Gay Men's Health Collective (GMHC)

Perhaps we are stating the obvious by defining dating, but in a 24/7 smörgåsbord sex culture some guys seem to think the ‘boundaries’ and ‘formalities’ of dating don’t matter. They do and here's our guide: buff.ly/bI9edKr

Coming out to yourself: From the day boys are born, society still assumes (though this is changing) they will be heterosexual, have children with a girlfriend or wife, and follow gender-orientated work and career paths. More: buff.ly/EBI5Dn5

The origins of SILENCE = DEATH. The design featured the pink triangle used to identify homosexuals in Holocaust concentration camps during World War II (1938-1945). The triangle was inverted and the pink was change to fuchsia colour (the brightest pink-purple). More: buff.ly/3OyubNB

In the early 1980s, gay men were given a lifetime ban from blood donation in the UK. Since then there have been several incremental changes and in 2021 changes moved to individualised risk assessments for all donors. More: buff.ly/4a7KbjC

Most of us know something which turns us on and excites us, but which is not necessarily sexual in itself - an object, a texture, a shape, or part of the body for example. We may be private about it or we may be open. The word to describe this is a fetish or fetishism. buff.ly/2RWv9oM

Our guide to sex and consent: buff.ly/2EJC9Qb

When it comes to sex, many of us are aware of our anatomy but we over-simplify what goes on beneath the surface of our bodies. Some of us still talk about things ‘down below’ and while there’s a certain quaintness about using such terms, they are inaccurate and misleading. More: buff.ly/Aq8Vj7L

For many of us, kissing another man is a powerful expression of our sexuality and identity. A kiss can signal a beginning or an end, a need or a desire. buff.ly/BEapdwb

A ‘side’ describes someone who doesn’t practice anal sex, a term coined for gay men to have the language to express this preference. buff.ly/KgKt8Wi

A blast from our past but still in use today, hanky codes or ‘flagging’ was established in the early 1970s as a way of letting other gay men know your sexual interests, practices and preferences; eg: a coloured bandana or hanky worn in a back jeans pocket. More: buff.ly/BXPx3S1

Coming out in the Gypsy Roma Traveller communities: buff.ly/3MQUCP1

Some gay men use types to describe, identify and communicate themselves. Who hasn't heard someone say “he’s my type" or been asked if a guy is yours? There is always some disagreement around the terms we use and whether we should use them at all. More: buff.ly/423I51U

The history of camp is as fascinating as it is complicated as it is controversial. More here: buff.ly/3CWNBsS

Check out our mental health support directory: buff.ly/kloO1I1

Finding a solicitor can be hard; maybe we can point you in the right direction. More: bit.ly/3RJS0mA bit.ly/3REgi1r

The key to chatting up a guy is patience but, since we’re usually thinking with our dicks and driven by an uncontrollable urge to shift our load by morning, we can move very fast: More: buff.ly/3Eqtd4f

Cruising (we’re not talking ships) refers to searching for a sexual partner for an anonymous encounter, often a one-off. Cruising areas or sites include streets, parks, road lay-bys, (nudist) beaches or sand dunes and other public areas. More: buff.ly/miWJP6K

Suicide is a subject many are afraid to talk about or even acknowledge but … type “suicide” into Google and we found 368 million results and 650 million video results. Clearly, some of us are talking about it and this. More: bit.ly/3Mnydar

Bisexual men and women have often been forgotten or seen as an after-thought within the LGBT+ community. This is strange, given it’s the third letter in LGBT! More: buff.ly/41aIL3R

CATFISHING

Your guide to CATFISHING: buff.ly/dujKed0

The meaning of ‘queer’ has changed over time, from a slur to being reclaimed by some LGBT+ people, while being rejected by others. The short answer is that ‘queer’ means different things to different people. buff.ly/2naj159

Check out our A-Z LGBT+ glossary of words and terms. You maybe surprised: bit.ly/3TIGHO4

When you come out to someone or say you are questioning your sexuality, people can come out with some rubbish. Check out our top 20 in no particular order: buff.ly/4hEmpOO

Relationships are as individual as you and your partner, and it’s up to you to find the type of relationship that meets your needs. Underpinning the emotional stuff are practical things we can do to give the relationship the best climate to grow. More: buff.ly/gjFqrhr

Conversion therapy is any form of so-called treatment which attempts to change sexual orientation or reduce attraction to others of the same sex. No one should be told their identity is something that can be changed or cured. More: buff.ly/41b7oyV

If you ever thought that you were the first or only person to have had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) – think again; they have been around for thousands of years. More: buff.ly/41628fh

The delicious irony about Crisco is that while mums and grandmas use it to make cakes and biscuits, gay men have been using it for sex for decades. buff.ly/8m6rskP

In so far as gay men are more likely to have heard about ‘safer sex’ and ‘safer drug use’, ‘harm reduction’ is the term most used in drugs services and the harm reduction field. For all intents and proposes, the terms are interchangeable. More: buff.ly/PWsJKD9

Often underrated and misunderstood, hugs (especially big hugs) and cuddles are two of the most natural ways to express our friendship, and show closeness and affection. More: buff.ly/5iuCsFv

Cruising (we’re not talking ships) refers to searching for a sexual partner for an anonymous encounter, often a one-off. Cruising areas or sites include streets, parks, road lay-bys, (nudist) beaches or sand dunes and other public areas. More: buff.ly/miWJP6K