Bug Chasers: HIV Russian Roulette Bareback Parties Offer the Gift that Keeps on Killing By Michael James don’t care because they have a lot more become common practice within A small portion of gay men known as bug treatment options today. There are so many his circle of friends, he doesn’t chasers, which encompasses the practice of combinations that people know that they will know of anyone that fits the barebacking, is generating alarm within medical be okay.” definition of a bug chaser. and mental health circles across the country Brown and other health professionals feel However, he says that those he and locally. However, those engaging in such that people’s belief that HIV has become a has bareback sex with are both sexual activities feel it is becoming a common treatable disease is leading more HIV positive positive and negative. practice. gay men into bareback sex. While such activities only Barebacking, by definition, is engaging He says that such behavior could be partly involve a small minority of the in anal sexual activity without a condom. accredited to what he calls safe sex fatigue. gay population, experts stress Bugchasing is practiced by those who actually “For decades we have been exposed to that it should be a great concern want to become infected with the HIV virus. everything we shouldn’t be doing. People are for the gay community as a Denver Office worker ‘Chad’, spoke to getting tired of hearing the same message.” whole. Chad says that The Express about his experiences in the world There are other men who engage in barebacking “is becoming Local clinical therapist Wayne Brown of barebacking. HIV-positive for ten years, he bareback conversion parties, whereas several institutionalized.” has been having bareback sex exclusively for men will engage in unprotected sex without Now, barebackers have their own place in drugs can cause impotence.” the past year. ever knowing which of them is actually HIV cyberspace with the website, bareback.com. Chad, however, feels that even those “Death doesn’t frighten me at all,” he positive. Within such circles are the The site has a live chat area, photos and profiles using party drugs are aware of what they are says. “Life is more frightening than death.” bugchasers. of barebackers across the country ranging in doing. “Anytime you use drugs and mix them When asked why he started having Brown says he has spoken to bug chasers age from 18 to 80. A general search of people with alcohol and other drugs you are totally unprotected sex, he said, “I always wanted to who participate in conversion parties. During with South Florida zip codes returns hundreds ready [for sex],” he says. do it but was afraid to. It was the forbidden the parties, it is understood that no one of active members within a 30-mile radius. Both agreed that mixing certain drugs with fruit—forbidden pleasure—of gay sex. Gay mentions AIDS or HIV, although everyone is Brown feels that such websites are alcohol or with other drugs can be dangerous men are now crossing that line.” aware that some participants are negative and glamorizing unsafe sex. “It should be noted and lethal. Local clinical therapist Wayne Brown says others are positive. that such individuals make up a small minority “But, people aren’t waking up and crying he has had several clients over the past three The men then engage in as many sexual of the gay population and is part of a gay over what they did the night before,” Chad years who have discussed barebacking, activities with each other as possible, thus subculture,” he says. says. “They’re aware of what they’re doing, bugchasing and other aspects of such activity. increasing their chances of contracting ‘the He also stated that young gay men who even if they seem incoherent.” “We live in a body worshipping culture,” bug’ (HIV). use such drugs a crystal methamphetamine, “A large part of the problem is that Brown says. “Some people may have low self- At conversion parties, those who are HIV ecstasy and GHB will engage in such activities younger people have not experienced firsthand esteem issues with the way they look and that positive are referred to as gift-givers and those with little inhibition. Their enthusiastic the death that surrounded AIDS in the feeds into why they are willing to take these wanting to contract the virus are known as participation is credited to the fact that such beginning of the epidemic,” Brown says. types of risks.” bug chasers or gift-takers. drugs can greatly impair their judgment. Also Experts agree that most people don’t seek The gay community in general has Although Chad is unaware of such parties present in the party drug scene and amongst mental health therapy and that the relatively acknowledged the threat of HIV infection for in his area, he agrees with Brown’s safe-sex barebackers is Viagra. few individuals who are speaking to them decades. It is due to this that condom use has, fatigue concept. “There is only so much you “I’m now seeing an incredible rise in Viagra about bug chasing and barebacking could for the most part, been an accepted practice can take,” he says. “After so long, you just use as a party drug in those in their late teens represent a much larger portion than believed. among gay men engaging in anal intercourse. don’t care anymore.” and early twenties,” Brown says. “It is used in Brown says, “This could just be the tip of the However, Brown says that some clients Although Chad says barebacking has combination because long term use of party iceberg.” feel that they can do away with condoms once they have tested positive. Others say that Like Mother, Like Daughter since they are positive, they can legally acquire steroids from their doctors to enhance their Local Author to Hold Workshop With Lesbian Mother bodies to fit into the body-worshipping mold. By Logan Stone life transformation coach and author of: Brown says he attempts to educate those Joyce Moskowitz, an author and spiritual Hooked On Feeling Bad: 3 Steps To Living who believe that condoms are no longer teacher living in Davie, will be holding a special the Life You Love. needed about re-infection, which is when an workshop with her mother on January 27 titled Her mother, Arleen Bandler, is a lesbian lesbian parents of all ages to share their stories, HIV positive person becomes infected with a A Lesbian Mother and Her Daughter Speak and certified psychotherapist and experiences and feelings about their family and new, different or drug-resistant strain of HIV. It About Coming Out. psychoanalyst from New York City. The their lives. The information from the interviews is believed that re-infection can complicate or The workshop, which will be held at Fort workshop will offer insight into their mother will be kept confidential, and all names will be limit treatment options. Lauderdale’s Sunshine Cathedral from 1:00 pm daughter relationship and the particular joys changed for book publication. However, Brown concedes that there is to 3:00 pm, is billed as “a powerful, healing, and sorrows often associated with being the “The diversity of the stories, all connected limited research on the theory of re-infection loving and life affirming afternoon as mother child of a gay parent. by the same thread of a child loving their and no definitive evidence is currently and daughter share their story, hope, insight Moskowitz is also seeking participants parent, regardless of sexual preference, is available. and guidance about coming out and accepting to be interviewed for a book she is currently woven into the book. It is an important Over the past 10 years, Chad says he has who we truly are.” writing on celebrating the loving bond between message for some to share and many to read,” only been on two drug combinations and says Moskowitz currently facilitates a support gay and lesbian parents and their children. It says Moskowitz. his doctors have now directed him to group for children of gay and lesbian families will bring to light stories on these families and For more information on the completely stop all of his medications. “In my at the Sunshine Cathedral, which is located at how children and their parents have faced and workshop or the book, contact Joyce experience, more people have died from 1480 SW 9th Avenue, on the first Sunday of overcome challenges along the way. Moskowitz at 954.424.7994, or visit medication than from HIV,” he says. “People each month. She is a prominent hypnotherapist, Moskowitz is seeking children of gay and www.joycemoskowitz.com.

www.ExpressGayNews.com • January 14th, 2002 9