Key points: - The Gay Barometer is a periodic self-administered survey of gay men who frequent gay meeting places throughout France: 8,719 men responded to the 2002 survey. - Regional disparities between the Île-de-France region and other regions are observed in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, venues frequented, and sexual activity. - Regardless of the region where meeting places are frequented, risky sexual practices are widespread among the gay population surveyed nationwide: combining multiple partners (47% of men surveyed had more than 10 partners in the past 12 months) and unprotected sex (among men engaging in anal intercourse with casual partners, 35% did not use a condom at least once). (R.A.)