families, friends and supporters across Scotland. You can call free on 0300 123 2523 (Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12pm9pm, Thursdays and Sundays 1pm – 6pm). • MindLine Trans+: A confidential emotional and mental health support line for trans people. They also support family and friends of trans people, and provide signposting to other services and resources. You can call free on 0300 330 5468 (Mondays and Fridays 8pm – midnight). • Samaritans: 24/7 listening and emotional support service. You can call free on 116123. • Breathing Space: Free and confidential service for people living in Scotland who are experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. You can call free on 0800 838587 (Mon-Thurs 6pm-2am and from Friday 6pm – Monday 6am). • Scottish Association for Mental Health: Scotland’s leading mental health charity. There is lots of information and support available through their website. • In an emergency: If you are feeling suicidal or in distress, then you should seek help immediately. You can call 999 and ask for an ambulance, or attend your nearest accident and emergency. See the dedicated pages for further content on our website. Chat to us through our website using the live chat service, drop us a message on Grindr and Scruff or email us: info@s-x.scot
THE LIBRAR BECAUSE READING Category Is Books is a fiercely independent queer bookshop in the Southside of Glasgow. The bookshop was created as a space for the LGBTQIA+ community to learn about, be inspired by, and share in owners’ love of queer history, culture, writing and storytelling. The bookshop was started by wusband and wusband team, Charlotte (they/them) and Fionn Duffy-Scott (they/them), two genderqueer dykes. They grew up under Section 28, a law passed in 1988 by a UK Conservative government stating that a local council or school “shall not intentionally promote homosexuality” or “promote the teaching […] of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”. The law was scrapped in Scotland in 2000 and in the rest of the United Kingdom in 2003. Not until later in life did Charlotte and Fionn start to explore their own queer history and culture in more depth. In the process, they discovered an expansive world of books, magazines, comics, zines, films and art, created by, or with, the LGBTQIA+ community. In September 2018, they opened the doors to their Govanhill shop after spending the summer redecorating the place themselves. Category Is Books stocks new and second hand queer books, Charlotte and Fionn, courtesy of Category Is Books.
magazines, graphic novels, zines and badges. They are also happy to order specific books for their customers and are able to provide collection in store or home delivery. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Category Is Books was used by members of the LGBTQIA+ community for events and workshops on a pay-what-you-can basis. Charlotte and Fionn feel this is a key part of the shop and love when the space is used for readings, signings, launches, writing groups, support groups, after school drag clubs, performances, pop-up barber shop, film screenings etc. It is hoped events will return to the bookshop in the near future. Address: 34 Allison Street, Glasgow, G42 8NN Public transport: Train: Queens Park station Bus: Pollockshaws Road or Victoria Road. Email: categoryisbooks@gmail.com Social media: Instagram Twitter
RY IS OPEN... G IS FUNDIMENTAL! The Small Trans Library is a lending library of transauthored and LGBT+ books for trans people. There are branches located in Dublin and Glasgow. The libraries have catalogues of over 200 books and, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, organised and hosted reading groups, writing workshops and community events for trans people in Ireland and Scotland. Keep an eye on their social media for updates of future events. To use the library, simply browse the online catalogues on their website and find a book you’d like to borrow, then contact the library with your request via e-mail, Twitter, Instagram or the contact form on the website. If a book is currently out on loan, they’ll be happy to put a reserve on it for you. Books can then be posted anywhere in Ireland or the UK, or picked up in person by attending an event or meeting one of the librarians in Dublin or Glasgow. Returns are flexible and there are no fines. People are welcome to borrow a book for as long as they want or until the library receives another request for the same book. When you are done with a book, contact the library and they will find a means of return that suits you. The library also has a collection of rare books but these can only be read on site due to their fragility. The Small Trans Library is a community resource, run by volunteers and supported by donations. If you’d like to donate a book to their catalogue, there is a wish list on their website. The library also takes financial donations. To donate to the Dublin library you can do so through their PayPal account or Kofi. To donate to the Glasgow library contact their PayPal account or Patreon.
Images courtesy of Small Trans Library.
