Sexualized Drug-Use & Sexualized Violence in Online Spaces

This CIHR-funded project is examining the sexual and mental health outcomes of gay, bi, trans, Two-Spirit, and queer (GBT2SQ) men’s experiences with sexualized drug use and sexualized violence relative to online technologies and the Covid-19 pandemic, by engaging with community partners. This project builds on findings from our previous CIHR-funded project, titled “Wired Sex”, which worked with community partners to explore the impacts of online technologies and sexualized drug use on GBT2SQ men’s sexual health. Although most participants from Wired Sex had experienced sexualized violence and negative impacts from sexualized violence, we were unable to further investigate sexualized violence or associated health outcomes because it was not a focus of our study. Nonetheless, the Wired Sex study showed that GBT2SQ men experience sexualized violence as they connect with other GBT2SQ men via online technologies. Sexualized drug use and sexualized violence have profound impacts on them GBT2SQ men’s health. Emerging research shows that the rate of sexualized violence against GBT2SQ men has increased during the pandemic and that the pandemic has severely affected the sexual and mental health of GBT2SQ men. This project will build upon our Wired Sex research and partner with community groups to investigate the impacts of SDU and sexualized violence on GBT2SQ men’s sexual and mental health as they connect with other GBT2SQ men via online technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, this project will examine how GBT2SQ men negotiate and promote safety, health, and consent as they engage in sexual activities, like sexualized drug use, with other GBT2SQ men online and in person. Community groups will be involved in all stages of the project, notably, to co-develop evidence-based, community-informed strategies that support and advance the sexual and mental health of GBT2SQ men, particularly those who engage in SDU and/or have experienced sexualized violence.