Large events that take place over the course of the year in various popular gay travel destinations such as Palm Springs, California and Montreal, Quebec. Each has a theme; many are named after colors such as The White Party and The Black and Blue Ball. Essentially each circuit party is a huge disco-type dance party, often with a number of related events in the preceding days. Circuit parties charge admission and the proceeds after operating expenses are donated to charities, generally those which benefit gay people or HIV issues. A circuit party can bring large amounts of tourist dollars to the locality that sponsors the event.
Circuit parties are generally billed as being inclusive in terms of who is welcome to attend, including women and straight people. In actuality, however, the huge majority of circuit party attendees are a certain sub-group of gay men, sometimes derisively referred to as "A-gays," as well as their admirers and those who aspire to be part of that group. Generally speaking A-gays are relatively young, prize youthful appearance, good looks, hard muscles, and the trappings of prosperity, including expensive clothing, cars, and drugs. In the course of circuit parties, most attendees feel the pressure to expose a great deal of skin, and comment is made about those who do not, or those who do but "should not" in the opinion of their betters. Large amounts of recreational drugs are consumed, and a great deal of anonymous sex is indulged in, spreading HIV and other diseases.