Social Media: Twitter Dublin: @smalltranslibr Glasgow: @translibrgla Instagram Dublin: @smalltranslibrarydublin Glasgow: @smalltranslibrary E-mail Dublin: smalltranslibr@gmail.com Glasgow: smalltranslibrglasgow@gmail.com
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THE DEAL WITH ALCOHOL AND SEX
For many gay and bisexual men, and all men who have sex with men, drinking and the venues that serve alcohol, can be a big part of our culture. Heading out for a drink offers the possibility to socialise, meet up with friends and potentially hook up with new guys for sex. Alcohol lowers our inhibitions, making us feel more relaxed, which can contribute to a fun night out. Of course, sometimes it can go too far – it can affect our judgement and lead us to making bad choices.
We’re not going to tell you not to drink – we’re just asking you to be responsible. There’s plenty of information out there about the importance of controlling how much you drink to maintain your health. If you find alcohol is becoming a problem then speak to your GP, check out Drink Aware, or contact us for a chat. Here are some things for you to think about if you’re heading out for a drink and hoping the night will lead to sex.
Eat first Having something in your stomach slows down the effects of alcohol and makes it more likely you will last the pace.
Be prepared If you’re looking for sex, remember to take condoms and lube with you, or pick some up when you are out. If you are taking event based PrEP remember to take it before you head out or ideally, the day before. If you have to travel into the city, think about how you’ll get home and keep some cash back for a cab.
Guidance The current recommended weekly amount of alcohol that a man, or woman, should not exceed is 14 units. This amount should not be consumed in one sitting, but 3 to 4 units maximum in any one day. As an average, 14 units of alcohol can be described as:
6 pints of regular strength lager, or; 10 bottles of alcopop, or; 7 glasses of 175ml wine (or 4.5 250ml glasses), or; 14 single measures of spirits, or: 5 glasses of wine Know your limits It’s not a race, don’t try to keep up with your pals or feel pressured into taking drinks you don’t want to, like shots. Go at your own speed and take a break if you need one. If you end up hammered, the chances of you pulling go down the drain.
Drink lots of water Drinking alcohol dehydrates you. Try alternating an alcoholic drink with a soft drink (or alcohol free drink) to reduce your intake. Drinking water can keep you refreshed and will reduce the hangover the next day. You could also consider starting off the evening at an alcohol free space having a coffee of soft drink before heading to the pub.
Keep an eye on your drink
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Don’t leave drinks unattended and keep an eye out for people trying to spike drinks with drugs.
If you’re taking drugs (prescription or recreational) Know their effects when mixed with alcohol. If you’re on HIV medication, be aware of the effects of mixing alcohol and your meds. Try taking your medication at least an hour before going out so that you don’t mix the two.
Let’s talk about sex Lots of guys have sex after drinking. You might find it easier talking to guys after a couple of drinks. This is because alcohol lowers our inhibitions but it can also lead to bad choices, which can affect your sexual health. If you’re drunk in the heat of the moment, you’re less likely to reach for a condom. These are the decisions we can regret in the morning when we’ve sobered up.
The morning after If you’re hungover, make sure you drink plenty of water. Coffee might sound like a good idea but it will leave you dehydrated. Take some paracetamol or ibuprofen for your head and try to eat something as soon as you can.
The hangover horn Yes, this is a thing, though we’re not sure why. Guys who are hungover often feel really horny and end up having sex with someone they’ve taken home. Sometimes they might turn to apps to find sex. The only bit of advice here is, if you’re horny and want sex make sure it’s the sex you want and that you’ve got condoms and lube to hand. Or just have a wank. In the short-term, alcohol use can lead to problems like alcohol poisoning. Long-term, it can lead to liver damage, brain damage, heart disease, stomach cancer and lots of other serious health issues. Excessive alcohol use can also affect your emotional and mental health, and may have a negative impact on your relationships. Remember, if you find alcohol is becoming a problem then speak to your GP or check out Drink Aware. If you are concerned about the amount of alcohol you may be consuming, why not check out the Risk Tool on our website. If you are thinking of trying to reduce your alcohol intake, or stop drinking altogether, you could consider joining a group of like-minded people that take part in alcohol-free activities. A place to start is the Meet Up website where LGBT friendly groups are listed.
