Well, readjust your thinking. Just because they look hot and use condoms in the videos does not by any means indicate that they are HIV-negative, although that may be the image the studios want to project.

By the same token it’s not right to assume that any performer in a bareback film must not be concerned with his health. Chances are pretty good that he came into that arm of the industry already POZ. Of course, exceptions exist, as with myslef, or Brent Corrigan who started in bareback porn but did an about face a few years ago to reportedly protect his health, and now only does “safe” porn.

And realistically speaking, what gayporn performers do sexually offscreen may or may not mirror what they do onscreen. Porn is a job – and a temporary one for most. Wearing a condom is part of the job when working for some studios, and not part of the job when working for others. Their job description may not have any bearing on their personal behaviors.

It seems pointless to get up in arms about what so-and-so is doing with his career and what direction he chooses it to go. Everyone in ‘the business’ has a reason for doing what he does, and only he can make those decisions for himself. All of the talk about “I think it’s wrong for him to…” or “I can’t believe he would…” is simply gossip. It’s sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Be respectful of their choices and let the guys who entertain you live their lives the way that suits them. I’m sure they’re just as happy to let you live yours the way you see fit, and without gossipping about you.

So unless you’re hiring a porn star as an escort, what they do and how they do it just ain’t your business. And if you DO hire a pornstar as an escort, take it with a grain of salt if he says he’s negative, as it could be his image and not your health he’s most interested in protecting. Truth.

Regarding Josh Weston… I would hire him in a heartbeat when I get my upcoming production underway, provided he is indeed positive. In fact, I will ONLY hire POZ guys to act in porn. Why tempt fate when it comes to someone else’s HIV-Neg status? I’m a firm believer in sero-sorting (choosing sex partners who are of the same HIV status as yourself) because it helps close the door to new HIV infections. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for any performer contracting HIV on the set of a film, regardless of how “safe” the action is. And the best way I know around that is to only hire POZ performers.

So Josh if you’re reading this, I have my eye on you for a role (assuming the fellow who “outed” you as POZ is correct, even if it was in bad form to do it here). I sure hope you can act as well as fuck!

I am very concerned that so many people forget that HIV is a virus that kills. I’m also concerned that they see people living long, seemingly happy, lives even when HIV+. They don’t hear about all the medical complications and they don’t hear about the discrimination and judgment HIV+ people face.

People have a right to make informed choices. I think EVERY BB film should have information on it warning of the dangers of BB sex. It should also provide information about the other complications HIV+ people face in their lives.

It’s an opportunity to get the message to those people who are most likely to practice BB sex.

After that we could add the same warning to heterosexual films that don’t encourage the use of condoms. Maybe then more people will release that everybody is at risk of contracting HIV and it’s not just a gay/bi problem.

I think it’s reasonable to assume that a majority of gay porn actors are HIV+. Obviously, it’s not something that they go out of their way to advertise.

So whats the deal? Say what you will about BB, everybody knows it’s the last gasp of porn, so more than anything else, my question is what the hell happened? Not enough Colt work? Needs the money? Just don’t give a shit anymore…?

Oh, and as for unsafe sex pretending to be some sort of new gay liberation, Lee, thats just sick, reductive and pedantic. Grow up.

Um no, they provide some protection. Abstinence, having sex ONLY with other HIV negative partners and/or engaging only in outercourse (with or without condoms) provide absolute protection. It’s disappointing that people don’t realize that the same principle that guides condom advocacy is the one that guides barebacking practices. Lack of discipline is why people bareback with strangers. But when there is a better alternative, it is also lack of discipline why people have sex with strangers while using condoms, and merely choose safe(R) sex instead of safe sex. This is not fun to think about, especially when thinking of all our favorite porn, but it’s the truth.

It really boggles the mind how full of shit gay men are. Here’s a fitting example: on the one hand, a group of browbeaters will congregate and preach to the choir about those damn fools that bareback and all the marketing for it….then not a peep about the very same industry that regularly distributes videos under the category called “classic”, “pre-condom” or some other euphemism for the same thing.

And of course next ensues the labyrinthine rationalizations to defend the obvious hypocrisy.