Dismantling Those Myths About Gay Sex

Dismantling Those Myths About Gay Sex

I find it weird that straight people cannot get their minds out of our asses. They’re obsessed with how we have sex, what happens before and after. It’s even weirder when they’re homophobic. Like you hate it, so why are you always thinking about it?

I met this lady a few weeks ago, claiming to be an LGBT ally and all, and we were having fun until she honestly asked me, “I heard that lots of gay people that have had anal sex eventually end up wearing diapers and even come down with anal cancer. If they know the end from the beginning, why do they still engage in anal sex? Aren’t there other ways of showing they love each other?”

In one sentence, she brought together two of the most commonly used myths about gay people, that they use diapers and that they come down with anal cancer.

So, I decided to set her straight. Let’s begin.

Gay Men And Diapers

I swear, this rumor is so pervasive that I definitely believed it growing up. I think many other gay men did too. The myth states that when gay men have too much sex, the sphincters become too loose and they become incontinent and can’t keep shit in, literally, hence the diapers. Well, it’s been years and I’m yet to find a single incontinent gay person. Seriously, gay men, how many of your friends use diapers? None? You know why? It doesn’t work like that. Anal sex is not about loosening the sphincter permanently. It’s about voluntarily relaxing it temporarily. You learn over time how best to relax the sphincter so that there are no tears to it.

Now, occasionally, tears may occur to the sphincter, most commonly to the external anal sphincter. These tears are usually small, incredibly painful and cause great difficulty or pain when taking a shit or having anal sex. This is an ANAL FISSURE. Here, the person can get constipated because of how long it takes him to summon the courage to take that painful shit. Notice however that they do not become incontinent. They become the very opposite.

In cases of significant tears or other factors, it can actually cause incontinence, but the rate is miniscule, about a 6.3% increased risk compared to men who do not have anal sex.

Compare this to the myths that make it seem like diapers are top of a gay man’s starter pack list.

 

Gay Men And Anal Cancer

This one upsets me because it’s used like such a curse. “I hope you die of anal cancer” and other threats get thrown about on the daily, and like most other things, it’s much ado about nothing. How morally bankrupt do you have to be to wish another human being cancer.

Anal cancer can be caused by the Human Papilloma Virus, the same virus that causes cervical and vulvar cancer in women that have had sex (or been exposed in some other form) and some types of Nasopharyngeal (throat) cancer in men and women that perform oral sex. Exposure to the virus is all that is needed to create the likelihood that a person can get certain forms of the cancer. Condoms reduce the area of exposure of the HPV virus but not completely, as it can still be passed through whatever genital or pubic areas that are not covered by the condom.

So, people who have anal sex aren’t special. They just have anal exposure while others have other exposure. Even then, their risk of getting anal cancer is substantially low unless the person is co-infected with HIV. And then, only with the reduced immunity that comes if the HIV is poorly managed does the risk of anal cancer significantly increase.

The United States estimated the risk at 131 men per 100,000. That’s 1.3 men for every 1000. Note also that the rate according to this study is 46 men per 100, 000 for men who have HIV but have never had sex with other men. So, it’s more linked to HIV infection and the reduced immunity it brings.

Yet, the myth has spread quickly as though it’s this thing that all gay men eventually get.

Regardless of your views on homosexuality and anal sex, it remains important not to let myths guide your prejudices.

Written by Vhagar

Previous Sitcom ‘Friends’ comes to Netflix and viewers are shocked at the show’s homophobia, transphobia and misogyny
Next Rape Is Not Only When There’s Blood And A Crying Girl

About author

You might also like

Opinion Pieces 6 Comments

HOW CAN ANYONE CALL LOVE A CRIME?

FOREWORD: If you’ve read the three-chaptered Kito story – WE ARE HERE: THE ATTACK, THE HUNT, THE RETRIBUTION – then you would be familiar with who this next ally is.

Our Stories 10 Comments

Will Gay Sex Ever Stop Being A Crime In Nigeria?

I remember sometime in 2013, when my learned friend and I were exchanging ideas on the possible legal defences open to people who face criminal charges in court for same-sex

Opinion Pieces 9 Comments

PETER OBI, THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY AND QUEER RIGHTS

We are back in election season and this might just be the most paramount election this country will experience in recent times. Everyone was perturbed about the candidates from the

9 Comments

  1. Dimkpa
    January 13, 12:13 Reply

    Just to add to this enlightening article. Just like women are being vaccinated against HPV to reduce the risk of cervical cancer, there are trials to vaccinate gay men as well to reduce the risk of anal cancer or warts. The vaccines are available in Nigeria, but are not free. One of them is called Gardasil, Google can help if you want to know more. It may be worthwhile getting vaccinated if possible. It is all about safety.

    • Oludayo
      January 13, 12:21 Reply

      Cool Dimkpa. Do you have any idea of the price range?

    • Francis
      January 13, 19:44 Reply

      Yes oh. Price and sellers/clinics if possible. Thanks

    • Vhagar
      January 17, 09:30 Reply

      Dimkpa, Gardasil and some other vaccines that protect against HPV are available. But it should be made very clear that they are much more effective if taken before contact.
      For women,they should be taken before vaginal contact with the virus for best effect i.e as a virgin. The same would usually go for men. It should be taken before anopenetrative sex introduces the virus.

      After introduction, the vaccine can only do moderate damage control.

  2. quinn
    January 15, 09:50 Reply

    2018 is still going good. Keep ’em coming!

Leave a Reply