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Gay sexual practices are varied, and are a physical expression of intimacy dependant on the context of the relationship along with social, cultural and other influences.
Behaviors edit
There is a range of contexts where gay sex occurs, and some behaviours are more determined by the nature of the relationship than others, because different environments offer different opportunities for different forms of sex. Openly gay men will often have sex within their domstic environment, particularly when in a stable committed relationship. Gay sex can take place in the context of stable committed relationships, with couples co-habiting, or where available having a civil union or partnership, or marriage, where these are enshrined in the country's legislative framework. It can also take place in the context of one-off relations with strangers. Cottaging in the UK has its roots in days before the decriminalisation of homosexual behaviour, and refers to the practice of gay men meeting in public conveniences for sex, including masturbation and felatio. In the USA, bathhouse were a traditional meeting place where gay men could have sexual encounters, and this tradition has become replicated in other countries, such as the UK, in the form of gay saunas. Other locations for sexual activity outside the home include certain well-known parks, which are cruising locations; these exist in the USA and the UK, the most well known parks in London are Clapham Common and Hampstead Heath - the latter of which is well known even outside the gay community, having been the butt of humour for decades.
The French kiss is a universal sign of intimate affection, the embrace from which most sexual encounters between people start, and gay men engage in kissing just as do straight people.
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The popular image of gay sexual activity is anal intercourse, which involves one man inserting his erect penis into the anus of another; this used to be referred to as buggery, or sodomy. There are benefits and disadvantages for the recipient of the penis in this form of sex. On the one hand there can be pain during sex, and over a period of time the sphincter muscles can become weakened, giving rise to incontinence. However, one of the advantages of being buggered is that penis inserted into the rectum can stimulate the prostrate internally, which can give rise to stronger, more powerful orgasms than would be experienced otherwise. It is now thought to be wise to use a barrier during anal intercourse, such as a condom, because this not only prevents the trasmission of HIV, it also helps to prevent transmission of other viruses and bacteria that are spread sexually: Hepatitis B, Syphilis, Gonorrhea; barrier protected anal intercourse is seen as being safer sex than unprotected anal intercourse, known as bareback sex. Using a barrier will also ensure that pathogens are not passed from the faeces of the recipient back to the one who penetrates him, via the urethra, which is a sensitive internal mucous membrane; contamination of the urethra by foecal matter can give rise to urinary infections and systitis.
One issue that most people have to deal with when engaging in anal intercourse is lubrication. Without adequate lubrication, anal penetration can be painful and difficult. The easiest solution people find is for the one who penetrates to spit into his hand, and use the spit to lubricate the rim of the anus and the glans of his penis, to facilitate entry. If he does not have enough spit to achieve this, he may present his hand palm open to the sexual partner, as a request for some of his spit. This tends to be more common in casual encounters outside a domestic environemnt, as people who are in a relationship and/or who have sex at home tend to keep a supply of lube for this sort of activity.
While anal sex is not exclusive to gay men, as heterosexual women are quite capable of recieving a penis in their rectum, it is the act that is most commonly associated with gay sexuality, probably engenders the deepest hostility amongst people who disapprove of gay activity, and yet is not the most common form of sexual activity engaged in by gay men; some gay men disapprove of this form of sex. Historically, there has always been a double-standard about anal intercourse, and this is the case both within and outside the gay community. In countries that penalise gay sex, having laws against acts referred to as sodomy, it is usually not the sodomite who is penalised, but the one who is sodomised. The moral disapproval is directed less at the man who carries out penetration, as this is seen as gender-congruent, but more towards the man who is penetrated, as this is associated with passivity and the feminine, which in the case of a man appears gender-incongruent. Aspects of this can be seen in the gay community, where men who only enjoy being penetrated are seen as sluttish and weak by those who like to penetrate them. The stereotype of the camp gay man is of a feminine man, and is a stereotype of a recipient in gay sex. In gay parlance, 'top' is used to describe the active participant, 'bottom' the passive recipient, and 'versatile' one who is happy either way. Since the emancipation of gay men, participant sex roles have become more fluid, and many gay people are more likely to be versatile than occupy a particular role.
Manual sex, or masturbation is the most straightforward gay sexual activity, and the easiest to enact in a hurry, in furtive situations such as a public toilet. Two men can meet together in a toilet stall and wank each other off very quickly, the pleasure often enhanced by the threat of discovery or capture by authorities. This form of gay sex can be of benefit to those who are not openly gay, as it is a means whereby they can gain homosexual relief while not having to explain periods of absence to wives or parents. Masturbation can be carried out by one man holding another man's penis in his hand, fingers closed around the phallus in a fist-like enmbrace, applting pressure to the shaft, and rubbing up and down vigourously. Often, spittle will be used to lubricate the fingers at the glans-end of the penis, to avoid friction with the rubbing. As with anal intercourse, people in relationships, and/or at home, often keep a bottle of lube to use rather than saliva. This is considered to be safest form of sex two men can participate in together.
