HOMOSEXUALLY AND NONHOMOSEXUALLY IDENTIFIED MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN - A BEHAVIORAL-COMPARISON

From January 1988 to September 1989, 209 HIV-1 seropositive male blood donors who reported sex with men were interviewed at 20 U.S. blood centers. Most (59%) were Black or Hispanic and self-identified as bisexual (30%) or heterosexual (25%). During the year before their last donation, 73% of homosexually, 62% of bisexually, and 29% of heterosexually identified men had engaged in unprotected anal sex with men. Overall, few had ties to gay communities; however, 24% of bisexually and 58% of heterosexually identified men had female primary partners. There were no racial/ethnic differences in gender of partners in the last year, although Blacks were more likely to identify themselves as bisexual (44%) and Hispanics as heterosexual (34%). These data suggest the need to target prevention efforts at men having unprotected sex with male or female partners, regardless of sexual identity, and to examine social network and cultural influences affecting sexual behavior and sexual identity.