Bareback Sex - Is there really any difference here?

[Dzinerbear]

From time to time we become embroiled in a bareback sex debate, and the teams pile up on both sides of the debate.

I was just looking at one of the big gay porn glossy magazines. Lots of pictures of hard condomless cocks pushed up against butt holes. And then further into the shoot we are treated to the simulated fuck scenes -- one guy on top of the other in a fucking position. We don't actually see any cocks in holes, but we actually never see a condom on a cock either, not even a condom wrapper on the bed beside the couple.

So, is it bareback sex only if you're actually seeing a bare cock in a butt hole? And if you're implying bareback sex, or at least not confirming the models are engaging in condomed-sex, isn't that sending out an irresponsible message, too? I could pretty much guarantee if we took the exact same shoot in that magazine (picture for picture) and just renamed it "Bareback Afternoon Fuck," there would be an outcry. Seems a bit hypocritical to me.

Michael

[maxpower]

If you ask me condoms leave a Safe, and Impersonally message, that could be good I guess. But I do not work for the department of disease control, while in real life I would suggest everyone use one, I am creating porn here. Dangerous hard-core sexy porn. I know I am going to catch hell for this, but I even removed a condom from the graphics of my new site because it does not send the message I wanted. What I am doing is fantasy, just like on TV not everyone has condom on all the time, my site will not be a episode of seventh heaven or anything.

[gaybucks_chip]

My own issue with bareback has been primarily with safety of the models. Since there's no way to know that a person isn't in the latency period, there's no way to ensure that a model won't get infected from another model, even if both test clean.

I have some concern about the message it sends, but I think that can be mitigated with appropriate messages/education placed elsewhere within the video.

[Matt 26z]

I've always wondered what the anti-bareback porn crowd would think about an invisible condom that couldn't be seen on video.

[maxpower]

I've always wondered what the anti-bareback porn crowd would think about an invisible condom that couldn't be seen on video.

Is their a invisible condom that will not show up on film?

[abostonboy]

I was working on a bareback project two years ago. I said no after thinking and planning like you are now. It was just against my gut feel. Do I need to stoop to this level?

I have the same concerns as boyfunk.

And to be perfectly honest, there really are better ways to make money.

Take the high ground. That's my opinion.

I mean there are many responsoble organizations that spend money eduacting about the risks of babeback sex. They are good guys. And I support their efforts as the hiv issue is scary now that many feel th edrugs can control it to a manageable level. Why Compete against the time, effort, and dedication these companies are doing to help keep the gay community safe when you can make the same amount of money elsewhere.

It's like going to a club and getting free condom and lube then on the way out getting a flier for a hot bareback sex site.

AND FOR GOD'S SAKE DON"T FILM YOUR OWN BB CONTENT. It's just too risky and the time frame that different people start showing hiv is just not concrete enough to risk models. thats not even taking into account that if someone can forge an id they can forge an hiv tests result.

[abostonboy]

Is their a invisible condom that will not show up on film?

Even if there is it that something you want to do?

[maxpower]

Even if there is it that something you want to do?

I do not make my own stuff, so will have to cross that bridge yet, but I don’t really know maybe. It would be nice, make sure the guys are a safe as possible, everything does not have to be a commercial for safe sex, what about if you are with someone for a long time you do not use a condom then, or what if its both guys first time you would not need it then either.

[D-Rock]

On the Bareback thing:

Porn is a fantasy not reality. Condoms are a reality, and no one wants to have that harsh reality interrupt their sexual fantasies, staring them right in the face when they are trying to imagine fucking or being fucked with out a condom. We all know it feels better with out one, and we all know the ramifications if we don’t wear one. Basically we are adults, porn is for adults, adults that know the circumstances of safe sex. If some studios try to relay this image of ‘no condoms’ with the bareback fuck pose than so be it. They are trying to appeal to a group of people. Just like any other niche; bi, interracial, S&M, fisting, barely legal etc. And for the models that willingly don’t use condoms when making films - The reality is it's their own damn fault if they catch some STI.

It's all under the big umbrella of Pornography.

