Queeriosity: Recovery Beyond Pride Month is a virtual six-part Learning Collaborative series focused on LGBTQ+ experiences in recovery, behavioral health, and substance use services.
The series will begin with a recorded webinar kick-off that will be accessible on the OLRC website. Each Learning Collaborative session will be paired with an OLRC-branded resource. This approach will reinforce the content, while creating a collection of practical, accessible resources that can be shared beyond the live learning environment.
Throughout the series, participants will explore foundational concepts related to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, pronouns, LGBTQ+ terminology, Pride flags, and significant moments in LGBTQ+ history, while also examining the impact that stigma, discrimination, shame, and social isolation can have on LGBTQ+ individuals and their experiences with recovery and behavioral health services.
A key component of the Learning Collaborative will be interactive discussion and shared learning. Sessions will encourage participants to bring not only the presenter’s expertise, but also their own professional knowledge, experiences, perspectives, and lived experiences into the conversation. The goal is to create an environment where participants can learn from one another, ask questions, and explore how the topics apply to their own communities and practices.
Session 2: Chem Sex and the Importance of Testing
This session examines chem sex, the use of substances such as methamphetamine, GHB/GBL, and other drugs to enhance or prolong sexual experiences, and their effects on individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Participants will explore the social, emotional, and cultural factors that can contribute to chem sex, along with the related health risks: overdose, HIV, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections. A central focus is the importance of regular testing, both health screening and drug checking, as a harm reduction and engagement strategy. Participants will discuss how to approach these conversations without judgment.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Define chem sex and identify the substances most commonly associated with it.
- Describe the physical, mental health, and social risks associated with chem sex.
- Explain the role of HIV, STI, and hepatitis C testing, prevention options such as PrEP and PEP, and drug-checking tools in reducing harm.
- Apply nonjudgmental, harm reduction–informed approaches when discussing chem sex with clients.