Are you concerned about the increase of barebacking in gay porn?

Maybe someone with a bit more knowledge can put me straight on this, but what's stopping companies from removing the condoms digitally in post production? I know we're not talking big budget productions here so funds may be limited, but to me it sounds like the best trade off between performer safety and customer demand. Could you even pull a bait and switch (bill it as one thing when it's really digitally altered) without getting sued into the poor house?

 

I don't, because I am not the one taking the risk. I'm only bothered if I'm at risk of getting a disease (or someone I care about), but if other people want to take the chance, then that is their call and not mine - it's their health, and they are fully aware of the risks involved. If someone gets involved in the porn industry and has unprotected sex with multiple people, and they contract HIV, then that is their fault for willingly taking that risk. This isn't to imply that they deserve it - but if I'm watching porn, it isn't on my conscience, and I'm not stupid enough to do what they're doing.

It's hard to explain the attraction to barebacking - but it's definitely a turn on for me, and if there was no risk of disease, then it's something I would do (but that speaks for itself, since condoms exist for that very reason - to prevent the spread of diseases). I don't bother watching professional porn in any case though.

 

I agree with the call for better sex education. I disagree with placing so much blame on the porn industry though. Yes, there is a lot of bareback porn available because it's "trendy" and in high demand, but there is plenty of safe porn out there too. And interracial porn. Orgy porn. Fetish porn. My point is that people look for and watch the porn that they find most appealing among all the different types of porn; so by nature, porn-watching practices won't necessarily be exposing viewers to relevant sex.

What do I mean by "relevent sex"? Well for example, my sister (a lesbian) says she only watches and is most arroused by gay man-on-man porn, and I'm told this is quite common. Safe sex for gay men isn't quite the same as for lesbian women. That's what I mean by relevant sex.

So I don't think we should be placing this pressure on porn studios to be emphasizing safety when their very industry revolves around entertainment and fantasy. And besides, even if that start making more safe porn, that doesn't mean people are going to watch it.

And furthermore, I kind of feel like saying gay teens bareback because they saw it done in the porn the watch is akin to blaming violence on violent games and movies. How can you say kids should know not to emulate that guy beating up hookers and stealing cars on Grand Theft Auto but can't be blamed for not wearing condoms if condoms aren't used in the porn they watch? Anyone looking to glean valuable health tips from sources of entertainment should be educated in the proper applications for these forms of entertainment.

And that brings me back to my original point: Better education. Condom use isn't the responsibility of the companies getting rich off making videos people want to masturbate to. I think better sex education would also be the chance to clarify to youth that porn is, indeed, a fantasy and frequently portray dangerous sex practices for the purpose of erotic entertainment only and is not meant to be a guide.

I agree that condoms should pretty much always be worn. I say "pretty much" because although I advocate using condoms, my boyfriend and I no longer use them. But we have been monogamous for the past year we've been together, trust each other, are well aware of the risk, and we both get tested quite frequently. And our reason for discontinuing use was because we seemed to run out of condoms ALL THE TIME. We have a very healthy, active sex life and would sometimes use 4 condoms in a single session. So we eventually came to the mean decision not to use them.

And before I get a lecture, please understand that my boyfriend and I are both educated, consenting adults. We have a very trusting relationship and make healthy choices, including getting tasted regularly. Otherwise, we both normally advocate the use of condoms quite strongly.

 

Yes, I am. People need to play it safe!

 

Bareback sex as condom sex is a personal choice. I started having bb sex when I was a freshman jock in high school. It was at that time when guys started making fun of me because I was endowed rather largely and they generally weren't! I remember guys telling me not to put a condom on when we were going to have anal sex. They said they wanted to feel my bare penis inside them. It took me a while to be comfortable with this but eventually it became very normal and to this day I generally only have bb sex!

 

I don't think it's the porn industry's job to teach kids safe sex. I'm definitely not advocating for it though, but I think it's common knowledge that you use condoms while you have sex.

If this sounds ignorant or offends you, then I'm sorry.

 

I worked in AIDs hospice back in the 80's and held the hand of many dying men and even women as I listened to them express their regret, remorse, grief around having made some of the choices they did that might have contributed to or resulted in them having acquired HIV. The only difference is that early on into the epidemic the people we were seeing die many of them, unlike you contracted it before anyone was yet aware HIV was out there.

Herpes was out there and incurable but it didn't kill. Hepatitis B was a serious concern however even though some people who contract it do die, usually it is only a very small percentage. Most of the other sexually transmitted diseases were easily treated,curable with antibiotics. It wasn't until great numbers of men started dying of AIDs that for the first time we were dealing in modern times with an STD that more often than not killed and it was killing in droves.

The HIV+ men and women I was worked with back in the 80's for them this information came too late. Unlike you they didn't know the risk that was out there. You do. You don't have to become infected. You don't have to contract something that will kill you unless you stay dependent on medication for the rest of your life. You don't have to have poor health or experience any of the terrible side effects many of the meds used to to treat those with HIV cause. What's more if you are responsible then you're never going to have to live with the guilt of possibly having a hand in playing a part in giving someone something that could ultimately make them them dependent on drugs for the rest of their life or leave them ill or possibly even kill them.

Even though things have changed a great deal and being HIV+ is no longer the death sentence it used to be that is assuming the medications work for you, that is assuming you always have access to them and even if you are able to take them and find them effective that doesn't mean it is a picnic. These meds are not at all pleasant or without unwanted side effects. What's more people need to start thinking beyond HIV.

The truth of the matter is we never know if or when another virus just as bad or even worse than HIV in any of the forms we know about might rear its head. It happened before and it can happen again and for all we know it could be happening right now even as we speak and the only reason no one knows, we haven't heard anything about it, is because no one has gotten sick enough in great enough numbers - yet.

Also when meds fail as they sometimes do for some people who are HIV+ the result can be full blown AIDS. In the past we treated a lot of those with full blown AIDS with antibiotics, but now with the increase in the rise of antibiotic resistant conditions, it frightens me to the core to think what would happen if another virus came along as bad or even worse than HIV that weakens the immune system with all these super bugs now floating around.

The point is now that we know what we do there is no excuse not to protect ourselves. It would just be crazy to assume it could never happen again or to think that if it did next time things might not be just as bad or wouldn't get worse. The one thing we can't change is if or when nature will kick out the next new deadly virus that can be acquired through the exchange of bodily fluids. What we do have control over is if it happens is not giving it access by taking precautionary measures, the number one being use of condoms and other barriers that prevent the transmission of bodily fluids.

Don't short change yourself. Protect your health. While you still have good health to protect.

 

Of course it influences young people not to use condoms. And it also strengthens the already prevailing belief (and practice) that being gay means nothing but fucking like rabbits with anyone and everyone.
They should be obligated to ue codoms, but they won't. Corrupting minds is a great business.

 

I don't think it's the porn business' responsibility. If bareback porn is what sells, then who could blame them for making it? The porn industry and porn models' job is not to educate people; it's to entertain people and satisfy their needs.

Does it influences lgbt youth? Yes, probably. But I don't think that's a good reason to change what they're doing. The problem is the fact young lgbt think what they see is normal, not the barebacking in porn itself. Therefore the solution is to make sure viewers know what they see is not reality; not banning barebacking altogether.

Personally I definitely see the appeal of barebacking. I find it to be the most exciting kind of porn there is. However, I also know porn is just that: porn. I've barebacked in a long term relationship, but would never outside of a relationship.
(With guys, that is.)