Are gay communities dying or just in transition? Results from an international consultation examining possible structural change in gay communities

Abstract

This study sought to identify how urban gay communities are undergoing structural change, reasons for that change, and implications for HIV prevention planning. Key informants (N=29) at the AIDS Impact Conference from 17 cities in 14 countries completed surveys and participated in a facilitated structured dialog about how gay communities are changing. In all cities, the virtual gay community was identified as now larger than the offline physical community. Most cities identified that while the gay population in their cities appeared stable or growing, the gay community appeared in decline. Measures included greater integration of heterosexuals into historically gay-identified neighborhoods and movement of gay persons into suburbs, decreased number of gay bars and clubs, less attendance at gay events, less volunteerism in gay or AIDS organizations and overall identification and visibility as a gay community. Participants attributed structural change to multiple factors including gay neighborhood gentrification, achievement of civil rights, less discrimination, a vibrant virtual community and changes in drug use. Consistent with social assimilation, across cities, gay infrastructure, visibility and community identification appears to be decreasing. HIV prevention planning, interventions, treatment services, and policies need to be re-conceptualized for MSM in post-gay communities. Four recommendations for future HIV prevention and research are detailed.

Outside the LGBTQ “Safety Zone”: Lesbian and Bisexual Women Negotiate Sexual Identity across Multiple Ecological Contexts

“…As we expected, the majority of women's descriptions of positive settings did not emphasize shared sexualities; only a small group of women described feeling most positive in LGBTQ relationships, venues, and events (e.g., LGBTQ settings). This finding supports the idea that the meaning and necessity of 'gay communities' may be changing and becoming less salient in the lives of sexual minorities (e.g., Rothblum, 2010;Simon Rosser, West, & Weinmeyer, 2008) as LGBTQ individuals experience feelings of safety, acceptance, and equality from varied allies across diverse settings. This is an encouraging finding that suggests that certain segments of society may be adopting a more inclusive, open-minded approach toward sexuality (Loftus, 2001;Savin-Williams, 2011;Seidman, 2002).…”

Gay and Bisexual Men's Use of the Internet: Research from the 1990s through 2013

“…As the second half of the first decade of the 21 st century progressed, the Internet continued to integrate itself into the daily lives of young and adult gay and bisexual men, so much so that the “shift” to digital communities was implicated as leading to the decline of physical gay communities (i.e., one no longer needs to go to a gay space to interact with other gay men) (Rosser, West, & Weinmeyer, 2008). Young gay and bisexual men in particular reported high levels of daily Internet use (Mustanski, Lyons, & Garcia, 2011a), and gay and bisexual men reported using the Internet for multiple purposes related to sexual health, including making connections with the LGBT community, seeking sexual health information, and meeting partners for dating or having sex (Bauermeister, Leslie-Santana, Johns, Pingel, & Eisenberg, 2011; Bolding et al, 2007; Dehaan, Kuper, Magee, Bigelow, & Mustanski, 2012; Garofalo, Herrick, Mustanski, & Donenberg, 2007; Kubicek, Carpineto, McDavitt, Weiss, & Kipke, 2011; Magee, Bigelow, Dehaan, & Mustanski, 2012; Mustanski et al, 2011a; Pingel, Bauermeister, Johns, Eisenberg, & Leslie-Santana, 2013; Wilkerson, Smolenski, Horvath, Danilenko, & Simon Rosser, 2010).…”

Exploring the role of sex-seeking apps and websites in the social and sexual lives of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study

“…13 Within this body of research is evidence that gay and bisexual men’s patterns of community involvement have changed. 14–17 In particular, this evidence suggests that: (1) personal networks, rather than institutional organisations, now characterise gay and bisexual men’s social behaviour; 15,17,18 and (2) Internet apps and websites are increasingly used as partner-seeking venues for many gay and bisexual men. 19 …”