Ohne Halt (Adrift).

The Issue.

Barebacking (sexual intercourse without condom) gives a chance to AIDS to spread. There haven't been so many new HIV infections for years as there are today. These new infections mainly take place in the gay community. The number of infections in Cologne is above average withing Germany. Officially numbers of ca. 2900 HIV-positives are anounced and it is assumed that anually ca. 100 new infections have to be added to this number. As not everybody is willing to do the test the estimated number of unreported cases has to be assessed much higher.

Many barebackers take a positive test result as less frightening than the permanent fear of getting infected with HIV. Now the HIV-positive can surrender to their lust without feeling the responsibility for their own lifes weighing heavy on their shoulders. But in some cases the persons concerned do not react in a responsible way towards others.

On the other hand, everybody knows what is at stake when he engages in bareback sexual intercourse and some are willing to take risks. Barebacking can be compared to russian roulette, the danger at hand seems to provide a special attraction. The awareness that life is finite creates a new perspective. The HIV carrier are no longer just part of gay culture but also part of the minority of HIV carriers. Knowing this they tend to live their (sex) life more intensively, more exessively.

Barebacking

A biohazard symbol as tatoo of a barebacker – external symbol of the infection that is initially invisible.

Links concerning the issue

Wikipedia (english)
Der vergessene Schock (german)