One of our favorite health bloggers, Stephan on the Adam4Adam blog, goes bareback this week. Check it out.
I believe that there are a host of reasons why men choose to bareback that cannot be understood outside of the context of an individual.
We as gay men have been told to ‘always use a condom’ by health professionals for many years now and it is good advice in most sexual circumstances. We have been shown how to use them, even by porn stars such as Matthew Rush and Brent Corrigan, and we have lots of choices when it comes to what condom we want or need. But there are considerations regarding condoms and bareback sex that have not been discussed or considered as broadly as they may need to be.
We, especially as gay men, have been bombarded with safer-sex messaging, telling us that condomless sex can lead to contracting HIV/STDs. Leading me to believe that a lack of basic knowledge regarding condom use, and the protection it offers, is not the foundation of why most men who choose to do so have unprotected sex. I think most of us know at least the basics of HIV/STD transmission.
I am often surprised, and occasionally shocked, at how some in HIV/STD prevention view and approach gay men who are fully informed on safer-sex practices and choose to bareback. There are some who immediately judge men who choose to engage in condomless sex as either being uninformed, in denial or as something other, like a “Bug Chaser” or “Gift Giver”.
It is worth stating; I believe strongly that it is the right of all adults to have consensual sex in whatever way they choose to have it as long as no harm is caused to another.
We as gay men have been told to ‘always use a condom’ by health professionals for many years now and it is good advice in most sexual circumstances. We have been shown how to use them, even by porn stars such as Matthew Rush and Brent Corrigan, and we have lots of choices when it comes to what condom we want or need. But there are considerations regarding condoms and bareback sex that have not been discussed or considered as broadly as they may need to be.
We, especially as gay men, have been bombarded with safer-sex messaging, telling us that condomless sex can lead to contracting HIV/STDs. Leading me to believe that a lack of basic knowledge regarding condom use, and the protection it offers, is not the foundation of why most men who choose to do so have unprotected sex. I think most of us know at least the basics of HIV/STD transmission.
I am often surprised, and occasionally shocked, at how some in HIV/STD prevention view and approach gay men who are fully informed on safer-sex practices and choose to bareback. There are some who immediately judge men who choose to engage in condomless sex as either being uninformed, in denial or as something other, like a “Bug Chaser” or “Gift Giver”.
It is worth stating; I believe strongly that it is the right of all adults to have consensual sex in whatever way they choose to have it as long as no harm is caused to another.
Two things strike me about this interesting post:
ReplyDelete1) "I believe that there are a host of reasons why men choose to bareback that cannot be understood outside of the context of an individual." -- Well, but there are social contexts that influence this "choice."
2) "I believe strongly that it is the right of all adults to have consensual sex in whatever way they choose to have it as long as no harm is caused to another." The "as long as no harm is caused to another" is an interesting addendum. It strikes me as curiously phrased. What is implied by this?
Hi Trevor!
ReplyDelete1) I agree, there is a social context and these along with other factors help define the individual and their choice(s). The link leads here: http://www.thecommunityguide.org/hiv/mensexmen.html
2) It is carefully worded, intentionally. I have no intention of implying anything. I believe that it is the right of all adults to have consensual sex in whatever way they choose to have it as long as no harm is caused to another. I will not attempt to define harm for anyone other than myself.