Sexual Orientation Identification of Men who Have Sex with Men in Public Settings in Canada

The present study attempts to determine how men who have sex with men (MSM) identify in terms of their sexual orientation. The sexual identity of MSM has important implications for the spread of HIV. The literature suggests that gay or bisexual identifying MSM are more likely to practice safer sex than heterosexually-identified MSM. A significant number of the MSM in public settings, such as parks, are believed to be heterosexual identifying. MSM in bathhouses are presumed to be gay or bisexual identifying. Parks have been the focus of safer sex outreach efforts targeted towards heterosexually-identified MSM. Sexual orientation self-identification was ascertained from park and bathhouse users via one-on-one interactions with outreach workers from 1996 to 1998. Chi-square analysis revealed no significant difference in the expressed sexual orientation of bath and park users, with both populations consisting mostly of gay-identified men. Heterosexually-identified MSM are not found in significant numbers in public settings. The current micro educational approach used to target these men may not be cost-effective. Alternative strategies are discussed.