COMMUNITY CAFÉ CAFÉ: THE PINK PEACOCK The Pink Peacock is a queer, Yiddish, pay-what-you-can café situated on Glasgow’s Southside. The café is run by Morgan (he/him) and Joe (he/ him) who describe themselves as ‘queer Jewish anarchists’. Morgan, an author, hails from Chicago and has a background in queer healthcare advocacy, while Joe, is a musician from Yorkshire. While the golden peacock is a symbol of Yiddish literature, the ‘pink peacock’ is Joe and Morgan’s queer reference to it. The guys wish to invoke the richness of Yiddish culture in their explicitly queer space. The café is bilingual with everything written in Yiddish and English, prioritising Yiddish. Joe and Morgan have been feeding the local community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with a ‘pay-what-you-can’ meal delivery service, however, they are now looking to open a physical café space. Their plan is for the cafe to be as accessible as possible serving 100% vegan, kosher and halal food, bilingual (Yiddish and English), and late-night but alcohol free. As well as a café, the venue will also be an arts and social space, hosting community groups, and queer and Jewish artists.
helps keep the food cheap, and free, for the people who need it. Donations will also help them run free community events where facilitators and performers are paid. Here is a link to the donation page.
Running a donations-based café, such as the Pink Peacock means the guys need donations. This
Contact details for Pink Peacock Email: hi@pinkpeacock.gay Twitter: @dirozevepave Instagram: @dirozevepave
Joe and Morgan. Photo courtesy of Katie Kaestner.
Photo courtesy of Pink Peacock
THE A TO Z OF SX
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Earlier in the year we began the SX A to Z. Keep an eye on social media for a different letter of the alphabet each week. The posts feature tips and advice on a variety of areas from Apps to BDSM to Confidence. Here are a few of our most recent posts.
H is for HIV In Scotland, HIV is most commonly passed on through unprotected sex, with a person living with HIV who is not on treatment, or through sharing injecting equipment. Gay and Bisexual men in Scotland are recommended to test regularly. Think you need an HIV test? Get a free, quick & easy self-test delivered to you now, wherever you are in Scotland: hivtest.scot
G is for GHB / GBL It is often referred to as ‘G’ or ‘Gina’ and is a drug commonly used in chemsex. It’s a sedative and a form of industrial solvent. Overdosing is easily done and can be fatal. The dose needs to be accurate and precise. G can make you feel ‘super horny’, lower inhibitions, which mean you may do something that you wouldn’t do sober, reduce your ability to consent, as you may not be aware of what is happening, and put you at risk of sexual assault. See our website for more information.
I is for In Charge Like being in charge in bedroom? We’ve got some advice for you: Really play on the power dynamic between you and your partner. Role-play and uniforms can help this. Consent is important when it comes to sex so think about using a safe word. Check out the Good Sex Guide on our website. For more tips and advice on being a good dom, why not watch this helpful video from Ending HIV NZ.
LISTINGS ABERDEEN Bars Cheerz Bar 2 Exchange St, Aberdeen AB11 6PH 01224 582648 https://www.facebook.com/CheerzNightclub/ Daily 12noon – 2am
DUNDEE Bars Klozet Bar 73-75 Seagate, Dundee DD1 2EH 01382 690403 https://www.facebook.com/klozet.dundee The Salty Dog 9 Crichton St, Dundee DD1 3AP 07580 171426 https://www.facebook.com/The-SaltyDog-110544140566828 Club Nights Pout St Andrew’s St, Dundee DD1 2EX https://www.facebook.com/POUTNightclub Wed-Sun: 9pm-2.30/3pm Sauna Club Kudos 11 Princess St, princess str, Dundee DD4 6BY 01382 522812 https://clubkudos.co.uk/ Daily: 11am/12noon – 10pm/3am
EDINBURGH Bars CC Blooms 23-24 Greenside Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3AA 0131 556 9331 ccblooms.co.uk 11am to 3am most days Habana 22 Greenside Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3AA 0131 558 1270 https://www.facebook.com/habanaedinburgh 1pm to 1am / (3am seasonal) The Regent Bar 2 Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5DL 0131 661 8198 https://theregentbar.co.uk/ Mon-Sat, 12noon – 1am, Sun 12:30pm – 1am
