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Recent research shows that co-use of stimulants and opioids appears to be increasing and injection of opioids and stimulants carries a risk for HIV transmission. This study examined stimulant injection and sexual HIV risk behaviors among individuals who reported nonmedical use of gabapentin and opioids (n = 62). Comparisons of people who injected stimulants to those who did not were conducted using chi-square and t-tests. Compared to those who did not, people who injected stimulants, were less likely to be African American/Black (p < 0.05) and more likely to report sex with another person who injects drugs (p < 0.01), recent injections of prescription and/or illicit opioids (p <.000), and hepatitis C infection (p < 0.01). Condomless intercourse during group sex was more prevalent among stimulant injectors, significant at the trend level (p < 0.1). Given the documented association between the use of opioids and nonmedical use of gabapentin and the growing trend of opioid-stimulant co-use, future research must examine whether nonmedical use of gabapentin is an indicator of substance use disorder severity and/or a risk factor for injection drug use. Education and intervention opportunities that address group sex and other sexual risk behaviors are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group sex (i.e., sex involving four or more simultaneous partners) is a prevalent but stigmatized sexual behaviour. People assume that group sex centers around self-focused pleasure/physical gratification and that accordingly, this must be the primary motivation people have for engaging in group sex. Yet emerging research on group sex, as well as broader sexuality research and theory, suggests that group sex motivations are multifaceted and, for many, tied to community and belonging. In the present study, we focus on people's reasons for engaging in group sex. We recruited twenty participants of diverse genders, sexual identities/orientations, ages (≥18 years), abilities, and group sex communities for individual interviews in southwestern British Columbia. We found that participants had engaged in group sex for a plurality of reasons, including their desire for novelty, sexual exploration, spirituality, and their upbringing. Importantly, many were motivated to have group sex by their belonging and acceptance in communities of like-minded individuals that embraced sex-positive principles and values. Pleasure was also an important motivator and was described in multifaceted ways and was intertwined with sexual empowerment, emotional vulnerability, and feelings of connection and intimacy. These findings shed light on an understudied aspect of group sex – that is, why people have it – and challenge the assumption that group sex is entirely motivated by self-focused desire for physical pleasure/gratification. Instead, they highlight how group sex motivation can be multifaceted and community focused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Background: Few studies have examined the types of sexual activities and condom use during group sex among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aimed to examine sexual activities and condom use during group sex. Setting: A cross-sectional survey among MSM attending a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, Australia, between May 2019 and March 2020. Method: Participants were asked whether they had engaged in group sex (sex involving more than 2 participants) within the past 3 months, the number of people involved, the sexual activities they engaged in, and their condom use during the most recent group sex. Results: More than a quarter (26.8%, 287 of 1071) had engaged in group sex in the past 3 months, and the median number of people involved was 3 (interquartile range 3–4), including the participant. Fellatio was the most common activity in group sex (94.4%, 271 of 287), followed by kissing (85.7%, 246 of 287) and anal sex (79.8%, 229 of 287). The proportion of men who always used condoms and changed condoms between partners was 27.0% (48 of 178) for insertive and 32.3% (52 of 161) for receptive anal sex. Compared with men not taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), men living with HIV (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20 to 4.59) and men taking PrEP (aOR: 3.07; 95% CI: 2.21 to 4.26) had higher odds of engaging in group sex after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion: Two-thirds of MSM either did not use condoms or did not change condoms between partners during group sex, which may increase sexually transmitted infection transmission between partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the ways in which swingers negotiate their world in swinger settings in Spain and France. This includes previously ignored subgroups in swinger subculture, such as single swingers, intergenerational and intercultural couples as well as cuckold couples. Demographics differ slightly from previous studies, including 7 nationalities, suggesting a higher level of multiculturalism among swingers in cosmopolitan and touristic areas, such as the south of Spain and south of France. Drawing on ethnographic data collected in Andalusia, Spain, and Cap d´Agde, France, as well as qualitative interviews with 40 participants, we demonstrate the ways in which swingers negotiate their world. Strategies by swingers were used to avoid misunderstandings, create boundaries, claim agency, transgress, and deal with stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies investigate group sex among heterosexuals. The aim of this study was to provide an exploration of characteristics and practices among heterosexual men and women who engage in group sex.Method: We conducted a cross-sectional survey between May 2019 and March 2020 among heterosexual men and women attending a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, Australia. Participants were asked whether they had participated in group sex (sex involving more than two participants) in the past 3months, the size of the most recent event, sexual activities in which they engaged, and condom use.Results: Of 3277 heterosexuals surveyed (1509 women and 1768 men), the mean age was 29.9years (s.d. 8.8) and more than half (56.0%, n=1834) were born outside Australia. One in 20 participants (5.4%) had engaged in group sex in the past 3months with the number of events ranging 1-10times. Kissing was the most common activity in group sex, and women were significantly more likely to kiss a same-sex partner than men. Overall, of 165 