In this paper we 1) evaluate our success (i.e., response rate) in recruiting managers and staff for a survey of gay bar/club patronage (2008–2010), and 2) share lessons learned from our recruitment efforts that can inform future researchers interested in studying gay bars/clubs.ĭuring the first round of data collection in 2008, we used several print sources to identify gay bars/clubs including: 1) Spartacus International Gay Guide and the Damron Gay Men’s Travel Guide, and 2) city or regional gay and lesbian print media (i.e., city gay magazines), which were then cross-validated with 3) Internet gay bar listings (e.g. To date, no studies have examined methods for successfully recruiting gay bar/club managers or staff for health surveys. In 16 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the U.S., we attempted to conduct annual censuses of all gay identified bars/clubs to ascertain information about gay bar/club patronage from 2008 to 2010.
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The Structural Interventions to Lower Alcohol-related STI/HIV risk (SILAS) study is the first study to examine the role of gay bars/clubs in influencing alcohol use and subsequent alcohol-related HIV risk behavior among MSM ( Horvath, Weinmeyer, & Rosser, 2010). Research on gay bars/clubs is thus critical to understanding and preventing alcohol-related HIV risk behavior in MSM. However, gay bars/clubs are also a setting where a confluence of risk behaviors can increase risk for HIV infection among MSM, including consumption of alcohol and/or illegal drugs, negotiation of unsafe sex in exchange for money or other benefits, and in some venues, an opportunity to engage in sex on the premises (i.e., bath houses) ( Ostro & Stall, 2008). Historically, gay bars/clubs have offered MSM an opportunity to affirm their identity and membership to the gay community ( Wolitski, Stall, & Valdiserri, 2008). Gay bars/clubs are a setting where MSM gather, network, and meet sexual partners. Certain risk environments such as gay bars/clubs may contribute to alcohol-related HIV risk behavior among MSM ( Kalichman, 2011 Wong, Kipke, & Weiss, 2008). Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) comprise the majority of new HIV infections in the U.S., and are at disproportionately high risk for alcohol abuse, alcohol-related HIV risk behavior, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011 Jaffe, Valdiserro, & De Cock, 2007 Ostrow & Stall, 2008).