Not All Men, Situations, and Actions Are Equal: Moving from 100% Protection to a More Realistic Prevention Practice

Abstract

Since 1985, annual surveys conducted in the French gay press show that gay men in France have made considerable changes in their sexual behavior due to the AIDS epidemic. However, risky behavior still occurs. In this article, some ideas which have been assumed concerning residual risk among gay men are tested. The research questions were: (1) Should all unprotected acts of anal intercourse be considered risky? (2) Has a phenomenon of relapse really occurred among gay men in France? and, (3) Are risks only limited to men who are on the margin of the gay community? Before answering these questions, major landmarks in HIV prevention for gay men in France are reviewed. Then, on the basis of the results of the 1995 Gay Press Survey, subjects’ perception of the degree to which they are socially accepted, and the diversity of homosexual lifestyles are presented. Finally, we describe how respondents have adjusted to HIV-risk at a time when there has been much talk about the re-emergence of risky behaviors and a resurgence of the AIDS epidemic among homosexual men. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Seivice: 1-800-342-9678, E-mail address: getinfo@hawortlipressinc.com ]