The Street 2b Picardy Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3JT 0131 556 4272 http://thestreetbaredinburgh.co.uk/TheStreet/ Home.html Noon to 1am daily Planet Bar 6 Baxter’s Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3AF planetbaredinburgh.co.uk 1pm to 1am daily Club Nights The Church of High Kicks CC Blooms 23-24 Greenside Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3AA 0131 556 9331 ccblooms.co.uk Sundays 6pm to 11pm DILF From website: DILF, the banging house music dance party, hosting regular nights in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester and London: *aimed at men *Proudly trans friendly *Scottish founded Various venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester, see updates on social media https://www.facebook.com/DILFuk/ Hot Mess From The List magazine: Queer dance party where the focus is on the music, which is a heady mix of pop classics, obscure synthwave, house, techno and disco from the safe hands of DJ Simonotron. Various venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh, see updates on social media https://twitter.com/hotmessdisco Sauna The Pound 5 Broughton Market, Edinburgh EH3 6NU 0131 477 3567 https://www.thepoundedinburgh.co.uk/ 11am to 11pm daily Shopping Q Store 5 Barony St, Edinburgh EH3 6PD 0131 477 4756 https://www.facebook.com/Qstore.edin/ 11am to 7pm daily (12noon -5pm Sunday)
GLASGOW Bars Delmonicas 68 Virginia St, Glasgow G1 1TX 0141 559 6594 https://www.delmonicas.co.uk/
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Speakeasy 10 John St, Glasgow G1 1JQ 0141 553 5851 https://www.speakeasyglasgow.co.uk/ Katie’s Bar 17 John St, Glasgow G1 1HP 0141 237 3030 http://www.glasgow.katiesbar.co.uk/ The Waterloo 306 Argyle St, Glasgow G2 8LY 0141 248 7216 https://waterlooglasgow.wixsite.com/home Underground 6A John St, Glasgow G1 1JQ 0141 553 2456 https://www.facebook.com/UndergroundGlasgo Polo Lounge 84 Wilson St, Glasgow G1 1UZ 0141 559 6593 https://www.pologlasgow.co.uk/ The Riding Room 58 Virginia St, Glasgow G1 1TX 0141 559 6592 https://theridingroom.co.uk/ Merchant Pride 20 Candleriggs, Glasgow G1 1LD 0141 564 1285 https://www.facebook.com/MerchantPride/
Manchester and London: *aimed at men *Proudly trans friendly *Scottish founded Various venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester, see updates on social media https://www.facebook.com/DILFuk/
Hot Mess From The List magazine: Queer dance party where the focus is on the music, which is a heady mix of pop classics, obscure synthwave, house, techno and disco from the safe hands of DJ Simonotron. Various venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh, see updates on social media https://twitter.com/hotmessdisco The Flying Duck 142 Renfield St, Glasgow G2 3AU 0141 564 1450 https://www.theflyingduck.org/ Sun – Thur: 12noon - 12am, Fri – Sat: 12noon - 3am Sauna The Pipeworks Metropole House, 5 Metropole Ln, Glasgow G1 4NH 0141 552 5502 https://thepipeworks.com/ Mon - Thurs 10am - 10pm, Fri 10am - Sun 9pm (59hr opening) Shopping Luke & Jack 45 Virginia Street Glasgow G1 1TS 07916 958 652 shop@lukeandjack.co.uk https://www.lukeandjack.co.uk/
The Gallery Bar 101 Brunswick St, Glasgow G1 1TB 0141 552 6310 https://www.facebook.com/MerchantGallery Club Nights AXM 90 Glassford St, Glasgow G1 1UR 0141 552 5761 https://www.facebook.com/axmclubglasgow Thurs-Sun: 11pm to 4am Club X Polo Lounge 84 Wilson St, Glasgow G1 1UZ 0141 559 6593 https://www.pologlasgow.co.uk/club-x/ Mon, We, Fri, Sat: 11pm to 3am. DILF From website: DILF, the banging house music dance party, hosting regular nights in Glasgow, Edinburgh,
All listings are correct at time of printing, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please check the company’s websites for opening times. All listings are correct at time of printing. If you run an LGBT+ venue, or event for men, and wish to feature in the listings section of the magazine, please get in touch. Also let us know if your listing is incorrect. We do our best to accurately source information but not all venues update their information online. Apologies in advance for any inaccuracies. Contact: info@s-x.scot
