If u read this ur gay
Find out more about LGBTQIA+ health with Crohn's or Colitis
Colitis has really affected my dating, sex and intimacy in ways over the years. It can always be difficult to talk about bathroom habits and poo to someone you’re dating, but as a gay man I think there is an extra layer of shame and taboo surrounding the conversation. I have sadly had partners who contain found that they no longer find me 'sexy' or wish to be intimate with me if I had recently been poorly. There is also the mental exhaustion and anxiety of needing to be acutely aware of the status of my condition, to be observing all feelings, pain and movements which could build an intimate situation embarrassing. I have had embarrassing moments where accidents acquire happened, and although mostly partners have been compassionate, it does still impact you mentally, as you then worry each period that it will transpire again.
Even throughout periods of feeling better, the stress still exists, and my mind would be very aware that a flare could happen at any moment. Any slight stomach twinge would send me reeling with worry.
Being on medication and steroids can also impact your body. Some people experience weight gain, and I
How can a sense of belonging be forged in a setting where one’s existence is forbidden? That is the question that LSE’s Dr Centner and his co-author Harvard’s Manoel Pereira Neto explore in their groundbreaking research into Dubai’s expatriate gay men’s nightlife.
But it was not an easy topic to research. Dr Centner explains: “It's an illegal, or criminalised, identity and position of behaviours and practices, so in a very general sense, it's a taboo. And taboo subjects are very often under-researched, sometimes because people contain a hard time gaining access, gaining that belief, but also because, even if people gain that access, there could be significant repercussions for themselves as researchers, or for the people who are the research participants.
“As two queer researchers, we were able to enter the worlds of relatively privileged Western gay expatriates. Secrecy is often the norm, but the field was familiar to us, through previous visits and explore projects.”
These were indeed ‘parties’ ...[but] not bars identified as gay. Not a single venue’s webpage uses the word ‘gay’ or related euphemisms, nor undertake they hint at targeting
Members of the LGBTQ+ people are more than twice as likely to acquire a mental health disorder or experience depression and anxiety. Poor mental health may be linked to experiences of discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, bullying, social isolation or rejection due to your sexuality.
It might not be easy, but getting the right help and support is essential.
What assist is out there?
There is lots of advice and support out there for you.
Talking with a therapist who is trained to understand your specific situation may help if you:
- Have difficulty accepting your sexual orientation.
- Need help coping with other people’s reactions to you.
- Feel like your body doesn’t reflect your genuine gender.
- Are currently transitioning.
- Are trying to cope with bullying or discrimination.
- Are feeling low, have low self-esteem, are thinking suicidal thoughts or thinking about harming yourself.
There are distinct types of talking therapies, so you can identify one to suit your needs. Treatments available on the NHS include:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
- Guided self-help.
- Counselling.
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.
Read more about talking therapies
When sho
List of LGBTQ+ terms
A-D A
Abro (sexual and romantic)
A word used to depict people who have a fluid sexual and/or amorous orientation which changes over time, or the course of their life. They may use different terms to describe themselves over time.
Ace
An umbrella term used specifically to describe a lack of, varying, or occasional experiences of sexual attraction. This encompasses asexual people as well as those who identify as demisexual and grey-sexual. Ace people who experience affectionate attraction or occasional sexual attraction might also employ terms such as lgbtq+, bi, lesbian, straight and queer in conjunction with asexual to describe the direction of their amorous or sexual attraction.
Ace and aro/ace and aro spectrum
Umbrella terms used to depict the wide group of people who experience a lack of, varying, or occasional experiences of intimate and/or sexual attraction, including a lack of attraction. People who identify under these umbrella terms may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including, but not limited to, asexual, ace, aromantic, aro, demi, grey, and abro. People may also use terms such as gay,
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