Risk and community: The impact of HIV among gays in Madrid. The case of sex clubs

Abstract

AIDS has been a major challenge to the Spanish LGBT community, not only from an epidemiological, but also from a social and cultural perspective: risk of HIV transmission and seropositivity had to be incorporated into community-building practices in a context of accelerated social change. In this article we try to approach these processes by focusing on the changes that have taken place in the scene of venues where sex is practiced on premises in Madrid. The emergence of sex clubs in the last decade challenges the hegemonic representation of the community and thus decisively alters the map of possible identifications. Specifically, we stress the social diversity of its constituency, and describe the contrasting practices and representations towards HIV and risk of customers who identify with the alternative identities promoted by sex clubs and those who do not. Attitudes towards the risk of HIV transmission and safer/unsafe sex have been incorporated in ways that are deeply affected by the new forms of subjectivity in whose consolidation the clubs have played a decisive role.

Venues, Patrons, and Alcohol Use Dynamics: The Creation of a High Risk Sexual Environment

“…Similar disinterest was seen in a study of gay venues in Spain, which found that owners of gay venues were not willing to attend the focus groups held, yet owners of venues catering to specific groups of gay men (i.e., bears or the leather community) were much more invested in providing an environment where HIV risk was reduced [51]. Similarly, a recent study in numerous European countries, found there was interest from owners of SOP venues to engage in HIV risk reduction programs, although they did express concern about the types of programs and the reactions from patrons [52].…”

Venues, Patrons, and Alcohol Use Dynamics: The Creation of a High Risk Sexual Environment

“…Similar disinterest was seen in a study of gay venues in Spain, which found that owners of gay venues were not willing to attend the focus groups held, yet owners of venues catering to specific groups of gay men (i.e., bears or the leather community) were much more invested in providing an environment where HIV risk was reduced [51]. Similarly, a recent study in numerous European countries, found there was interest from owners of SOP venues to engage in HIV risk reduction programs, although they did express concern about the types of programs and the reactions from patrons [52].…”

Sexuality and embodiment.

“…Sexual-minority men frequently articulate that they are not solely interested in sexual pleasure but also crave intimacy, love, and romance (Slavin, 2009). As condom use is seen as detracting from intimacy (Dowsett et al, 2008;Villaamil & Jociles, 2011), spontaneity (Davis, 2002), and pleasure (Davis, 2002;Dowsett, 2003;Villaamil & Jociles, 2011), sexual-minority men sometimes find it difficult to negotiate a balance between intense sexual desire, arousal, or pleasure and safe sex practices. The Internet and social networking websites increasingly have been employed by men seeking other men with whom to engage in sexual activities (Dowsett et al, 2008; see Volume 2, Chapter 3, this handbook).…”

Cuerpos, virus y economías morales: la prueba del VIH

“…Pero en su situación, no le queda otra vía para contactar con otros gays que acudir solo a Chueca, a los locales que ofrecen la posibilidad de mantener encuentros sexuales in situ. Hay que entender que Emilio no pretende mantener una doble vida, ni construye sus identificaciones sexuales en torno al sexo anónimo en tanto que sexo colectivo, algo que requiere una suerte de socialización secundaria (Villaamil y Jociles, 2011), pues se muestra renuente a hablar de su experiencia en estos espacios. Con todo, creo que no es exagerado pensar en que Emilio tiene un proyecto inacabado que va haciéndose sobre la marcha, que las enfermedades de transmisión sexual son obstáculos que va encontrando y superando, de forma que el resultar infectado se representa como una clara posibilidad y por eso lleva a cabo chequeos frecuentes:…”

Venues, Patrons, and Alcohol Use Dynamics: The Creation of a High Risk Sexual Environment

“…Similar disinterest was seen in a study of gay venues in Spain, which found that owners of gay venues were not willing to attend the focus groups held, yet owners of venues catering to specific groups of gay men (i.e., bears or the leather community) were much more invested in providing an environment where HIV risk was reduced [51]. Similarly, a recent study in numerous European countries, found there was interest from owners of SOP venues to engage in HIV risk reduction programs, although they did express concern about the types of programs and the reactions from patrons [52].…”

Sexuality and embodiment.