SUPPORT We are about improving the sex, health and wellbeing of gay and bisexual men, and all men who have sex with men living in Scotland. We are proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community, and we aim to reflect the diversity of the people we work with. Our ethos at SX is to be sex positive and we strive to improve the physical, sexual and mental health and wellbeing of all men who have sex with men. SX works with cis and trans men, and many other allies across Scotland. SX is part of Waverley Care, a charity which helps people who need support with HIV, hepatitis C and sexual health across Scotland. By being part of Waverley Care, we have benefited from over 30 years of learning and expertise working to reduce new infections, increasing access to testing and challenging the stigma experienced by our communities. If you would like support advice, support or information, get in touch. If you are a health or care professional who would like to make a referral on behalf of a client, please return a referral form to us by email or call. The listings of our partners featured are small representation of the support available. Please see the SERVICE FINDER on our website for further listings in your area. If you run an organisation, support group or work with the men who have sex with men and wish to feature in the Support section of the magazine, please get in touch. Also let us know if any listings are incorrect. Apologies in advance for any inaccuracies. SX Scotland 1-3 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6NB Phone: 0131 652 3250 Email: referral@s-x.scot
SX Scotland 6 Ardross Street, Inverness, IV3 5NN Phone: 01463 711 585 Email: referral@s-x.scot
SEXUAL HEALTH ABERDEEN Grampian Sexual Health: Aberdeen Community Health and Care Village, 50 Frederick Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5HY 0345 337 9900 http://www.nhsgrampian.org DUNDEE Men Only Tayside Level 7, South Block, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD2 1UB 01382 425 542 http://www.menonlytayside.com EDINBURGH Chalmers Sexual Health Centre 2A Chalmers Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9ES 0131 536 1070 https://www.lothiansexualhealth.scot ROAM Outreach: M-Test Service Waverley Care, 1 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6NB 0131 536 1773 / 0777 462 8227 http://www.roam-outreach.com FIFE Sexual Health Fife: Dunfermline Queen Margaret Hospital, Whitefield Road, Dunfermline, KY12 0SU 01592 64 79 79 https://www.nhsfife.org GLASGOW SRP @ Sandyford Central (Clinic for men who have sex with men) 2-6 Sandyford Place, Glasgow, G3 7NB 0141 211 8130 http://www.sandyford.org INVERNESS Highland Sexual Health Zone 14, Clinic 1, Raigmore Hospital, Old Perth Road, Inverness, IV2 3UJ 01463 888300 https://www.highlandsexualhealth.co.uk
COMMUNITY SUPPORT ABERDEEN Positive Mixture Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland, 246 George Street, Aberdeen, AB25 1HN 0845 241 2151 http://www.tht.org.uk LGBT Youth Westburn, 116 Westburn Road, Aberdeen, AB25 2QA https://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk
DUNDEE LGBT Youth The Shore, 15 Shore Terrace, Dundee, DD1 3DN https://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk Diversitay LGBT Group PO BOX 53, DUNDEE, DD1 3YG 01382 20 26 20 contact@diversitay.org.uk EDINBURGH BiScotland LGBT Centre, 9 Howe Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6TE 0796 396 0321 http://www.biscotland.org
07020 933 952 www.equality-network.org Scottish Trans 30 Bernard Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6PR 0131 467 6039 https://www.scottishtrans.org Stonewall Scotland Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh EH3 6BB 0131 474 8019 https://www.stonewallscotland.org.uk
MENTAL HEALTH
LGBT Aging LGBT Centre, 9 Howe Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6TE 0131 652 3282 http://www.lgbthealth.org.uk
ABERDEEN Mental Health Aberdeen 1 Alford Place, Aberdeen, AB10 1YD 01224 573892 https://www.mha.uk.net
Positive Help First Floor, 139 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4JY 0131 558 1122 http://www.positivehelpedinburgh.co.uk
DUNDEE Wellbeing Works 01382 227 288 https://www.wellbeingworksdundee.org.uk
GLASGOW LGBT Youth 30 (3/2) Bell Street, Glasgow, G1 1LG https://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk
EDINBURGH Edinburgh Crisis Centre Free phone: 0808 801 0414 http://www.edinburghcrisiscentre.org
BiScotland Glasgow Music Studios, 7-9 Osborne Street, Glasgow, G1 5QN. 0796 396 0321 http://www.biscotland.org
LGBT Health and Wellbeing 9 Howe Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6TE 0131 523 1100 https://www.lgbthealth.org.uk
LGBT Network Flat 2/2, 4 Niddrie Square, Glasgow, G42 8QE https://www.lgbtnetwork.eu INVERNESS LGBT Youth Merkinch Partnership, 4 Grant Street, Inverness, IV3 8BL https://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk
GLASGOW Your Support Your Way Glasgow https://www.yoursupportglasgow.org INVERNESS Birchwood Highland 59 Tomnahurich Street, Inverness, IV3 5DT 01463 236507 https://birchwoodhighland.org.uk
