Closed captioning is available in both English and French.

Jordan Bond Gorr (Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance), Jessica Fox, Daniel Boyle (Health Initiative for Men), Mikiki, Colin H Johnson, Jonathan Vallely, Shane Jeffrey

Historically, the Canadian institutional response to party n’ play (PnP) and chemsex has largely excluded people with lived experience (PWLE), often resulting in interventions shaped by heteronormative, colonial attitudes that depict gay, bi, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) who party n’ play as reckless and self-indulgent. This portrayal contrasts sharply with the more controlled image of homonormativity that the wider 2S/GBTQ+ community has used to lobby for basic rights and freedoms. Abstinence and fearbased narratives about a PnP “epidemic,” coupled with the portrayal of participants as “bad gays,” have dominated the conversation. This has led to the isolation, stigmatization, and silencing of those who PnP, leaving them with minimal support.

In recent years, however, peer-developed and peer-run support have emerged across Canada, challenging these misinformed narratives. These interventions embody the ethics of care and mutual support within our PnP communities, offering innovative, low-barrier solutions that genuinely meet participants where they are. Each intervention incorporates a mobile service provision or virtual platform to eliminate geographical limitations and encourage participation. Our panel will highlight four such programs from various regions in Canada, demonstrating the positive impact of community-driven solutions when traditional institutional responses fall short. Panelists will also share insights on how organizations can better support innovation and PWLE in developing programs and services that address PnP.