Sexual identity and HIV status influence the relationship between internalized stigma and psychological distress in black gay and bisexual men

Background Among gay and bisexual men (GBM), ‘serosorting’ is common and involves restricting sex, or at least condomless sex, to partners of the same HIV status. The prevalence of men conveying their serosorting preferences regarding partners they meet online remains unclear. Methods: This study reviewed 57 178 Australian online profiles obtained directly from a popular gay website. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with preferences for meeting HIV-positive partners. Results: Men could indicate their preferences from a list of 22 types of partners; 4358 profiles (7.6%) indicated an interest in meeting HIV-positive men. There were 1959 profiles (3.4%) listing a preference for 21 of the 22 types of men, including 1498 men (2.6%) that specifically excluded HIV-positive men. Men who specifically excluded HIV-positive men on their profiles were younger (mean age 34.7 years), less likely to identify as gay (25.6%) and more likely to always prefer ‘safer sex’ (55.3%) than those who specifically included them (mean age 39.6 years; 62.8% gay-identified; 30.9% preferred safer sex; P < 0.001). Men who specifically excluded HIV-positive partners on their profiles were also more likely to live outside major capital cities (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Being younger, living outside major cities, not identifying as gay, always preferring safer sex and either Caucasian or Asian background were associated with excluding HIV-positive men as potential sex partners. These factors may reflect lower social and community engagement with the gay community. The disinclination to include HIV-positive men as potential sex partners may be due to fear of infection, stigma or poor information about HIV.

Download Full-text

Exploring the Relationship Between Gender Nonconformity and Mental Health Among Black South African Gay and Bisexual Men

Archives of Sexual Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10508-013-0087-z ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

pp. 327-330 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Stephanie H. Cook ◽

Theo G. M. Sandfort ◽

Juan A. Nel ◽

Eileen P. Rich

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

South African ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Gender Nonconformity ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Black South African ◽

And Bisexual ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

Helping a Buddy Out

10.18574/nyu/9781479801091.003.0006 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 141-157

Author(s):

Tony Silva

Keyword(s):

Sexual Identity ◽

Small Town ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Sexual Practices ◽

Hooking Up ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Male Sex ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Three Components

The men interviewed interpreted sex with men as compatible with heterosexuality and masculinity. What the author calls “bud-sex” is the way rural and small-town, white, straight men interpret or engage in sex in ways that reinforce their heterosexuality and masculinity. While the sex these men have with other men involves acts similar to those between gay and bisexual men, the meanings they attach to these acts differ greatly. Bud-sex has three components. First is hooking up with other masculine, white, and straight or bisexual men. Second is having secretive, nonromantic sex. And third is interpreting male-male sex as largely unthreatening to masculinity, heterosexuality, or marriage. Bud-sex, with its unique understandings of gender and sexual identity, reflects and reinforces the men’s embeddedness in straight culture. Sexual identity and masculinity depend on what sex acts mean, rather than on mere mechanics. Consequently, interpretations of sexual practices, not sexual practices in and of themselves, are crucially important. For the straight men interviewed, their interpretations both reflected and reinforced their embeddedness in straight culture. Bud-sex allows straight men to enjoy male-male sex without threatening either their heterosexuality or their masculinity.

Download Full-text

Signal Appropriation of Explicit HIV Status Disclosure Fields in Sex-Social Apps used by Gay and Bisexual Men

Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI '19 ◽

10.1145/3290605.3300922 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mark Warner ◽

Juan F. Maestre ◽

Jo Gibbs ◽

Chia-Fang Chung ◽

Ann Blandford

Keyword(s):

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Hiv Status ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Hiv Status Disclosure ◽

Status Disclosure

Download Full-text

1281. Awareness of U=U Among Gay and Bisexual Men Who Have Sex with Men

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.1144 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S461-S461

Author(s):

Meredith E Clement ◽

Rick Zimmerman ◽

Josh Grimm ◽

Joseph Schwartz

Keyword(s):

Hiv Transmission ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Hiv Status ◽

Anal Sex ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Negative ◽

Strong Agreement

Abstract Background The “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (“U=U”) campaign is gaining traction, but prior studies from 2012–2017 have shown that the proportion of gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM) who are aware of or have perceived accuracy of U=U is low. We report findings from a survey administered to GBMSM in 2018 to understand whether the landscape is changing with respect to U=U message dissemination. Methods GBMSM were recruited on gay dating apps to complete a 96 question survey. Survey data were collected in April-August of 2018. Collected data elements included demographic information, HIV status, ART and PrEP use, and beliefs and opinions regarding HIV transmission. Results 969 GBMSM completed the survey; of whom, 678 had analyzable data (241 had never had anal sex with a man and 54 were missing ≥1 of the variables used in the analysis). Average age was 43 years, 65% were white, 15% black, 15% white, and 15% were HIV-infected (of whom 92% were on anti-retrovirals). Of the 85% who were HIV-uninfected, 39% were on PrEP. In response to the statement that a person with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to an HIV-uninfected person, 24% strongly agreed. Among HIV-negative GBMSM, 33% of those on PrEP agreed and 12% of those not on PrEP agreed. Among those living with HIV, 42% agreed. A multivariable logistic regression was run to explain correlates of strong agreement with U=U, using the following variables: age, education, being Black, being Hispanic, relationship status, number of lifetime male sexual partners, condom use with most recent anal sex, HIV status, PrEP use, and attitudes about living with HIV. Variables associated with strong agreement with U=U were living with HIV (AOR = 1.63, P < 0.001), taking PrEP (AOR = 2.85, P < 0.001), most recent encounter’s condom use (AOR = 2.22, P = 0.003), and having positive attitudes about living with HIV (AOR= 1.93, P < 0.001). Table 1 shows percentages for each of these variables (bivariate relationships) strongly agreeing with U=U. Conclusion Now that U=U has been scientifically proven, the challenge is public awareness. U=U awareness seems to be improving among GBMSM, with HIV-negative GBMSM making the greatest strides. Education around U=U and PrEP efficacy may help reduce guilt around HIV transmission and alleviate HIV stigma. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Download Full-text