Female Condoms Prevent HIV, So Why Aren't They Marketed to Gay and Bi Men?

"Miss Thing." "Girl." "My ass." "Have you ever?" They're all typical starters to midweek discussion groups made up of the mostly African American and Latino gay and bisexual men served by New York City's Ali Forney Center, which provides services for homeless LGBT youth, and Steven Gordon, the agency's supportive-services director. The participants are perhaps not new to sex; however, many are inexperienced in articulating their feelings about it. Gordon encourages them to speak candidly about their practices, which for many include anal sex.

Recently Gordon decided to conduct an informal experiment. Actually, more of an "I wonder what would happen if I placed a bin of female condoms next to the popular male-condom-bucket" experiment. He was surprised. "No one took them," he says.