Study Shows Gay Men in San Francisco Less Afraid of HIV -- Attitude May Be Leading to More Infections

According to a just-released University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) study, gay men don't find HIV as threatening as they once did; ads for AIDS drugs are seen as glamorizing life with HIV; and there is increased acceptance of unprotected sex.

Recent San Francisco Department of Health projections indicate a rising rate of new HIV infections, translating into about 750 new infections this year. Author Stephen Morin, director of the UCSF AIDS Policy Research Center, said the study's aims were to get gay men to explain the increase and to define prevention messages that might reduce risk among gay and bisexual men.

"The community norm has changed. Guys in the survey told us a friend may go on a date, or to a bathhouse, but the question, 'Were you safe?' doesn't come up. That 'Friends don't let friends drive drunk' kind of social support that came out loud and clear -- there's been a real deterioration in that. And it seems to be a major way people felt supported for staying negative," Morin said.

The study was conducted last summer with 55 gay and bisexual San Francisco men, who were divided into six focus groups. The men recommended a new social marketing campaign with ads on television and in bus shelters, magazines, bars and sex clubs to encourage men to dispel HIV myths by talking with their friends. "Friends Can Be Good Medicine -- Talk About HIV" was one suggested slogan. Surveyed men also expressed concern that ads for AIDS medications glamorize life after infection, and these need to be balanced with images of men suffering the drugs' side effects. New ads are set to be ready by early next year, but Survive AIDS member Jeff Getty said a better tactic would be to send gay men to sex clubs as safe sex advisers.

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