In this image taken after Monday's aftershock, Menfriends is in the top left corner Frustrated gay and bi men have been giving Menfriends staff flak over the current lack of a sex on site venue in earthquake-devastated Christchurch. Menfriends sex on site venue and adult shop is trapped in a damaged building in the heart of the red 'no-go' zone and has yet to be able to resume operations on that site or any other. As the owners try to get clarity regarding their now severely damaged Lichfield Street premises and try to set the necessary steps in place to open in a new location they have been fighting bureaucracy, nature's continuing assaults and the insurance industry. The Menfriends web presence is being maintained and the the business's phone number and emails are being answered. "We've had a lot of enquiries," co-owner Stuart Yeatman says. "Most are from out of towners and some of them get upset with us when we have to tell them there's nowhere to go. There's a distinct difference between some people's perception and the reality on the ground here." Yeatman is optimistic the business, which was the South Island's largest sex on site venue, will be able to open in new premises before the end of the year. A full interview covering Menfriends' progress and the pitfalls they are having to overcome can be read in a GayNZ.com feature story here.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 15th June 2011 - 11:19pm