What’s PRIM3D?

PRIM3D is a sexual health guide for us and by us. The terms we might use to describe ourselves include (but aren’t limited to): gay, bisexual, queer, Two-Spirit, trans man, transmasculine, and non-binary. Our individual histories are unique, but something we all have in common is that we were assigned female at birth (AFAB). PRIM3D is above all for those of us who are attracted to each other and/or cisgender men, and those of us who are involved in gay male scenes and cultures.

You may also be connected to us in other ways. You may be a service provider, like a counsellor or doctor. You may be a family member. This includes members of our chosen family—the people we’re emotionally close to and consider our family, like our lovers, partners, and close friends.

PRIM3D includes important information that can support our health. So, no matter who you are, if any of this information might be useful to you, we encourage you to read it.

Language of PRIM3D

Language is complicated and it changes. First and foremost, centuries-old understandings about identity, desire, and relationships, as used by Indigenous people on Turtle Island, were suppressed by European colonizers. The legacy of this violence limits the language in use today, including in this guide.

We can also change our language as we learn new ways of identifying, desiring, and relating to others. In this guide, we’ve tried to use language that respects the many ways that our readers do this. Language can also vary among different generations of people in our community.

Our bodies are unique. We also use different words to name parts of our bodies. This guide uses (but isn’t limited to) some of the most common anatomical terms in our community (like cock, front hole, and chest). Regardless of the words we use and the bodies that we each live in, our bodies are valid.

Finally, “sex” encompasses many activities and expressions. For example, sex includes not only partnered sex but solo sex, and not only fucking but fantasizing. You may be having sex or you may not be having sex. You may not experience sexual attraction at all. Whatever your relationship to sex, this guide aims to support you in keeping that relationship healthy.

Acknowledgements

Following on from the release of Primed and Primed 2.0, this guide is in its third edition. In updating this guide, we’ve tried to honour its rich history, while also adding new content: we surveyed individuals across our community—people spanning a range of ages, ethnic backgrounds, abilities, and more—and drew on the responses to expand the guide. 

We want to first acknowledge the Gay, Bi, and Queer Trans Men’s Working Group. This is an Ontario-wide group of members from our community. With help from selected service providers, the group produced the previous editions of this guide and reviewed the content of PRIM3D. 

Additionally, our thanks to MedsExpert Pharmacy and Rainbow Health Ontario, who provided information for use in PRIM3D. We gratefully acknowledge the influential work of other trans-specific guides like Brazen and grunt.org.au, along with key HIV and sexual health resources like TheSexYouWant.ca, catie.ca, and OntarioPrEP.ca. Thanks also to Owen Campbell for feedback on the terms and acronyms.