Dustin Lance Black sex photos renew HIV prevention dialogue

June 14, 5:03 AMInternational LGBT Issues ExaminerKelvin Lynch

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       Black accepting his Academy Award for Milk

Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black apologized today for sending "misleading messages" about safe sex.  Graphic photographs of Black and a companion having unprotected sex surfaced on Perez Hilton's website yesterday.  The photos were taken in 2006 before Black became famous for the Harvey Milk biopic Milk.

Black told E Online,

"It is unfortunate that individuals and other outside parties are trying to profit from material which is clearly private. I have had the privilege to speak to people across the country, both gay and straight, on a number of critical issues including safe sex. More important than the embarrassment of this incident is the misleading message these images send. I apologize and cannot emphasize enough the importance of responsible sexual practices."

The photos have not stopped Black from making public appearances.  Tonight, he was honored in LA by LifeWorks, a gay youth mentoring group, and he will be a grand marshall in the New York City Pride March later this month.

But the bigger issue here is that the barebacking trend has become more common in the gay community, and remains a high risk for contracting HIV.  The Center for Disease Control reported a decrease in the rate of HIV diagnoses in men who have sex with men during the 1980's and 90's, but an 8% increase from 2003 to 2004.  By 2006, the rate of HIV/AIDS diagnoses due to male-to-male sexual contact was 67%, and high risk male heterosexual contact was 16%.  Among females, 80% of HIV/AIDS diagnoses were attributable to high risk heterosexual contact.  The total number of AIDS diagnoses between 1981 and 2006 is 982,498, and deaths attributable to HIV/AIDS during that period were 545,805.  The number of people living with AIDS in the US increased from 350,419 in 2002 to 436,693 in 2006.  AIDS is still here, folks.

Barebacking in gay porn has become a hot commodity over the past few years.  Major studios have increased their production of barebacking films, and reissued pre-condom movies from the 1970's and early 80's to stay competitive.  Straight porn always features high-risk, no condom sex.

The AIM Healthcare Foundation works diligently to monitor sex workers for HIV and STD's to prevent infections among porn actors.  The foundation reported this week that a female porn star has tested positive for HIV, the first since 2004.  A transgender performer also tested positive.  Both performers have been banned from appearing in new films.

But the general population is not as diligent as the porn industry in monitoring its HIV and STD status.  Barebacking, whether gay or straight, remains an unsafe practice.  Although barebacking proponents argue that it's the natural way to have sex, it's still extremely risky.

Gay.com asked, "Why are we still barebacking?":

Commenters said people are still barebacking because it's hot, and because it's human nature.  Others say it's more pleasurable and intimate without the latex being involved. One commenter noted that barbacking is popular among younger gays because AIDS is now considered a "liveable disease" and AIDS is a "manageable inconvenience" like the common cold.

It's true that here are now many more medications available to treat HIV/AIDS and prolong life than there were in the past.  However, people living with AIDS still suffer numerous complications, due to the immunosuppresive nature of the disease.  The most common include tuberculosis, herpes, candidiasis, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), salmonellosis, bacillary angiomatosis, hepatitis, human papillomavirus (HPV), cryptosporidiosis, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS), cryptococcal meningitis, toxoplasmosis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and wasting syndrome. These are not mere "manageable inconveniences" like the common cold.

The risk of contracting an STD like chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, genital warts, herpes, and syphilis is much higher with barebacking.  Any of these STD's can also increase your risk of contracting HIV. 

ACT has some helpful information to help you weigh the pros and cons of barebacking.

The bottom line is, barebacking is still a potentially lethal practice.  People are still dying from AIDS.  Yes, AIDS has become a "liveable disease", but the idea that it is merely a "manageable inconvenience" is a myth.  Contracting HIV is life-altering.  Just ask anyone living with it.  Barebacking may be hot and human nature, but until there is a cure, it's best to be smart and practice prevention. 

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