December 2018 Issue #24 December 2018 Issue #24 CHRISTMAS | Page 114

SEX & Relationship
Are We Generation Bareback?
It’s been 35 years since the New York Times reported on a ‘rare cancer seen in 41 ho-
mosexuals’ – an article from the summer of 1981 that’s considered the first major news
story about HIV/AIDS. A generation of gay men have since grown up with condoms
and safer sex campaigns a familiar part of everyday life.
Recent studies show an increase in unprotected sex amongst HIV-negative gay men.
Why are some of us ditching condoms? And in a world of treatment, undetectability
and PrEP, is this the start of generation bareback?
SINGLE GAYS
This summer, GMFA surveyed over 1,500 gay and bisexual men about their general
sexual health.
One question asked ‘How much sex in the past year was unprotected anal sex?’
14% said that they have not had any any anal sex in the last year.
22% said that they have not had any unprotected anal sex in the last year.
18% said that about one-quarter of the sex they are having is unprotected
7% said about half
4% said about three quarters
19% said nearly all of the sex they had was unprotected.
16% said they only have unprotected anal sex.
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