Screech Lefebure
Staff Writer
One of the most common dilemmas facing gay and bisexual men these days is that of safe sex, and, more importantly, the threat HIV and AIDS.
Friday, Barry Adam, chair of both the sociology and anthropology departments at the University of Windsor in Canada, presented his findings at the University of Houston on what constitutes safe or unsafe sex.
What he found was that, although many gay and bisexual men are quite knowledgeable about AIDS and HIV, they tend not to be so sure of which sex practices are considered safe or unsafe.
Adam's study took a group of 102 gay and bisexual men in Canada ranging from ages 19 to 67, arranged by ethnic background, economic class and education.
That group's members all had different views on what they considered safe sex. What was safe to one group or individual was different from the view of others in the experimental group, Adam said.
The problems associated with the politics of safe sex are also very broad. A group of African-American women in Boston were quizzed on the same subject, and the findings in that study showed that when a man is asked to use protection, it means that he is, has been or will be unfaithful.
This is known as the "monogamy script," Adam said.
There are also other causes associated with the lack of safe sex practices. Many gays, according to Adam's study, believed that the "straighter" a man appears, the less of a perceived risk there is. This is known as the "Rational Man Model."
A third cause accounting for unsafe sex is what Adam and other sociologists refer to as "care of the self." This problem is manifested through feelings of guilt and shame - in other words, people engage in unsafe sex practices because they are upset with themselves.
Fourth is the problem of drug use, which is fairly widespread in the gay and bi communities, Adam said. When drugs are used, he explained, judgment and responsibility are abandoned for pleasure.
Lastly, Adam mentioned the "new and improved" treatments for HIV and AIDS. With the "indestructible" attitude of youth, many are turning to the "backup" of Proteaze inhibitors and other drugs, using them as an excuse for unsafe sex practices.
Adam is the author of numerous articles and books, including The Rise of a Gay and Lesbian Movement and Experiencing HIV.