participants who engaged in vaginal sex, 57 (34.5%) reported always using condoms and changing condoms between consecutive partners. Of the 100 men and women who had condomless vaginal sex, 79 (79.0%) received or performed fellatio after condomless vaginal sex.Conclusion: About two-thirds of heterosexuals who engaged in group sex neither used condoms nor changed condoms between partners in the most recent group sex event. Safe sex messages on changing condoms between partners and between sexual activities should be reinforced for sexually transmitted infections prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Federal and state rape shield laws generally prohibit criminal defendants in a sexual assault case from introducing any victim's prior sexual history into evidence. Legislatures designed these laws to protect victims from shame, public scrutiny, and the forbidden propensity inference that a sexually active complainant is likely to engage in the kind of behavior at issue in the case. Rape shield laws often include exceptions for introducing evidence, specifically evidence of the complainant's prior consent to sex with the defendant, and where the Constitution so requires. In a time where relationships are more amorphous and unconventional, courts are ill-equipped to consider admission of evidence not contemplated by the rape shield drafters. Group sexual interactions seem to fit the exception for prior consensual relations with the defendant. Courts, however, treat such interactions inconsistently. In 2012, in Gagne v. Booker, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit found a state trial court's exclusion of group sex evidence reasonable. The Circuit, however, split into eight divisive opinions. In 1981, in People v. Keith, the California Court of Appeals for the Second Appellate District determined that exclusion of prior group sex evidence was reversible error. This Note considers, through a feminist legal theory lens, the implications of admitting prior instances of group sexual intercourse under the consent exception to rape shield laws. This Note argues that courts should admit this evidence when it is not unfairly prejudicial because admission may help destigmatize unconventional relationships and uphold the constitutional rights of defendants. This Note further argues that legislatures, followed by the courts, should lead the legal recognition of such relationships, to avoid instrumentalizing victims of sexual assault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gay and bisexual men's (GBM) group sex parties are considered HIV risk environments due to their association with concurrent sexual partners, condomless anal sex, and polysubstance use. The possibility of group sex party hosts acting as gatekeepers to minimize risks has been suggested, but remains understudied. We analyzed qualitative data from 20 in-depth interviews with North American GBM who recently attended private group sex parties to determine if hosts' actions constitute harm reduction strategies. Results showed hosts acting as gatekeepers before parties by establishing and disseminating themes and rules, screening applicants, and selecting guests. During parties hosts enforced rules and rejected uninvited guests. By their actions, hosts established a more controlled environment compared to public sex-on-premises bathhouses, and facilitated boundary play, the paradoxical behavior of simultaneously desiring risk and safety, previously noted for GBM circuit parties. Results suggest initiating education programs focusing on private group sex party hosts as gatekeepers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Sex Toys on the Altar" describes Ibrahim Farajaje's influence on one of his colleagues and coconspirators, centering his influence directly in the pulsating power point where spiritual and erotic energy converge in people' everyday lives. This piece spans some of Farajaje's bicoastal and international experiences, explaining his influence/guidance, from two different theological schools, on the authors own research into queer feminist sacred sexuality contemporary traditions and trends. His supervision/support of the practices and evaluation of her two internship projects as well as his way of creating international multireligious community and family are explored, with particular attention to the political issues the author was involved with him, in Washington, DC, and on a national level. This is one attempt to bring critical thinking to the topic of group lovemaking and to understand somantic sex education and devotional practices in the context of multireligiousities, using the tripartite Christian, Hebrew and Muslim belief systems to build beyond, integrating sex and spirit, making space for the contradictions and compassion inherent in the ecstatic and mystical experiences of humanity. The title of the piece comes from a remark Farajaje made, about treating everything about lovemaking between humans as sacred, special, and of precious value to be treated with reverence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThere are few studies investigating group sex among female sex workers (FSWs). This study aimed to examine the typical number of group sex participants, sexual activities and condom use in group sex among FSWs attending a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, Australia.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey between May 1, 2019 and March 13, 2020 among FSWs in Melbourne. Participants were asked whether they had participated in group sex (sex involving more than two participants) within the past 3 months, the size of the most recent group sex event, sexual activities they engaged in and condom use. It is unknown whether this was a paid or unpaid event in our study.ResultsOf the 247 FSWs surveyed, the mean age was 28.9 years and 51.8% were born in Australia. More than a quarter (27.5%, n = 68) had had group sex in the past 3 months with the number of events ranging from 1 to 10 times. The median size of the group was 3 participants with one man and two women (including the FSW) being the most common combination. Kissing was the most common activity in group sex. Of 58 FSWs who had vaginal sex during group sex, 77.3% (51/58) reported their male partners always used condoms but 13.7% (7/51) of these did not change condoms between women.ConclusionThis study finds that group sex is common among FSWs. Although condoms are always used during group sex, one in six men did not change their condoms between partners, which may increase STI transmission between partners.