Researchers at George Mason University and Indiana University recently studied the sexual behaviors of 24,787 gay or bisexual-identified men who had a same-sex encounter within the last year.
They surveyed these guys through the internet and while they acknowledge that their primarily white sample is not “representative of the general population,” they still say their findings might encourage gay men’s sexual health professionals to stop focusing purely on disease and anal sex, because gay dudes aren’t having nearly as much anal sex as they might think.
Here are some of the study’s more interesting findings:
GENTLEMEN PREFER KISSING (AND BJS) – During their most recent same-sex encounter, 75 percent of all men gave oral sex, 74.8 percent kissed on the mouth, 74 percent received oral sex. Only about 35 percent of all men went full-blown anal. Apparently the question, “Are you a top or a bottom?” only matters one-third of the time.
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WHO ARE THE BAREBACKINGEST BUTTSLUTS? – Men aged 18 to 24 bottom most often and men aged 30 to 39 top most often. Only 45.5 percent of men who reported having anal sex (both top and bottom) used a condom. Perhaps barebacking is more common than we’d all like to admit.
WHERE DO MEN DO “IT”? – About 49 percent of men had sex in their home, 28.6 percent in their partner’s home, 7.2 percent in a hotel room, 3.7 percent in a public space, and 1.6 percent in a car, truck or van. Bisexual were most likely to fool around in a hotel room. Younger dudes were more likely to make out in a vehicle either because they’re too poor to afford a hotel room or because living with their roommates or parents totally “sux.”
MOST GAY/BI MEN HOOK-UP – 42.3 percent of all men said that their most recent male sexual partner was with a relationship partner.
OLD DUDES LOVE BONER DRUGS – 11.2 percent of all men pop a Viagra, Cialis, tiger penis, or other erectile medication before getting it on. Naturally, men aged 50 and above used these drugs the most.
YOUNG GUYS DON’T ENJOY SEX – While 75.7 percent of all men indicated that they felt either extremely or quite aroused during their most recent sexual encounter, rates of arousal were highest among men over the age of 60 and lowest among men aged 18 to 24. Looks like your daddy fetish might be paying off in terms of pleasure, but sorry young guys, you’re just too inexperienced to pleasure anyone but yourselves (haha!). Either that or older men who have sex are just more likely to report any sex as very arousing where younger guys feel more finicky about what really turns them on.
BOTTOMING DOESN’T HURT? – According to he study, bottoming hurts significantly less than one might think—85.8 percent of men reported little to no anal pain during sex. Bisexual men complained most about being butt hurt. And apparently the pain of receptive anal sex decreases the older you get, possibly because older men have learned how to bottom more comfortably over time.
THE MONEY SHOT – Only 81.2 percent of all men reported having an orgasm during their last sexual encounter. Men 60 and older reported a lower incidence of orgasm (72.9 percent) and men who had sex with a relationship partner were more likely to get off than men who fooled around with a hook-up.
BISEXUAL MEN CAN’T KEEP A MAN? – All bisexual men, especially those 50 years and older, were less likely to have had sex within a same-sex relationship either because gay guys don’t enter relationships with bisexuals or because the bisexuals men primarily form relationships with women and were thus more likely to have gay sex with a casual acquaintance.
Considering how little data has been collected on the sexual activities about gay men, it’s nice to have some real world data to show that we’re not all having mind-blowing, anal porn star sex. Some of us just wanna kiss tenderly with the one we love… and maybe get a beej.
Image via See-ming Lee
Cam
“”42.3 percent of all men said that their most recent male sexual partner was with a relationship partner.””
“”Only 45.5 percent of men who reported having anal sex (both top and bottom) used a condom. Perhaps barebacking is more common than we’d all like to admit.””
______________________________________
Um….perhaps SOMEBODY at Queerty, or the writers of the report should have noticed that when nearly half of the people in the survey are in a relationship, and nearly half the respondents aren’t using condoms……that MAYBE THOSE TWO NUMBERS HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER.
So rather than Queerty writing out that info in such a way to make it sound like one kind of issue, somebody may have noticed that it could also be due to the fact that people in long relationships have been tested and no longer need to use condoms.
WillBFair
Still, that sounds to me like 20 percent are still barebacking. And this is unacceptable. Period. The community needs to put their collective foot down, and hard, no pun intended.
Raquin
Though I don’t recommend barebacking, must you use the term “barebackening buttsluts?” That sends a sex-negative message to those who do choose to participate in this behavior and stigmatizes promiscuous people. There’s already enough sex-negativity surrounding our lgbtq culture in the first place without needing to here more of it from within the community.
