Condom Use on the Decline for Young Gay Men?

I recently talked about the rise in HIV infections among young gay men in New York City. Apparently, NYC is not the only place where this is becoming a really serious issue.

Ryan Lee recently wrote a really important article for Southern Voice called Death of the Condom. In it he explains that:

The change in gay men’s views toward condoms is often associated with the onset of highly effective anti-AIDS drugs in the mid-’90s, when the perception of the disease transformed from an automatic death sentence to an almost invisible, manageable illness. Experts agree that no longer seeing friends suffer or die from AIDS has affected how gay men approach safer sex, but other factors have changed as well.

He also cites low self-esteem and a push for abstinence-only education as contributing factors.

If you're concerned about a risky encounter, it is always wise to consider taking an HIV test.