The case of "riding bareback" : sexual practices and the paradoxes of identity in the era of Aids

G. Yep, K. Lovaas, A. Pagonis

Barebacking, the deliberate practice of unprotected anal intercourse, is a new reality for many gay men. How does bareback sex create, maintain, and challenge personal and collective gay identities? Drawing from the works of Foucault, Weeks, Epstein, and popular gay literature, this essay explores these intersections and conflicts. Specifically, we examine the nature of identity and the conflicts and divisions in gay communities, analyze the barebacking phenomenon and its inter-connection with the paradoxes of identity, and conclude by discussing the implications for HIV-AIDS education, suggestions for future research, and ways of engaging in community dialogue.[Copies are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Center. The Haworth Press, Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580, USA]