PnP & Consentement

People who engage in Party N Play (PnP)/chemsex1 sont plus exposés aux agressions sexuelles que ceux qui n’y participent pas.2 Yet, the lack of understanding about sexual consent in PnP contexts limits our ability to prevent sexual assaults. The PnP & Consent project therefore examines how sexual consent is given, withdrawn, or negotiated in these contexts. To do so, we utilize photovoice, a method that combines photography and interviews.

Through its objectives and methods, this research seeks to remain close to the realities of PnP by collaborating with a Community Advisory Board. Together, we hope to identify strategies to prevent sexual assaults in PnP settings and promote sexual health and well-being for those who engage in it.

PARTICIPANTS NEEDED

To participate in this study, you must:
    1. Be either a trans woman, a non-binary person, a Two-Spirit person, a gay, bisexual, queer or trans man or a man who has sex with men;
    2. Engage in PnP (i.e., use crystal meth, GHB/GBL, or ketamine in sexual contexts) in Montreal or have engaged in it during the past 6 months;
    3. Be 18 years of age or older; and 
    4. Understand French or English.

Participation is anonymous, confidential and compensated (100$). It consists of:
  1. An initial meeting of approximately 30 minutes (in person or online) with the researcher-student to further discuss the study, reflect on ethical issues, and address any additional questions you may have.
  2. Taking photos that reflect your perceptions and experiences of sexual consent in the context of PNP. These photos do not need to be taken while you're engaging in PnP; for example, you could express yourself through symbols or visual metaphors. You do not have to reveal your identity.  
  3. A final meeting of approximately 90 minutes to discuss the meaning of these photos.

PHOTO EXHIBITION

Community engagement is at the heart of our work! Various activities will be organized to disseminate the research findings and engage communities. Among them, a photo exhibition (in person or online) will be organized to showcase the photos taken by participants (with their consent). To stay informed about these activities, follow Qollab’s Facebook and Instagram or join the project newsletter.

A few words about the researcher-student: Maxi Gaudette (he, she, they)

Hi there, I'm Max. I'm conducting this research as part of my Ph.D. in Public Health (specializing in health promotion) at the Université de Montréal. As a queer young researcher, it is crucial for me that my research positively impact communities (which I am often part of). My commitments to the 2S/LGBTQI+ communities are rooted in social justice and critical thinking. Do not hesitate to contact me for any questions.

Project co-directors: Olivier Ferlatte and Adam Bourne

The PnP & Consent project has been approved by the Comité d’Éthique de la Recherche en Sciences et Santé (project # CERSES-2023-4853). The project is made possible thanks to the financial support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Société et culture (FRQSC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

1 Party and Play (PnP)/chemsex refers to the use of specific drugs with the intention of engaging in sexual activities within gay, bisexual, queer, trans, and two-spirit communities.

2 Wilkerson, J. M., Di Paola, A., Nieto, D., Schick, V., Latini, D. M., Braun-Harvey, D., Zoschke, I. N., & McCurdy, S. (2021). Sexual Violence and Chemsex among Substance-Using Sexual and Gender Minorities in Texas. Substance Use & Misuse, 110. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2021.1975743