International Mr. Leather (IML), the annual Chicago gathering of queer leather and kink enthusiasts, recently announced its plans to drop its decade-long ban on vendors that promote, distribute, sell or advocate for condomless sex. Many HIV- and sex-positive advocates felt the ban needlessly vilified adult studios and people who participate in condomless sex and considered it especially hypocritical considering the amount of condomless sex that happens at IML itself.
In an interview with Hornet, Joey McDonald, president of the Chuck Renslow Charitable Corporation, the entity which has overseen IML in the two years following the 2017 death of IML’s founder Chuck Renslow, said, “[We’re going to repeal the ban.] It’s going to happen, sooner rather than later. It’s just a matter of actually putting that statement down on paper and making a press release.”
McDonald said the event, which attracts up to 16,000 people each year, hasn’t enforced its ban since 2014 when Renslow recognized the increased impact of PrEP, daily medications which greatly reduce the risk of transmitting HIV.
Related: 5 Things I Learned At IML That Have (Almost) Nothing To Do With Leather Or Sex
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“Renslow called the widespread availability of PrEP ‘the advent of a new day for [gay] sexuality,’ adding, ‘our community has learned a lot from this [HIV/AIDS] crisis, and we’ve matured,'” Hornet writes. “As it stands… the ban mostly ‘exists in people’s heads,'” Renslow told Hornet, adding that “IML has not turned away vendors for ‘promoting’ barebacking since [2014].”
IML’s vendor fair has previously allowed gay adult studios that have produced condomless scenes. This year, the vendor fair includes an apparel retailer named Breedwell which sells socks with the word “breed” on them, a slang term for condomless sex.
McDonald clarified that when Renslow came up with the ban in 2009 (at a time when people knew little about HIV-undetectability), “It wasn’t about vilifying pornography. It wasn’t about restricting sexual freedoms. It was simply his idea of protecting the community.” McDonald added that IML attendees felt divided over the ban, but — whether right or wrong — it at least started conversation over condomless sex and its importance in people’s sex lives.
Alh14921991
Exactly. The article states that we’ve become more mature, but as a community doing the same thing that resulted in countless deaths. People never learn.
Creamsicle
PrEP only protects against HIV, and no other STI. And every doctor who prescribes PrEP still advises condom use.
D_Bro
Actually you are wrong. Some Drs do, some don’t. You are generalizing. And unless you use condoms and dental dams for oral sex then your argument for STI prevention is irrelevant.
Joshua333
Doctor Who… Sorry I had to…
IWantAFullBeard
D_Bro – Actually both the manufactures of PrEP and the AMA advise the use of condoms with PrEP. Maybe find a new doctor – one with a medical degree?
You argument about oral sex is a no sequitur. Next!
Kevin_333
Hey guys
Want to find partner for night ?
D_Bro
@IWantAFullBeard: I go to Kaiser. Last time I checked they all went to med school. Which one did you go to?
And why is my argument about oral sex a non-sequitur? The only time that I have every have an STI is from oral sex. In 5 years of being on PrEP I have never had one.
I think that if you are going to argue for condom usage as the best way to prevent STIs then you need to include all forms of penetrative sex. If you talk to your Dr, he/she will tell you that.
Geeker
Cut to super Gonorrhea wringing its hands in gleeful anticipation.
VarlaSpanxClovenhoof
The tabloid media have been trying to scare us about “super gonorrhea” for years. Makes great clickbait. There were like three cases in the past year, and they’ve all been cured. Color me terrified.
D_Bro
You do know that Gonorrhea existed before HIV and wide condom use. There is no super bug. You need to do some better research before you spread incorrect information.
Wicked Dickie
So basically, a bunch of dirty d!cks and dirty holes are in attendance at IML. Let’s not forget that “HerpAlert” (didn’t know that was a thing) saw a massive uptick in herpes cases at Coachella. But continue to think that PrEP is a get out of jail free card.
Profundity
I really just can’t comprehend why gays are so self destructive. What’s so difficult in putting on a condom, even if you are on PrEP? Hep C, herpes, STDs, etc. all these nasty diseases and yet they just don’t seem to care about themselves or others.
VarlaSpanxClovenhoof
@Profundity: That’s right, I can’t understand why straight people are allowed to have babies. SO self-destructive. Like you say, “What’s so difficult in putting on a condom”? But seriously, you’re making some assumptions that aren’t based on facts.
1. There is NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE of a dramatic increase in STIs among PrEP users, and even if there were, PrEP users get tested for STIs more often than most people, so they’re LESS LIKELY to be spreading STIs.
2. Condoms DO NOT magically prevent STIs. They reduce the risk, IF they are used properly, and IF they don’t slip off. So the only way for us “dirty” gay men not to be self-destructive is to abstain. And I presume you use condoms for oral sex, right? Since you can get chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis that way.
I could go on, but it gets really boring trying to educate people who are too lazy to do their own research.
D_Bro
@Profundity – How many screen names have you posted under on here? You are always homophobic and frankly wrong. Or, are you just an antagonist that gets off on annoying people?
Goforit
D_Bro…. Profundity has gone by AgainNAgain, HereIAmAgain, Windchime and probably others that I am forgetting. But he is so predictable in his comments that it is easy to spot him.
IWantAFullBeard
VarlaSpanxClovenhoof –
What an odd comment. Both points are a mixture of incorrect, illogical, and irrelevant. But just for the record, everyone knows that condoms aren’t perfect. But they do lower your chance of an STI by like 99.9%. But then again, if that 0.01% chance exists, then no point at all, right?
What’s particularly bizarre is how you defend unprotected sex like it’s a personal identity. It might be your identity that you need to take to the internet to defend (which is gross and probably a sign of a personality disorder) but do use some common sense.
D_Bro
@IWantAFullBeard: Where did you get your facts from? I have not been able to find corroborating Medical information.
The CDC says:
“Correctly using male condoms and other barriers like female condoms and dental dams, every time, CAN REDUCE (though not eliminate) the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and viral hepatitis. They can also provide protection against other diseases that may be transmitted through sex like Zika and Ebola.”
Nowhere is there any study that will state a percentage much less 99%.
CharlieXOXO
Sorry to break your bubble, but you can still get herpes whether you use condoms or not. Especially through oral sex, and or any physical rubbing “frotting” between genitals or direct contact with hand to genital and back. No need to have bareback or anything of the sort…
Please get educated.
Profundity
It is just sad that gay men are going back to the old dangerous way to have sex. Some people just never learn.
nitejonboy
Amen…this is disgusting behavior and they should be ashamed of themselves.
VarlaSpanxClovenhoof
@nitejonboy: Grandma, is that you? I’ve asked you to stay off the gay sites. Nobody wants advice from a prudish judgy old spinster.
IWantAFullBeard
Ah in the midst of defending yourself you make sure to throw some insults about age and sexual behavior in there.