Sunday, March 8, 2009

"Kinkiness," HIV, and Gays

I was with my supposedly gay-friendly relatives the other day, and they seemed to be of the impression that gay men were much kinkier, "dirtier," in their sexual habits than straight people, and even implied that's why many gays had HIV. What is the truth about this? Angry in Albany.

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that gay men or lesbians are any kinkier or "dirtier"than heterosexuals. Any studies that suggest so are probably put together by homophobic Focus on the Family-type groups. Believe me, all of the sexual practices that some people might consider "edgier" -- water sports, rimming, anal intercourse, sadomasochism, and so on -- are practiced by heterosexuals as well as homosexuals. Besides, HIV can be spread by such "vanilla" [non-kinky or average] activities as "normal" heterosexual penetration. Tell your relatives that the heterosexual community, like the homosexual community, is quite diverse, and just because they don't practice the kinkier sexual stuff doesn't mean that's true of their straight friends or other straight people. Suggesting that the sexual habits of gay men are responsible for AIDS, for instance, is blatant homophobia.

Sadly, even in this day and age there are people (gay and straight, gay-friendly or not) who still see homosexuals as "abnormal" and kinky. [Not that there's anything wrong in being kinky!]

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