Ho SY; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. WePeD4755.

S. Y. Ho, University of Hong KongUniversity of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong., China, Tel.: +295 920 91, Fax: +285 876 04, E-mail: psyho@hkucc.hku.hk

Issues: The case of anal intercourse in inter-racial gay relationships is used to show how negotiation of sexual practices and safer sex practices constitute an important domain for both Chinese and Westerners in Hong Kong to negotiate power. Description: In 1994-5, 12 Chinese gay men who had Western partners were interviewed. In 1998 and 1999, another 13 interviews were conducted to explore the nature of the inter-racial relationships in the changing social and political environment in Hong Kong after the transfer of sovereignty from Britain to China. Among them, 4 were Chinese gay men who had Western partners and 4 were those who have had that experience, while the other 5 were Western gay men who had Chinese partners. Conclusion: In inter-racial gay relationships in Hong Kong in the period leading to the transfer of sovereignty, changes were detected from a preference for relatively fixed roles to an increased reciprocity of roles in anal sex. There were also changes in how Chinese gay men narrated their sexual experiences from an initial acceptance of fixed roles to an increased aspiration for reciprocity. Their views on condom use in anal intercourse were also found to have changed. The experience of the interviewees has shown that what appears to be personal, sexual choices may actually be part of a political struggle or movement. The meanings of certain sexual practices, for example, gay anal intercourse, is constituted and negotiated among various cultural discourses. It is important to provide men with opportunities to discuss their sexual experiences in a space that is non-judgmental. HIV prevention efforts which ignore the complex meanings attached to sexual practices may actually exacerbate, rather than prevent, HIV infection. The feelings and emotions men have about anal sex and unprotected anal sex need to be understood by HIV educators.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• China
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Homosexuality
• Homosexuality, Male
• Hong Kong
• Humans
• Interviews as Topic
• Male
• Negotiating
• Safe Sex
• Sexual Behavior
• Unsafe Sex

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0003629

UI: 102241126

From Meeting Abstracts