Sexuality is not BLACK-AND-WHITE ...nor is HIV/AIDS risk

Greater support for bisexual men in general is vital to decreasing the secrecy involved in many bisexual men's sexual encounters, as well as its potential health risks.

"Bisexual men have long been the object of scorn from both heterosexual and homosexual individuals and communities," said Brian Dodge, associate director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University Bloomington. "Until we begin to accept that individuals are not 'black-and-white' in terms of their sexual orientations and behaviors, the myths and stereotypes surrounding male bisexuality will continue to flourish."

Dodge and his research colleagues recommend that HIV prevention efforts should begin to broadly educate both women and men on HIV acquisition from male partners, any of whom could be bisexually active, rather than placing the burden of protection upon bisexual men alone. Dodge also says that evidence of bisexual men's female and gay male partners expressing intolerance toward bisexuality clearly warrants broader social and structural interventions with women and gay men, with the aim of increasing awareness and acceptance of bisexuality, if disclosure is to become an expectation among bisexual men.

"Prevention is still the best medicine we have for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections," Dodge said. "But as long as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health entities continue to polarize HIV transmission in the mutually exclusive categories of 'men who have sex with men' (MSM) and 'heterosexual,' without specifically looking at the intersection of these groups, we will continue to live in the dark in terms of understanding the sexual behaviors and potential risks of bisexual men."

* Background: Most male-focused HIV/AIDS research and interventions have concentrated on "gay men" or "MSM." Limited studies on bisexual men have highlighted unique HIV risk factors and prevention needs. Findings have shown that the specific factors involved in the sexual risk behaviors of bisexual men have been inadequately addressed in previous MSM-targeted interventions, most notably prevention skills with female partners. Recent research suggests that black bisexual men, in particular, are at relatively high risk for HIV transmission when compared to other risk groups. In the mass media, these so-called "men on the Down Low" have been the subject of intense public scrutiny and stigmatization. However, little to no scientific information is available with which to temper popular images and stereotypes of these men.

During the past five years, Dodge and colleagues at Columbia University and the University of Florida have conducted research in New York City focusing specifically on black and Latino bisexual men.

"Contrary to popular depictions, these men do not appear to live in a vacuum in terms of knowledge and awareness of the potential risks associated with their sexual behaviors. Rather, they exist within a society which is, on the whole, extremely ignorant and intolerant of their bisexual attractions, desires, and behaviors - so secrecy and risk should really come as no surprise," Dodge said.