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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 2003)
f January 3.2003 » J u t aa*|21 seven guys in long-term relationships who stick up strangers at the same time. But whether young, old, poz, neg, top or bot tom—everyone could recite the prevention pitch: Fucking without a condom can make a guy sick. County, one driven exclusively by unprotected sex. After having remained fairly steady and near the national average during It’s orgy-mania. It’s a chance to experience the baths of the '70s now. No the past few years, the 22 local syphilis questions of condoms or are you safe. Everyone’s pre-screened by pic and cases since last July already have sur referred by someone the host knows. I just bring my butt, my mouth, my dick passed the total for the previous 12 and my drug of choice. months. Incidents of syphilis among At the door, I’m met by a guy who requests that I take off all of my clothes, ...you can get screwed . men who have sex with men have except my outfit. Sometimes, that’s leather chaps, harness o r just a jock. nearly doubled, accounting for half of The party’s already going in several rooms. Pumpin’ music, videos, to w el- # ou’re right—harehacking isn’t anything the total. and-grease stations, drug-and-alcohol stations. The basement’s dark, but I I new. But its frequency “Syphilis rates are a predic make out slings, rack and piss tub. dropped significantly during tor of HIV rates," Everyone appears healthy, and I’d guess many are well educated, too. hard-hitting safe-sex cam Lentell warns. Sy “People think that Naked, though, who knows who’s got money, but the parking lot has both paigns of the 1980s and philis sores open expensive cars and pieces of junk. ’90s. HIV and STD HIV today is different the dixir for HIV, Sixty guys show up over 10 hours. Many are repeaters, but it’s not some rates likewise fell. and sexual than it 20 years ago, small circle of friends, either. Maybe one out of five is a first-tim er. Ask health officials behavior associ- Several are from Seattle. Some from other states. Some might be lovers off and it’s n o t If anything, about the country’s ated with ac the leash for the night. sex life lately, and quiring syphilis it’s stronger.” Most guys flip. It’s tough to limit myself when so many are the trashy type I they’ll tell you they’re also is ass(x:iated — Philip Knowlton like to top, and so many are the hunky type I need to top me. worried that queer boys with acquiring It’s taken for granted that all are poz. As for STDs, who the fuck cares? I’m are slipping into the same HIV—namely anony risky behaviors embraced by the mous partners from clubs, there for nasty monkey sex. If you need a condom, you shouldn’t be there. stallions surveyed above. Not just because bathhouses, adult bookstores and There are a lot of reasons not to bareback, so most guys don’t. In my case, harebackers tell them so, hut because they see harehacking parties. I’m simply immersing myself In the decadence that I’ve denied myself for it clearly reflected in stats that track what “One of the guys who was diagnosed many years. If you don’t want to participate, don’t. But leave me the fuck happens after a guy’s dick and ass go south. syphilis-positive was also alone about my choice of entertainm ent between informed, consenting, “You couldn’t HIV-positive. He had adult men. have a more dan been to a bareback party gerous behavior,” and had sex with upward —MajorOne explains Philip of 20 men when he was p-;: Knowlton, coor infected with syphilis dinator of the hut didn’t know it,” wt&m. Men’s Prevention Knowlton explains. “Any of these 20 men could be infected with syphilis Everyone’s got their reasons, hut health care and Wellness now and could be spreading it. workers bitch about three primary problems: Program at Cas It’s a chain reaction.” Mistaken miracle meds. Today’s drug reg cade AIDS Proj imens are a double-edged sword. No doubt, they «C ect. “All across extend the quality and quantity of life for many : m Assume the position, with HIV. But they also give the mistaken the country, we’re seeing HIV and assume the risk impression that STDs are easily managed and mm rectal gonorrhea less than life-threatening. ■ m. rates skyrocket, “Images of HIV-positive people living life and those are f leaving the latex at home is caus and climbing mountains look great in ads, C0IÆ)0M, direct indicators ing a fuckin’ near-epidemic, why but when you sit in our client room, you of unprotected are guys barebacking more know that is not the truth. HIV is a debili vo : anal sex.” than before? tating disease that has horrible side effects. The same shit You don’t just pop a pill and he off to your is happening here next circuit party,” Knowlton in Portland. says. The rate of Five harebackers I spoke positive HIV test results is up about with believe today’s meds 10 percent in Multnomah County, make STDs no big deal. even though the number of tests Maybe coincidence, but all of performed has fallen during the them were younger than 40, past three years. and four were HIV-negative. “Most people are not getting “N othing has made tested, and so they don’t know having sex without con their status. They may say that doms safer in 2002 than it they’re negative, hut maybe they was in 1982,” Knowlton ***** * M if haven’t been tested in four years offers. “There are med '*'**»*»■?»% tm<m\ and they’ve had all sorts of risky ications out there, hut ff P*CKAGF encounters,” Knowlton says. you run the risk of be “But because they don’t have coming infected with a any symptoms or signs, they super drug-resistant G etting results ixwhat w just assume.” virus, and then you’re f a - i f e - Even more dramatic screwed from the changes can he seen among get-go.” S T b screening am other sexually transmitted And just because diseases. you’re HIV-positive “After 15 years of steadi doesn’t mean you’re ly decreasing rates of STDs, off the hook. Case gonorrhea and chlamydia in point: Last Sep began increasing in 1998," tember researchers explains Margaret Lcntell, documented a 38- STD program manager for year-old man who Multnomah County. She acquired a second says that from 1997 to strain of HIV 2001, chlamydia rates through un increased 21 percent and protected sex gonorrhea jumped 47 more than two percent. years after he first was infected. So not only Now, all eyes are on a potential re-emergence of syphilis in Multnomah Continued on Page 22 What’s a bareback party like? was » V FUS EGO IS 700 BIG TO WEAR A w . THE REST OF HIM WONT BE! I «our health... D o n 't forget about your se «V testing with,or wit