NATIONAL HIV Scotland Suite 2, 27 Beaverhall Road, Edinburgh, EH7 4JE 0131 558 3713 http://www.hivscotland.com
NATIONAL SAMH Brunswick House, 51 Wilson Street, Glasgow, G1 1UZ 0344 800 0550 https://www.samh.org.uk
LGBT Youth Scotland 40 Commercial Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4NQ https://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk
Mind https://www.mind.org.uk
Equality Network 30 Bernard Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6PR
Samaritans Phone: 116 123 https://www.samaritans.org
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DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ABERDEEN Alcohol & Drugs Action 7 Hadden Street, Aberdeen, AB11 6NU 01224 577120 http://www.alcoholanddrugsaction.org.uk DUNDEE We Are With You (Addaction) The Signpost Centre, Lothian Crescent, Dundee DD4 0HU 01382 206888 https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk Dundee Drug and Alcohol Services Drop in. Wallacetown Health Centre, Lyon Street, Dundee, DD4 6RB. Mon and Thur: 9.15am - 12noon
SX Scotland are:
Rachel Hughes, Senior Health Improvement Manager Alastair Rose, SX Manager Jo Sykes, Wave Manager Christopher Clair-Ward, Health Improvement Coordinator Scott Baxter, Health Improvement Coordinator (Alcohol Harm) Amanda Scott, HIV Project Worker (Argyll & Bute) Rory Anderson, Project Worker - Prevention (Highland)
EDINBURGH Edinburgh Alcohol and Drug Partnership Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG https://www.edinburghadp.co.uk GLASGOW NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services https://www.nhsggc.org.uk INVERNESS Inverness Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (01463) 704603 http://www.highland-adp.org.uk NATIONAL Drink Aware https://www.drinkaware.co.uk Alcoholics Anonymous https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
SEXUAL, PHYSICAL OR EMOTIONAL ABUSE NATIONAL Survivors UK: Male Rape and Sexual Abuse 02035 983 898 https://www.survivorsuk.org Rape Crisis Scotland 08088 01 03 02 https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk Victim Support Scotland 0800 160 1985 https://victimsupport.scot Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage 0800 027 1234 https://sdafmh.org.uk
All listings are correct at time of printing, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please check the organisations’ websites for opening times. If you run an LGBT+ venue, or event for men, and wish to feature in the listings section of the magazine, please get in touch. Also let us know if your listing is incorrect. We do our best to accurately source information but not all venues update their information online. Apologies in advance for any inaccuracies. Contact: info@s-x.scot
THE BARE-BACK INTERVIEW
43
We decided to get Caledonian Theban Sam Renton Between The Covers to find out what he’s been up to during lockdown... Where are you and what’s been keeping you busy these days? I live in East Lothian and have been busy working and playing video games.
What are you reading, or watching, or listening to? I’m currently watching Greys Anatomy.
When did you first discover your sexuality? I’ve always known I was different, but it wasn’t until last year that I realised I’m gay.
What would your biography be called? ‘Sam I Am’ and I like ‘Green Eggs and Ham’.
Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been?
find really good friends once you leave school. Everything’s temporary and things will pass and things definitely improve.
If you needed to clear your head, where would you go? I’d take a walk around East Lothian using the paths that very few people use.
Berlin, Germany, There’s just so much history and sightseeing to do in one city.
What message would you give about HIV?
Who, or what, inspires you?
Get tested and use protection to keep everyone safe. Getting tested can be done at home and is nothing to be embarrassed about, your life is more important than judgement from others.
Work. The young people I work with have a fresh outlook and are so wise, they push me to be the best youth worker I can be and the best person to make their lives a little bit easier.
Do you have any regrets? If I had realised I was trans earlier, it might have been easier to get on with school work, and have left with better grades. But I’m happy with where I am now.
What advice would you give to your younger self? Being different is ok, people like you for you. You’ll
Sam’s article on being a trans man and member of the Caledonian Thebans rugby club can be found earlier in this issue.