Oral sex, or felatio, where a man takes another man's penis into his mouth, is an act that can be carried out at home, with a committed partner, or 'in the field', as it were. It is no more difficult to achive than masturbation, and has the benefit of needing any lubricant. Commonly referred to as a 'blow job', or 'sucking off', these terms do not actually describe the process, as there is no blowing, and while sucking is possible, a penis cannot be sucked too hard. The pleasure is derived more from having the glans kissed in the manner of a French kiss; the shaft is held firmly by the lips (teeth can be used, but this is not always appreciated by the one being fellated), and the tongue caresses the underside of the shaft and the glans, which are the most sensitive parts of the penis. What happens upon ejaculation is up to the one who fellates. The head can be jerked back quickly as they sense the other party starting to come, to avoid deposition of semen into the mouth; the disadvantage here is that this can be off-putting to the one who is about to come. The semen can be accepted into the mouth cavity, and then spat out; it should be noted that if the jet is strong enough, the pressure of semen hitting the back of the throat can trigger the gag reflex. Or, the semen can be swallowed. Although it is not thought that the HIV virus can be spread between men this way, there is a risk of other bacteria or viruses being transmitted; for example, herpes simplex can be passed from penis to mouth, and there are obvious risks involved if the penis that is being fellated has engaged in anal penetration without a barrier in the period beforehand. Barriers can be used, either in the form of a condom or dental barrier, although these do diminish the sensation and the pleasure achieved through oral sex.
Rimming, or Anal-oral sex involves using the tongue to stimulate the anus, and the term reflects the process of using the tongue to lick the rim of the anus. A dental barrier avoids the possibility of introducing faecal material into the mouth.
Fisting is as it sounds, with a fist being inserted into the rectum. This can be built up to, starting with just a finger, then two, and eventually all the digits cupped together, until evenutally the entire fist can be inserted to the wrist. There are obvious risks inherent in this type of activity, such as pain and anal prolapse; however, as with anal intercourse, it does allow for stimulation of the prostrate from within. Although the hand is less likely to act as an agent for transmission of infections, provided it is clean and there are no cuts, some people choose to use surgical gloves when engaging in this practice; this reduces the risk of introducing contaminants into the rectum, and ending up with a hand covered in faeces.
There are a number of subsidiary activities that may involve genital piercings, cock-rings, etc., but these are peripheral to core activities that male up gay sexual practices.
Research edit
Alfred Kinsey's Sexual Behavior in the Human Male was the first comprehensive survey of male sexual behaviour with males.
Health risks edit
Like most sexual behaviours these activities can carry risks of sexually transmitted and other pathogenic diseases.
HIV edit
Male-to-male transmission of the HIV virus began to be an issue for gay men in the early 1980's, when men began to develop AIDS as a result, and many gay men died as a result. The virus is transmitted through ruptures in tissue membrane, through which semen and blood can pass, transmitting the virus from one body to another.
Gay sex and drug use edit
When the gay liberation movement emerged from the 1960s, a lot of young gay men smoked cannibis, and this was a feature in the early gay community. Cannibis, like alcohol, helps relax inhibition; unlike the amphetamines available at the time (e.g., amphetamine sulphate, French Blues), it is more of a relaxant than a stimulant. Cannibis, like hallucinogens, is not particularly helpful when it comes to having sex. Straight people, lesbians and gay men from the 1960s onwards were at risk from addiction to narcotics like heroin, and some gay men had to resort to sex work in order to fund a habit. In the gay club scene during the 1980's, Amyl nitrate, known as Poppers, was a popular drug; when used prior to orgasm, this drug would heighten the effect of orgasm, and make it appear to last longer. Alcoholism is another addiction that has affected some gay men, just as it has lesbians and straight people. Cocaine was drug of choice for gay and straight people who could aford it in the 1980s and 1990s. In the 21st century, some gay men found that using crystalmeth, or methamphetamine, has enabled them to maintain a higher level of sexual performance, stamina and stimulation; some would use combinations of drugs in order to be able to continue having such hightened sexual experiences for longer periods of time, particularly in situations where group sex is involved. Using drugs have a negative effect on the health of people who are HIV positive, and the lowering of inhibitions can put people at risk in situations where people who are not HIV positive have sex with people who are, because diligence in ensuring sex is protected may not be exercised.
Gay sex and popular culture edit
The 1968 Broadway musical Hair contained one of the first songs performed in public that mentions gay sex explicitly, in the form of the song Sodomy, which the authors confirm attested a positive attitude towards homosexuality.
In 1984, Frankie Goes to Hollywood topped the UK singles charts with Relax, following a ban by the BBC because of the overtly sexual lyrics and cover; the video of the song depicted a gay S&M den.