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Surfin’ it Safe…

July 19, 2011 by Tom Thayer in Community with 0 Comments

This is a reminder, this post contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences.  Since HIV infection is spread primarily through sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics.  If you are not seeking such information or may be offended by such material, please exit this page.

My name is Robert.  I’m 24, gay, kind of quiet and shy.  It would be nice to meet someone and have a relationship, not just a one night stand.  It’s just not that easy to meet gay men my age here in the Shenandoah Valley.  I seem to have better luck hooking up with men online, especially on a website called Manhunt.  The problem is that they are mostly older men not interested in a real relationship and some of them are even married and pick up guys on the side.  Not really what I’m looking for but what else can I do?

The last time I hooked up was a really bad experience.  I found out right away that the guy I was with was all about him getting off and not me.  I had condoms, but before I could get them out, he rolled me over and forced me to have have anal sex.  It happened fast and I was afraid to stop him.  I was really worried about getting HIV or an STD, especially after I learned there is more risk of getting an infection when you’re a bottom.  I knew the only way to find out if I had HIV was to get tested so I went to AIDS Response Effort in Winchester and found out they have free HIV testing.

I also started thinking about what I could do differently so I wouldn’t be taken advantage of again.  The next time I met someone online I told him from the beginning that I want to use condoms.  You know what?  It wasn’t that hard to do and it made me feel like I had more control over what happens to me.  I know I don’t want to get HIV or an STD, and if something as simple as using a condom can protect me I know I can do it.

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