Canada’s largest and longest-running survey of sex between males is underway and seeking respondents.

The Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC), which recently held its 15^th queer-male health Summit from October 31 to November 1 in Vancouver, announced today (November 5) that it has launched the 2019 Sex Now Survey online.

The survey is designed to collect data from gay, bisexual, polysexual, two-spirit, queer, trans, cisegender, and all men who have sex with men (MSM) about issues ranging from sexual practices and substance use to opinions about public policies.

Having run for 15 years, Sex Now began at Pride festivals in B.C. in 2002.

Consequently, it has become a source of data for MSM health in Canada for researchers, communities, public-health professionals, and more. It is also used to help guide blood-donation policies.

A new in-person component was introduced in 2018 in which dried blood samples were collected from 15 cities in Canada. These samples provided biological evidence of HIV and Hepatitis C among Canadian MSM, and were collected for use in revisions to Canada’s blood-donation policy, which has a deferral period for donations from MSM that activists deem discriminatory.

The questionnaire, in French or English, remains confidential and anonymous. Respondents can opt to enter a draw to win a $500 travel voucher (draw entries are not connected to the questionnaire responses).

For more information or to respond to the survey, visit the CBRC website.