In pursuit of intimacy: lived experiences of intimacy among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men during COVID-19

The COVID-19 crisis gave rise to measures such as physical distancing, sheltering in place, and social bubbles that impacted sexual lives profoundly. One group particularly badly impacted by COVID-19 containment, and at risk of sexual and mental health consequences as a result, comprised gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men -- many of whom were more likely to live alone, to have had multiple partners before the epidemic, and some of whom were lacking in peer support for their mental health. This study investigated how members of this group living in Flanders (Belgium) experienced sex and sexuality during the COVID-19 epidemic. We conducted 29 in-depth interviews with gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men who practised consensual nonmonogamy and/or sociosexuality, and used reflexive thematic analysis to analyse the data. Interviewees provided a nuanced and emotionally resonant account of sex as a pathway to intimacy, rather than just a physical act. In their descriptions, Intimacy was framed as a protective factor against the mental health challenges exacerbated by pandemic isolation.