In April, the government guidelines included that people must adhere to social distancing as much as possible and isolate themselves in their households to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Besides our mental health being put at stake, intimate isolation & sexual frustration are also on the rise. Allied rainbow communities; gay guide Malta, and Malta Pride in collaboration with Willingness Malta, saw the need to provide a platform to discuss alternative strategies for sex and dating during the COVID-19 lockdown. A live stream discussion with Mr. Matthew Bartolo, Sex and Relationships Counselor was held where the two main topics discussed were; breaking down the topic of self-pleasure as a taboo; and offering alternative strategies to satisfy one’s own intimacy needs during COVID-19.
