Thread by @joannachiu

The BC Centre for Disease Control is recommending the use of "glory holes" to avoid the spread of #COVID19.

Does anyone have a drill handy? And how would it work - would you make a hole in your own apartment? Or find an abandoned public wall? 🤷🏻‍♀️
bccdc.ca/health-info/di…

Weirdly thoroughly enjoyed all the jokes about glory holes, though it’s good to talk seriously about sexual health and transmission through sex during the pandemic too.

Western Canada has seen a spike in cases, tripling or doubling in recent weeks. thestar.com/amp/news/canad…

I asked the BCCDC if they could elaborate on how people can safely make and use "glory holes" or other barriers. They said they "don’t have guidance on that topic."

But I'll have a story out soon with unique insights from a source on sexual health in @TorontoStar.

Atwitter over ‘glory holes’? Sex worker who lived through AIDS crisis says COVID-19 demands real talk about sexual health thestar.com/news/canada/20… #COVID19 @TorontoStar #gloryholes #health @SusanDavis15

“Back in those days, we did not tolerate fluid contact of any kind. No (oral sex) without a condom, no kissing at all,” says Susan Davis, who lived through the HIV/AIDS crisis and says sexual health is now more important than ever. thestar.com/news/canada/20… @TorontoStar #COVID19

If better sexual health education and awareness comes out of “glory holes” going viral, I think that’s great. Thanks so much for speaking with me @SusanDavis15! thestar.com/news/canada/20…

For many, sex through a wall may seem like a comical proposition, but Davis applauded the BCCDC for putting out such detailed information.

“It’s about time as a society that we stop being so ashamed of sex and sexuality.” thestar.com/news/canada/20… @TorontoStar #safersex #Covid19

*However* Susan warned that a shoddy job of making a DIY “glory hole” in your home could lead to accidents. She thinks people are better off paying more attention to other health agency recommendations. thestar.com/news/canada/20…

In case you missed it ... yesterday the term “glory holes” trended on Twitter in Canada 🇨🇦, as thousands of posts included jokes, as well as some frank comments on sexual health during the COVID-19 pandemic. thestar.com/news/canada/20…

Turns out it’s an interesting slice of #LGBT history — “Glory holes were mostly for gay men to have sex with one another anonymously and were found in places like bathhouses and nightclub bathrooms … Now it’s a whole genre of kink and pornography.” thestar.com/news/canada/20…

Susan has worked many jobs including as a caterer, piano teacher and now owns a butcher shop.

She’s concerned about sex workers reliant on the income who feel they don’t have a choice but to take the risk. Most aren’t eligible for govt assistance. thestar.com/news/canada/20…

Not only sex workers but others in precarious jobs tend to be more vulnerable during #COVID19. That’s why @SusanDavis15 says we all need to do our part to prevent the spread of the illness.

According to the BCCDC, it is not yet clear if the virus can be transmitted through sexual intercourse.

“The most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to skip sex with a partner if you’re feeling sick,”@CDCofBC said: thestar.com/news/canada/20…

Here’s the full BC public health agency information about COVID-19 and sex, including, yes the bit about glory holes: bccdc.ca/health-info/di…

This made me realize I had internalized sex-shame too, and avoided writing about sex & sexuality, despite its importance in public health and personal well-being.

Any ideas on what serious topics you think journalist should tackle in this area? thestar.com/news/canada/20…