One of the difficult issues that I've faced in the last few years has been dealing with the increase incidence of barebacking amongst casual sexual relationships (unprotected sex) within the gay community. It’s an insane thing to do, but I have had casual partners where, they as the receptive partner, has wanted to bareback. It is such a hard thing to resist, especially when you think it is your partner wanting to take all the risks. I know there are gay men who put personal ads online identifying themselves as bug chasers (wanting to become HIV-positive) and it fills me with sadness. But the thing is for a few times last year, I’ve wondered whether my life would become easier if I was HIV-positive. The thinking is that in some way it sorts out the HIV-issue once and for all, but I wonder if there is in that thinking indication of self-harm behaviour?
I thought I’d mention this, as I think its needs to be voiced, silence does equal death. Whilst it is comforting that HIV rates are falling in NSW, the same can not be said for Victoria. Its not such an obvious form of self-harm behaviour, but I wonder if it should be looked at in the same way? Current campaigns look at risks and deal with STIs through warnings. ACON (AIDS Council of NSW) address the issue by making gay men aware of the situations where infection is likely to occur such as in sex parties, with crystal meth use, or when one makes assumptions about the HIV status of one's partner. The Grim Reaper advertisements, campaign through fear, has fatigued community concern. And shaking your super-ego finger from the high moral ground never works. Perhaps it should be looked at as a form of self-harm?
For those concerned - I am negative and I've taken many steps to modify my behaviour, such as taking myself out of the situations when I'm likely to engage in barebacking. But even when I'm writing this, I just don't know how much I can trust myself. Unlike other forms of self-harm beahviour, the consequences are down the track and the immediate is far from being unpleasant.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2007-05-02 07:17 am (UTC)One of the difficult issues that I've faced in the last few years has been dealing with the increase incidence of barebacking amongst casual sexual relationships (unprotected sex) within the gay community. It’s an insane thing to do, but I have had casual partners where, they as the receptive partner, has wanted to bareback. It is such a hard thing to resist, especially when you think it is your partner wanting to take all the risks. I know there are gay men who put personal ads online identifying themselves as bug chasers (wanting to become HIV-positive) and it fills me with sadness. But the thing is for a few times last year, I’ve wondered whether my life would become easier if I was HIV-positive. The thinking is that in some way it sorts out the HIV-issue once and for all, but I wonder if there is in that thinking indication of self-harm behaviour?
I thought I’d mention this, as I think its needs to be voiced, silence does equal death. Whilst it is comforting that HIV rates are falling in NSW, the same can not be said for Victoria. Its not such an obvious form of self-harm behaviour, but I wonder if it should be looked at in the same way? Current campaigns look at risks and deal with STIs through warnings. ACON (AIDS Council of NSW) address the issue by making gay men aware of the situations where infection is likely to occur such as in sex parties, with crystal meth use, or when one makes assumptions about the HIV status of one's partner. The Grim Reaper advertisements, campaign through fear, has fatigued community concern. And shaking your super-ego finger from the high moral ground never works. Perhaps it should be looked at as a form of self-harm?
For those concerned - I am negative and I've taken many steps to modify my behaviour, such as taking myself out of the situations when I'm likely to engage in barebacking. But even when I'm writing this, I just don't know how much I can trust myself. Unlike other forms of self-harm beahviour, the consequences are down the track and the immediate is far from being unpleasant.