Sexuality in the aids crisis: Patterns of sexual practice and pleasure in a sample of Australian gay and bisexual men

Abstract

AIDS prevention work needs an understanding of the full spectrum of sexuality. A survey of sexual practices was conducted among gay and bisexual men in New South Wales, Australia. Interviews with 535 men indicate that the repertoire of sexual expression appears to be diminishing under the impact of the AIDS crisis. Particular sexual practices can be grouped into several clusters or factors, and scales can be constructed which focus on anal, oral/tactile and esoteric practices. These factors appear stable for sex with regular or casual partners. Pleasure and practice are not isomorphic; some men have modified their sexual behaviour and given up some of the practices they enjoy. Pleasure is gained from a broad spectrum of activities, but patterns of genital primacy (oral‐genital and anal‐genital) and communicative primacy are present.