“You’re Gay, It’s Just What Happens”: Sexual Minority Men Recounting Experiences of Unwanted Sex in the Era of MeToo
Date
2021
Authors
Gaspar, Mark
Skakoon-Sparling, Shayna
Adam, Barry D.
Brennan, David J.
Lachowsky, Nathan J.
Cox, Joseph
Moore, David
Hart, Trevor A.
Grace, Daniel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Journal of Sex Research
Abstract
Our grounded theory analysis derives from in-depth interviews conducted with 24 gay, bisexual, queer,
and other men who have sex with men (GBM) living in Toronto, Canada, to understand their experiences
of sexual coercion. Participants drew on discourse from the #MeToo movement to reconsider the ethics of
past sexual experiences. The idea that gay or queer sex is inherently risky and unique from heterosexual
relations made negotiating sexual safety challenging. These notions were enforced by homophobic
discourses on the one hand, and counter discourses of sexual liberation, resistance to heteronormativity,
hegemonic masculinity, and HIV prevention on the other. Biomedical advances in HIV prevention such as
pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and undetectable viral load affected how some participants felt about
sexual autonomy and safety. Participants held themselves responsible for needing to be more assertive
within sexual encounters to avoid coercion. Many believed that unwanted sex is unavoidable among
GBM: if “you’re gay, it’s just what happens.” Targeted education aimed at GBM communities that
incorporates insights on GBM sexual subcultures is necessary. This work must be situated within
a broader understanding of how gender norms and hegemonic masculinity, racism, HIV status, and
other power imbalances affect sexual decision-making, consent, pleasure, and sexual harm.
Description
The authors are grateful for the generous contributions of the Engage study
participants and members of the Community Engagement Committee in
Toronto.
Keywords
Citation
Gaspar, M., Skakoon-Sparling, S., Adam, B. D., Brennan, D. J., Lachowsky, N. J., Cox, J., Moore, D., Hart, T. A., & Grace, D. (2021). “‘You’re Gay, It’s Just What Happens’: Sexual Minority Men Recounting Experiences of Unwanted Sex in the Era of MeToo.” The Journal of Sex Research, 58(9), 1205-1214. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.1962236