🪩 PLEASURE MEDICINE 🪩
Community, Connection & Sober Daytime Disco
For GBTQ+ Men
A new magical gathering for the gays…
This is one of the best things I've ever been to as a gay man. True queer joy. Thank you! - Graham
Every other Saturday GBTQ+ men are gathering together in East London for an afternoon of connection, sober dancing, fabulous music and community.
💌 And you’re invited…
We start with some (optional) fun and playful connection games, facilitated by your guide Gary Albert, so you actually meet the other men in the room.
Then the DJ spins 1hr 45 mins of fabulous funk, soul, disco, house and tribal beats for a sober dance!
👉 If you wanna to meet more gay men, make new friends, dance to incredible music and experience true gay joy and community away from the apps and the swiping, come and join us baby!
✅ And yes, you can absolutely come alone! Almost everyone does!
You're about to discover London's kindest most fun community for gay men…
The only thing I regret about coming to Pleasure Medicine today is that this was my first time and I'd waited so long out of nerves! What a beautiful afternoon - Andrew
So, what actually happens?
❤️ Connection
After an opening circle, we start with guided games, connection conversations and gentle movement so you actually meet the men in the room and those initial nerves can start to fall away.
Gary gets you laughing and feeling at ease quickly. No earnest, waffly spiritual language nobody understands! Everything is explained and guided, so there's no awkward mingling or standing around hoping somebody talks to you first…
As a queer person of colour, I've never felt so safe to be myself around other gay men - Nial
🪩 Dance
Then we dance for 1hr 45 mins to fabulous funk, sexy soul, delicious disco, hot house and tribal treats!
Don't worry, there's no choreography and no moves to learn! This is not a dance class. You move however you want. And if you wanna take a break or you're feeling a tad self-conscious (which is totally normal for newbies) we got you booboo! Pop to the chill out area with our pillows and blankets. And breeeeeeeeathe baby!
☕ Social hangout
We finish with a chill out and magical live flute performance as you kick back and close your eyes. A closing circle. Then lots of us carry on around Broadway Market for food, coffee and an optional social afterwards. Carry on the conversation, meet more men and connect.
Wow what a bunch of beautiful souls. This was my first time and I feel it's the start of something very beautiful - Phillip
❓FREQUENTLY FRETTED OVER QUESTIONS❓
👉 Can I Come Alone?
YES! Almost everyone does…
This is probably the biggest worry we hear from guys before their first Pleasure Medicine.
But this isn't a club or party where you walk into a room alone and have to work out who to talk to or wait to be noticed! Pleasure Medicine is actually designed for you to come by yourself.
From the opening circle onwards, Gary guides you through the experience and by the time we start dancing, you'll have already met and connected with lots of the men in the room.
You can arrive nervous. You can feel awkward. You can be shy. I've got you, babe!
I was really nervous to come alone. But I am so glad I jumped in. The warmth and kindness in the room was palpable. Everyone just wanted to connect. And Gary's facilitation is actually genius at getting us to relax and laugh and as he says ‘melt the masks we wear’ - Mitch
👉 Who Comes?
We usually have around 35-55 men in the space, ranging from their 20s through to their 70s. Different ages, body types, cultures, colours, backgrounds and personalities.
It doesn't matter whether you masc, fem, both, none, non-binary, quiet and introverted, flamboyant, curious or questioning and everything in between…
We're a proudly intergenerational, diverse and eclectic bunch.
At Pleasure Medicine it ain’t about being the hottest, coolest or most confident gay in the room. Ain’t nobody got time for that! BOOOOOOORING! We move beyond a set of stats on an app, and connect in a more human way.
As a gay man in my 60s I've never felt so welcomed among such a diverse group of men. You've made an old man very happy - Andrew
😏 Is it sexual?
No. Pleasure Medicine is a non-sexual connection and sober dance event. It's not a club, dark room, tantra, touch, massage or erotic workshop. But if you want to pursue something with someone you meet at Pleasure Medicine afterwards, go get their number… enjoy baby!
I'm 24 years old and I find gay bars and clubs so overwhelming. This was perfect for me! - Neil
🧑🏽🩰Do I need to be a good dancer?
God no! What does that mean anyway?! I don’t know! There's no choreography and no moves to learn. Dance however you want. Be you. Sway in the corner, twirl around in the middle, lie down and tap your foot in the chill out area… or all of the above!
👉 Is it all wafty and earnest and new-age like rainbow rhythms?
Argh! No! Sober and mindful? Yes! Deep and meaningful and connected? Yes. Light and playful? Yes! But we will not waft sage in your face and ask you to heal your ancestral trauma! (And listen, I love a bit of sage and ancestral healing… when I’m home alone! Not at Pleasure Medicine 😂)
This is about fun, joy, playfulness and connection and the healing that is available there. And to me that is spiritual too.
I thought it was going to be some earnest spiritual rainbow rhythms thing, but it really wasn’t. And yet I found it such a profound and spiritual experience to just feel so safe around other gay men - Garry
🤔 What if I don't want to do something?
Then don't, hun! Everything is optional. Sit something out, change how you do it, take a break. Do what you wanna do, don't do what you don't wanna do.
The idea of a room full of gay men in daylight terrified me, but it felt so easy and natural and joyful. I felt so at ease and had so much fun - Clive
The Deets
📅 Every other Saturday, 1:30pm–4:45pm
📍 Waking Dreams Studio, Broadway Market, East London E8
🏳️🌈 For GBTQ+ men
🌱 Alcohol and substance free
♿ Ground-floor accessible with accessible toilets and showers
👕 Wear comfortable, loose clothing you can move and dance in
💧 Bring a water bottle.
🍫 Water, fruit and organic chocolate are provided.
Come and experience Pleasure Medicine
The gays are gathering… and you're invited ❤️