[Billaboy]

"We all know it feels better with out one, and we all know the ramifications if we don’t wear one. [...] Basically we are adults, porn is for adults, adults that know the circumstances of safe sex."

What makes you think that "we all know the ramifications if we don't wear one?". You would be amazed at how many people do not know them. Not everyone receives the same education and not everyone knows the true ramifications.

Why do you think sensibilization/awareness efforts are being increased, not decreased? It has been shown that of those who bareback intentionnaly, many have a distorted view of what the real risks are. Few people even know what is the latency period and what it means.

I hope I did not sound confrontational, because it's not my intention! It's just that you used absolutes such as "we all" and "everyone" and "adults that know"...

[jIgG]

and the models fucking bare are just a fantasy too

[Kewlaidkiddd]

I stick with the group of leaving the choice to the models and the fact that it is a fantasy group. The models know good and well before they enter into the situation that there are risks... and its their choice to refuse or accept the risk. I'm still baffled a lot of times that there is still much debate to this in the gay porn world whereas it is second nature to not even deal with condoms in the straight porn world. There are risks in each side of the industry and its up to the model to accept or deny those risks.

[TheLegacy]

Bareback Sex - Is there really any difference here?

yes - about 60$ and a better hotel room

[D-Rock]

"We all know it feels better with out one, and we all know the ramifications if we don’t wear one. [...] Basically we are adults, porn is for adults, adults that know the circumstances of safe sex."

What makes you think that "we all know the ramifications if we don't wear one?". You would be amazed at how many people do not know them. Not everyone receives the same education and not everyone knows the true ramifications.

Why do you think sensibilization/awareness efforts are being increased, not decreased? It has been shown that of those who bareback intentionnaly, many have a distorted view of what the real risks are. Few people even know what is the latency period and what it means.

In my life I've never met someone who did not know what a condom was or what would happen if they didn't use one. If you're old enough to legally be viewing porn, then you should have a pretty damn good idea what a condom can do for you.

And where is it "shown" that these barebackers have a distorted view of the risks of unprotected sex? Maybe thier distorted view is caused by something other than poor education; dont make me say what it is.

[XXXWriterDude]

Though I've often been known to come down on the side of personal responsibilty (i.e. take care of yourself and take responsibility for your choices), I do think it is great when studios make a conscious choice to address safe sex issues in their videos. BUt to me it's not enough just to have the models use condoms; I want movies that openly address the moment when the models put the condoms on.

If porn producers really want to instill safer sex values in their movies, then why don't they actually address the moment instead of just having the condoms magically appear? I think there's a difference between just having the condoms be used and actually showing them being put on.

Regarding bareback porn, for me it's not so much that there's just a market for it, but I honestly believe that it can serve a very useful purpose in gay culture. I don't know of one single gay man who actually LIKES to use a condom, who wouldn't rather be barebacking the way sex was INTENDED to be, and I think that having representations of condomless sex is not only a great way for those people to fantasize about going raw, but it's also porn for a community of people who do live that lifestyle. Everybody should be able to see representations of their lifestyles, desires, fantasies, etc. reflected in porn. Bareback porn is simply another form of sexual validation.

I think as porn producers (and for me, as someone who plans on producing porn in the next few years), you have to make the movies that you feel comfortable making, and I also think there's nothing more important than model safety. Hopefully the majority of bareback producers are keeping that in mind, b/cuz honestly, nobody should contribute to HIV infection in our community. And going back to the personal responsibility thing, hopefully the models themselves are looking after their own health and making sure they are only participating in sexual activity that they feel comfortable with.

For the past year, I was part of an HIV-prevention study through Project MIX, and the whole objective was to get gay men thinking about their sexual practices, how those practices were influenced by factors like low self esteem, drugs and alcohol, and getting each man to come up with a reasonable plan for limiting as much risk as he could from those practices. What I liked about the study was that there was no judgment; it was simply a matter of saying, "What risk are you comfortable with? What works best for you?" Because after all, when it really boils down to it, it really is about each one of us and what works best for us.

Still, it couldn't hurt for a lot of us porn folk to give gay men a gentle nudge in the right direction.