The New Zealand AIDS Foundation is launching a new resource to stop the 'bullshit'... the frequently spurious reasons men put forward for why they think it's OK to have sex without a condom. It's challenging men to become "bullfighters". Some of the things the Foundation knows men say as an excuse for why they don't want to use a condom with a sexual partner include: “You're my first” “You're the only one I do this with” “But we love each other – don't you trust me?” "You can't get HIV if you're the top." “It doesn't feel as good.” “He's too gorgeous to have HIV.” “I have a low viral load.” The Foundation is saying: “Frankly, it's ‘bullshit'. None of the above excuses, or the many like them, will take unprotected anal sex between men out of the high-risk zone for contracting or passing on HIV. And, at a time when new HIV infections in New Zealand are at record levels, anything that weakens men's resolve to have safe sex is dangerous.” Says New Zealand AIDS Foundation Health Promotion Coordinator Douglas Jenkin: “It's time for gay, bisexual and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) to become bullfighters. Men need to learn to be assertive by tackling these bullshit messages head on in order to ensure that they get the safe sex they want.” The NZAF will launch this week a “Bullfighter” campaign, featuring a sexy matador whose words of wisdom will help men stick to their intention of safe sex regardless of whatever peer pressure is placed on them. “The HIV epidemic is in a continued state of change and development,” Jenkin says, “and so is the community response to HIV. Men seem to be communicating less about HIV, and support for being safe has definitely decreased. Universal safe sex is no longer the only norm. “In this climate, someone whose basic intention is to be safe and avoid HIV infection, might find their resolution threatened by some of the bullshit reasons men put forward to excuse sex without a condom. Men who are new to gay sex, or men who have many sexual partners, may be especially vulnerable.” The new Bullfighter campaign, including posters, banners and a booklet, urges MSM to toughen up – to become a “bullfighter” – and talks of ways to communicate verbally and/or non-verbally that anal sex without a condom is just not on. Bullfighter information will be available at gay venues, events such as Big Gay Out and Gorgeous and can be ordered on line at www.nzaf.org.nz. NZ AIDS Foundation - 10th February 2005
Credit: NZ AIDS Foundation
First published: Thursday, 10th February 2005 - 12:00pm