Drugs, virus, sex: Concern over chemsex up as Covid shuts Thailand’s LGBT+ bars

Beam, a gay sex worker, used to go to a “chemsex” party about once a month before the coronavirus pandemic shut Thailand’s bars and clubs. But since then, the drug-fuelled gatherings have become much more frequent.

As Thailand grapples with a third COVID-19 wave, campaigners are warning of the health risks posed by an apparent increase in chemsex – where mainly gay and bisexual men meet to take drugs such as crystal meth or GHB and unprotected sex is common.

Beam, 34, who also works as a porn actor and regularly meets his clients at the parties, said changes to people’s working routines under lockdown had made the gatherings more popular.

“It’s now a golden opportunity for partygoers,” Beam, who asked not to give his full name to protect his identity, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Chemsex users are at risk of drug addiction or overdoses, as well as mental health problems,…