Men Behaving Badly

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Men Behaving Badly

Advocate (07/08/97) No. 737, P. 26
Heitz, David

Abstract: Although parties featuring drug use and reckless unprotected sex were not uncommon in the gay community in the 1970s and early 1980s, the spread of HIV changed things. Now, over a decade after the United States became aware of HIV and AIDS on a grand scale, many gay men are reverting to risky behavior. Some people blame the increased effectiveness of new drug therapies, but others link such behavior to self-esteem issues that gay men face in their everyday lives. Psychologist Larry Harmon notes that gay men have been systematically rejected by other men and turn to hedonistic behavior such as drug use and unprotected sex to escape the pressures of being a gay man in today's society. So-called circuit parties may be the most obvious gatherings where this type of risky behavior goes on. The parties usually feature dancing to pounding techno music; drugs like cocaine, ecstasy, and crystal methamphetamines; and sexual contact. However, party promoter Jeffrey Sanker, who offers safer sex seminars and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at his parties, also notes the high prevalence of drug use at straight "raves" as well.

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