“…Sexual-minority men frequently articulate that they are not solely interested in sexual pleasure but also crave intimacy, love, and romance (Slavin, 2009). As condom use is seen as detracting from intimacy (Dowsett et al, 2008;Villaamil & Jociles, 2011), spontaneity (Davis, 2002), and pleasure (Davis, 2002;Dowsett, 2003;Villaamil & Jociles, 2011), sexual-minority men sometimes find it difficult to negotiate a balance between intense sexual desire, arousal, or pleasure and safe sex practices. The Internet and social networking websites increasingly have been employed by men seeking other men with whom to engage in sexual activities (Dowsett et al, 2008; see Volume 2, Chapter 3, this handbook).…”

Cuerpos, virus y economías morales: la prueba del VIH

“…Pero en su situación, no le queda otra vía para contactar con otros gays que acudir solo a Chueca, a los locales que ofrecen la posibilidad de mantener encuentros sexuales in situ. Hay que entender que Emilio no pretende mantener una doble vida, ni construye sus identificaciones sexuales en torno al sexo anónimo en tanto que sexo colectivo, algo que requiere una suerte de socialización secundaria (Villaamil y Jociles, 2011), pues se muestra renuente a hablar de su experiencia en estos espacios. Con todo, creo que no es exagerado pensar en que Emilio tiene un proyecto inacabado que va haciéndose sobre la marcha, que las enfermedades de transmisión sexual son obstáculos que va encontrando y superando, de forma que el resultar infectado se representa como una clara posibilidad y por eso lleva a cabo chequeos frecuentes:…”

Venues, Patrons, and Alcohol Use Dynamics: The Creation of a High Risk Sexual Environment

“…Similar disinterest was seen in a study of gay venues in Spain, which found that owners of gay venues were not willing to attend the focus groups held, yet owners of venues catering to specific groups of gay men (i.e., bears or the leather community) were much more invested in providing an environment where HIV risk was reduced [51]. Similarly, a recent study in numerous European countries, found there was interest from owners of SOP venues to engage in HIV risk reduction programs, although they did express concern about the types of programs and the reactions from patrons [52].…”

Sexuality and embodiment.

“…Sexual-minority men frequently articulate that they are not solely interested in sexual pleasure but also crave intimacy, love, and romance (Slavin, 2009). As condom use is seen as detracting from intimacy (Dowsett et al, 2008;Villaamil & Jociles, 2011), spontaneity (Davis, 2002), and pleasure (Davis, 2002;Dowsett, 2003;Villaamil & Jociles, 2011), sexual-minority men sometimes find it difficult to negotiate a balance between intense sexual desire, arousal, or pleasure and safe sex practices. The Internet and social networking websites increasingly have been employed by men seeking other men with whom to engage in sexual activities (Dowsett et al, 2008; see Volume 2, Chapter 3, this handbook).…”

Cuerpos, virus y economías morales: la prueba del VIH

“…Pero en su situación, no le queda otra vía para contactar con otros gays que acudir solo a Chueca, a los locales que ofrecen la posibilidad de mantener encuentros sexuales in situ. Hay que entender que Emilio no pretende mantener una doble vida, ni construye sus identificaciones sexuales en torno al sexo anónimo en tanto que sexo colectivo, algo que requiere una suerte de socialización secundaria (Villaamil y Jociles, 2011), pues se muestra renuente a hablar de su experiencia en estos espacios. Con todo, creo que no es exagerado pensar en que Emilio tiene un proyecto inacabado que va haciéndose sobre la marcha, que las enfermedades de transmisión sexual son obstáculos que va encontrando y superando, de forma que el resultar infectado se representa como una clara posibilidad y por eso lleva a cabo chequeos frecuentes:…”