December 2018 Issue #24 December 2018 Issue #24 CHRISTMAS | Page 116

SINGLE, NEGATIVE AND BAREBACK
Sam is 35 from Brighton. He’s single. He doesn’t worry about picking up STIs or be-
coming HIV-positive, nor does he ask the status of his casual sex partners.
“I’m not concerned,” he says. “I know I should be, but I don’t use a condom. I presume
most who have HIV are on treatment so are safe.”
Lorne is 24 from Cardiff. He’s single, only has bareback sex, and has had condomless
anal sex with over 30 guys in the past year. He’s not worried about becoming HIV-pos-
itive either. “It’s far from a death sentence,” he says, “I’d prefer to have HIV than di-
abetes.” He’s also not concerned about having bareback sex with someone who is
HIV-positive. “I endeavour not to decline someone based on their HIV status.”
Mike is 30 from Manchester. He’s single, and nearly all of the sex he’s had in the past
year was bareback. He doesn’t worry about HIV or other STIs. “I know it can happen
but I just don’t think about it. I get tested regularly.”
Joe is 25 from the Isle of Wight. He’s single, nearly all of the sex he has is unprotected,
and he has been fucked bareback by over 30 guys in the last year. “As much as I have
no desire to catch HIV, I’ve already adjusted to the fact that it may just happen,” he
says. “The reality is, I’m in a high risk group, and even without having bareback sex, I
could still be at risk. I don’t want it, but I realise that it could happen, safer or not.”
Mike is 32 from London. He’s single and has had unprotected anal sex with over 30
guys in the past year. He doesn’t worry about picking up STIs or becoming HIV-posi-
tive, nor does he ask the status of his casual sex partners. “I don’t ask as I don’t care,”
he says. “I’m a bareback cumdump. I understand the risks.”
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