Understanding Gay Community Subcultures: Implications for HIV Prevention

Garrett Prestage; Graham Brown; John De Wit; Benjamin Bavinton; Christopher Fairley; Bruce Maycock; Colin Batrouney; Phillip Keen; Ian Down; Mohamed Hammoud; Iryna Zablotska

doi:10.1007/s10461-015-1027-9

Understanding Gay Community Subcultures: Implications for HIV Prevention

AIDS Behav. 2015 Dec;19(12):2224-33. doi: 10.1007/s10461-015-1027-9.

Authors

Garrett Prestage^{1

2}, Graham Brown^{3

4}, John De Wit⁵, Benjamin Bavinton⁶, Christopher Fairley⁷, Bruce Maycock⁸, Colin Batrouney⁹, Phillip Keen¹⁰, Ian Down¹¹, Mohamed Hammoud¹², Iryna Zablotska¹³

Affiliations

¹ Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia. gprestage@kirby.unsw.edu.au.
² Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne, 3000, Australia. gprestage@kirby.unsw.edu.au.
³ Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne, 3000, Australia. graham.brown@latrobe.edu.au.
⁴ Western Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. graham.brown@latrobe.edu.au.
⁵ Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia. j.dewit@unsw.edu.au.
⁶ Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia. bbavinton@kirby.unsw.edu.au.
⁷ University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. CFairley@mshc.org.au.
⁸ Western Australian Centre for Health Promotion Research, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. B.Maycock@curtin.edu.au.
⁹ Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men's Health Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Colin.Batrouney@vac.org.au.
¹⁰ Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia. pkeen@kirby.unsw.edu.au.
¹¹ Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia. idown@kirby.unsw.edu.au.
¹² Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia. mhammoud@kirby.unsw.edu.au.
¹³ Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, 2052, Australia. izablotska@kirby.unsw.edu.au.

PMID: 25711301
DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1027-9

Abstract

Gay and bisexual men (GBM) who participate in gay community subcultures have different profiles, including differing risk behaviors. We examined men's participation in gay community subcultures, and its association with risk behavior. In a cross-sectional survey, 849 GBM provided information about men in their personal networks. We devised measures of their participation in five subcultural groupings and explored their associations with sexual behavior. We identified five subcultural groupings: sexually adventurous; bear tribes; alternative queer; party scene; and sexually conservative. Higher scores on the sexually adventurous measure was associated with being older, having more gay friends, being HIV-positive, and being more sexually active. It was also independently associated with unprotected anal intercourse with casual partners (AOR 1.82; 95 % CI 1.20-2.76; p = 0.005). HIV prevention strategies need to account for the different subcultural groupings in which GBM participate. Measures of engagement with gay subcultures are useful indicators of differential rates of risk behavior and modes of participation in gay community life. Men in more sexually adventurous subcultures are more likely to engage in sexual risk behavior.

Keywords: Gay community; Gay men; Gay subcultures; HIV; Men who have sex with men; Networks; Risk behavior; Sexual adventurism; Sexual behavior; Sexuality; Unprotected anal intercourse.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
HIV Infections / prevention & control*
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Homosexuality, Male*
Humans
Male
Risk-Taking*
Sexual Behavior*
Sexual Partners*
Sexual and Gender Minorities
Young Adult