AEGiS-BKREV: (UC) Select Body: The Gay Dance Party Subculture and the HIV/AIDS Pandemic

(UC) Select Body: The Gay Dance Party Subculture and the HIV/AIDS Pandemic

Cassell, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003. 262p., bibliog., index. ISBN 0-304-33510-X, 0-304-33511-8pbk. $65.00, $16.95pbk.
Lynette A. Lewis, Michael W. Ross. 1995.

Alcohol, drugs, and sex are a dangerous mix in any situation whether you are gay or straight, male or female. Research has been difficult in proving that these three situations create a link to becoming HIV positive. "This book is the first in which qualitative methods have been used to study the social and cultural contexts where high risk sexual behaviour and drug or alcohol use intersect among gay men." In studying this concept, the authors have looked at how gay men interact socially, particularly in dance clubs and bars. Young gay men dominate the gay dance club scene. These are some of the most important men that AIDS/HIV education tries to target. They are the men who seem to think that they will live forever but many times let their guard down, resulting in their becoming HIV positive. "To the outsider, the gay dance scene might be most memorable for its collection of hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of strikingly handsome young men." This is the dominant social arena for these men. A question that is raised, "Do dance club participants expect to become old?" Good question and one that this book tries to answer. Hopefully, what is presented will be of help to both the younger gay man and the older gay man. This book explores this dance club phenomena as well as other activities that gay men engage in, including organizations, cliques, and other recreational activities.

The nine very informative and well-written chapters cover: "Overview of the Inner-City Gay Dance Party Culture," "Sex and Drugs: A Review of the Literature," "The Evolution of the Gay Dance Party Culture in Sydney," "The Impact of Political Legitimation and the HIV/AIDS Pandemic," "Drug Use and Sex at Dance Parties," "Sex on Ice," "The Evolution of Ritualized Behaviour and Belief Systems among Gay Dance Party Patrons and Their Relationship to Risky Sexual Behaviour," "Dance Party Argot and Symbols in the Context of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic," and "Conclusions and Suggestions for Future Research and Intervention Programmes." The last chapter makes some statements that may disturb you, resulting in the need for further exploration: "Many of the party patrons intentionally used drugs to transform or control their internal moods...," "Ecstasy retains its popularity among party patrons because it helps them develop an alternative reality where they may feel good, have fun and escape their everyday responsibilities.," "Magical thinking is an important determinant of risky sexual and drug-related behaviour within the dance party milieu.," and "Data indicate that most of the party patrons are gay adolescents or young adults, with the majority in their twenties to early thirties. Some of these party patrons believe their age magically shields them from HIV infection because they came out after the AIDS virus was inherently embedded in the gay subcultural identity."

A very thought provoking book that presents facts that many have observed but not studied in any detail. All young gay men throughout the world should read this book and think how they fit into the total picture. It is truly sad to read obituaries of men who have died of AIDS who fall into this age group. The only way to decrease the number of obituaries is to have much more education directed to this part of our society. A highly recommended book for all libraries and counselors.

Keywords: Social Aspects, Political Aspects, Sexual Aspects, Gays, Risky Sex, Safer Sex

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Copyright © 1996 - The University of Illinois at Chicago. All materials in the journal are subject to copyright by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and may be reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprinting, redistribution, or translation, address requests to H. Robert Malinowsky, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, PO Box 8198, Chicago, IL 60680 or electronically to hrm@uic.edu.

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