13.7% (approximately 100) of a quasi-random sample of 733 self-identified as gay or bisexual men residing within New York city reported having used ecstasy at least once in the 6 months prior to being interviewed over the telephone. (Telephone numbers were randomly dialed from exchanges in previously designated "gay" neighborhoods). 800 men were interviewed altogether, with 67 refusing to answer questions pertaining to ecstasy use. Men in this sample reported using ecstasy 1 to 30 times in 6 months, with mean use per month reported to be approximately monthly (6.24 +/- 7.09 times per month). In this group, ecstasy use was associated with being younger, having attained less education, being more "out," greater likelihood of experiencing domestic violence, and having practiced unprotected sex. Ecstasy use was not associated with HIV status or with presence of depression. Ecstasy use that was more frequent than average was associated with being younger, more frequent visits to clubs and bars, and having less of a connection with the gay or bisexual community. Moderate to average ecstasy use may be associated with strong identification with the gay or bisexual community, whereas more frequent ecstasy use may be associated with less identification with the gay or bisexual community. The authors did not ask about lifetime ecstasy use, and they did not perform analyses examining relationships between unprotected sex and use of other drugs.