RLPETEH
It is always informative to see the stats about us ,our behavior, our likes and dislikes.
As a long time observer of LGB behavior I find it interesting how many of your observations mirror my own. Some thoughts I would add. As we become more comfortable and relaxed in participating in public displays of affection and touching at an earlier age LGBT sexual
behavior will continue to change in ways that more reflect the hetro community. But with that change the campaign to promote SAFE SEX will be even more challenging.
As for the young, dumb and FOC youngsters need experienced guides to help them discover the wide range of pleasurable activities. I know of no shortage of willing teachers in the world at large. You only need to …ask.
Cam
@WillBFair:
Actually more like 12%.
JayKay
@Raquin:
“Wah waaaah, I just want to act like a giant without anyone judging me for it, waaaah.”
Mark
We are 30 years into the AIDS crisis- anyone who has sex without a condom that is not in a committed relationship gets little sympathy from me if they get HIV/AIDS. You’re an adult and you know the risks. You’re either being incredibly naive or incredibly self-destructive, and neither are acceptable excuses for adults.
Hugh
Personal observation: some guys don’t seem to have much of an issue with HIV and don’t catch it despite being sexually active (even have sex with HIV+ guys, imagine that!); other guys are still completely hysterical about it, point fingers, get all judgmental and litigious (many of them seem to comment here). Maybe it’s about time the two groups sit down and talk.
ewe
Next can we hear he sinful behavior spreading like cancer of the heterosexual male? Just wondering cause gODD told me so.
ewe
It’s true. I painted my phone the color of a cloud, placed it on my pillow and gODD called me and told me straight guys are worse. Not more than 5 minutes ago. I swear. Promise. well sorta kinda until i have to offer proof. I asked my neighbor who smiled when i asked if he buttfucks his wife. That means he likes it right? 100 percent of straight guys like it then because he does. Case closed. Go to print.
ewe
And straight guys can’t kiss. they use their tongue like a fork jabbing down your throat. It’s true. Really. All of them. Every single one.
ewe
Did you know that most drug addicts, murderers and alcoholics are heterosexual? It’s a fact.
Kurt
@Raquin:
“must you use the term “barebackening buttsluts?” That sends a sex-negative message to those who do choose to participate in this behavior”
Those who participate in this behavior SHOULD get a negative message.
No apologies.
qw
ohhh the trolls
sabatghzl1098
“And apparently the pain of receptive anal sex decreases the older you get, possibly because older men have learned how to bottom more comfortably over time.”
Or possibly because your ass is gaping wide by the time you’re 60.
n00b
@Kurt: “Those who participate in this behavior SHOULD get a negative message.
No apologies.”
Sounds eerily familiar.
Just like the rates of infection are higher among barebackers within the gay community, rates of infection are higher among gay men within the actively sexual community. Something to think about.
Or we could keep, you know, hiding our hypocrisy behind “concern” for other people’s health.
n00b
@n00b: “sexually active community.”
Fixed.
WillBFair
@Cam: That’s still unacceptable. Period. Any other distractions you all would like to try, or serious issues y’all would like to ignore?
WillBFair
@n00b: ‘rates of infection are higher among gay men within the actively sexual community. Something to think about’.
Granted. Unfortunately, because of the cruelty shown to us while growing up, many of us don’t have the emotional maturity to build stable relationships.
And many sexually active men have gotten by for thirty years by being safe. So being unsafe at any time is not to be tolerated.
Anon
The anal sex being painful quote makes me cringe, especially the tone of suprise.
If it hurts, you’re doing it badly. Make sure you warm up, use enough lube to drown a small village and take a break or stop if it starts to feel rough.
The idea that people are taking a grin and bear it approach, or thinking that lube is optional makes me sad and frustrated at the same time.
Leon
It’s obvious to me that:
1. Who ever wrote this article is an agist bigot
2. That it offers not solid empirical evidence to support it’s claims, other than telling us that it’s data came from a university
3. Offers no way of supporting it’s “facts”, selling more of what it says for face value. Get an education.
Also, I don’t like the barebackingest buttsluts either, so uncouth.
Dirty Ole Man
@Leon …Shaddup!!
Pete n SFO
@Raquin: I agree with ya, girl!
Let’s clear a few things up people; there’s NOTHING wrong w/ being sexually active & calling people “buttsluts” is just internalized homophobia. If it hurts when you’re getting fucked, you’re fucking the wrong top. And I dare any of you cyber-pussies to make any of these comments to my face; I’m over 50, in better shape than you, know how to top & bottom, and don’t need any enhancement to do it.
