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Badging Scheme
A new “badging scheme” within the county, up to the Tamar bridge, which will identify to the gay community safe “gay friendly” pubs, clubs & other venues in which any gay
 or lesbian customers can visit safe in the understanding that the venue has signed up to a specific set of standards, which are monitored on a regular bases, which they agree to enforce at all times so that ALL visitors to that venue gay or straight will be treated the same, for example if they allow a straight couple to kiss at the bar or hold hands on the dance floor they must, by signing the agreement, allow a same-sex couple to do the same, if any trouble flairs up it will be the ones causing the trouble that are asked to leave & not the same-sex couple who were just minding their own business & as has been the tradition in the past in so many venues up & down the country where we have been asked to leave for “up setting the other customers” well by agreeing to the “standards” set down they wouldn’t be allowed to do this any more. So far, & it is early days yet, a quarter of the venues contacted have been very supportive & have had no worries about joining the new scheme & any breaches in the agreement can be redressed through the courts.
ALL venues on board will have to display a new logo so that people will recognise it as a safe place to visit where they can relax & just be themselves without running the risk of being asked to leave. The logo will be well publicized prior to the full launch of the scheme so people will be aware of what to look for & the venue will have to have this on display in a window near the door as well as displaying a certificate to show they have met the required standard.
Each venue will have free condoms & lube freely available on the bar or in the toilets (if a family pub) as well as other sexual health related info & they have agreed to have at least 1 sexual health event per year (length of registration) where all sorts of info & freebies can be obtained & many questions answered.
This is a really exciting project & due to the serious lack of gay venues in Cornwall should be an asset to the gay community as we can now freely choose where we want to go in the evening without the fear of being harassed, refused service or made to feel so uncomfortable by other customers we have to leave when all want to do is have a quiet drink with friends or a loved one so by having these different venues on board so soon in to the project is a real step in the right direction & I hope in the next few months more will have signed up to the scheme.
Outreach Worker
My second role within the post is to work as an outreach worker forming close working links with the local police diversity officer, local & county councils & other interested parties in & around the various cursing grounds or public sex environments within Cornwall to encourage men who have sex with men in these open areas to engage in safer sex by providing free condoms & lube, advice, support & acting as a sign posting service to other agencies who may be able to help them in a more specific way be it with alcohol, drugs, worries about HIV or STI’s, legal matters, mental health issues etc.
Various different areas will be visited by myself on a regular bases on different days & at different times so I can reach the largest number of users & which will allow me to get to know the client group so I can involve them in conversation around safer sex issues & have the time to answer their questions at the same time being able to give out information on sex related issues.
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My name is Simon & I am the new outreach worker for gay men & men who have sex with men in Cornwall & IoS & have only recently taken up the post. I am part of the Gay Mens Health Project based in Pool, Redruth which in itself is a part of the Health Promotion Service.