I have unprotected sex when in a relationship only… so who the F are the bunch of you to judge anyone? You all need to take your self-hating, ageist, holier-than-thou bullshiz & cram it up your own ass because it’s clear no one else has been there in YEARS!
Allen D.
@Mark: What about guys who *think* they’re in a monogamous relationship, and their partner brings them HIV? Happened to a good friend of mine. But I guess he doesn’t deserve any sympathy, huh?
That’s just fucked up.
Pete n SFO
@Mark: “and neither IS an acceptable excuse” is actually what you meant to say…
There is NO excuse for bad grammar, you’re an adult & you know the risks. YOU get no sympathy from me! LOL…
Tell me, do you ever find that your righteousness & lack of compassion for others isolate you from your fellow man… Don’t judge, lest ye be judged, girl.
Lower Haight Guy
“Either that or older men who have sex are just more likely to report any sex as very arousing where younger guys feel more finicky about what really turns them on.”
Sorry, toots. My sex life is far better now at 45 than it was at 25. The quality of the sex is better, and the guys with whom I have sex are far more interesting. Plenty of my buddies in their 50s and 60s report the same thing.
You just have to grow up and then you get to experience the same thing.
adam
@Cam: To me that sounded like those guys surveyed had had sex with guys who were either cheating or in open relationships. It says “was with a relationship partner” not “was in a relationship with the man surveyed”. If my interpretation is correct it’s even more disturbing that so many guys surveyed are barebacking.
Josh
There is always a need for condoms, no matter how old or long your relationship is.
HAHHAHAHHAHA
Get News newspeople?(HAHAHAHAHAHAH that is a blanket wrong in Office or your not newspeople). Facebook is not news. Only you want it to be.
The World
ewe
Well if i could I would. You know.
DB
@Cam: Thank you. Actually, a simple cross-tabulation from the dataset would tell us this. Of course you do not need to use condoms with a long-term mutually monogamous uninfected partner. Of course it is imperative to always use condoms with anyone else if you or he is not monogamous and uninfected. What percentage of people had unprotected intercourse with a hook-up? This is the population at risk for HIV and driving the continuing epidemic.
LeNair Xavier
It took a survey to figure this out?! Really, if I wanted to put percentages on it, I could have figured this out by my own encounters, which contrary to people’s assumption based on my blog’s sex tales is not as often as one might think.
And is it any surprise that young guys suck at sex? Have you guys seen any of Brent Corrigan’s movies? While a lot of gay porn is staged, there are some things you can’t fake that be can be used as indicators of real life. And the look of cluelessness in most of those guys is one of them.
In regards to barebacking, I have long ago said that it is UNNATURAL to have a barrier between you and your sex partner. So barebacking is a natural instinct instilled in us since the creation of man. It’s the times that we live in with HIV/AIDS, and other STDs that make us have to go against that nature. So to all those playing barebacking police here, you really need to keep that in mind before chastising anyone.
Chris
No. 32,Lenair, how in the hell could you miss the point of this article? First it’s a SURVEY. Not an anecdotal assessemnt of your YOUR sexual conduct.
Secondly, what does gay porn have to do with the sexual encounters of real people? What does porn have to do with this survey? Do you get your information from watching porn? Get real!
Lastly, what a lame comment regarding barebacking. Condoms are just a fact of life today. Your comment that condom usagae is unnatural is just junior high school logic. There are many things we do in our lives that are not natural — but necessary. How do you about feel contraceptives?
Jones
@Lenair, read the article again, then comment. So, I took your bait and found your blog. What a bunch of crap. Who reads that thing anyway? Based on the comments, I bet you don’t have more than 7 readers.
LeNair Xavier
@Chris: @Jones:
I am well aware that it’s a survey. It’s BOTH OF YOU who missed the point. I gave my comment just like everyone else – basing it on what I know from dealing with the REAL world. Can you say the same. For my comparison about gay porn and view on barebacking are not silly as you try to make it. I already explained my point and I stand by it. If you can’t accept that truth, that is your problem. Funny how you both want to condemn me for my viewpoint, but 1) neither of you have not explained yours as in depth as I have explained mine, and 2)neither of you have links to show your credentials to further back-up your tirades against me. Meanwhile, I do.
Poundnstulla
Interesting findings.
wrongmove569
But what present that are barracking are on PrEP/Truvada ? It should have been in the study, it makes a big difference!!!!
frankcar1965
@WillBFair: What “collective community”? I see none at all, AND it is none of your business what people do, ANY people, so shut up. Heteros have told gays forever to stop their sex practices so they do not need a nasty old gay guy telling them too. MYOB
frankcar1965
@Hugh: @Hugh: How about everyone shut up and MYOB!!!