Is the Myth of the Bisexual Infector Still a Myth? Reflections on HIV Risk and Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women

Abstract

Bisexual men are objects of fear and blame in an era of AIDS. They are not only considered secretive and promiscuous fence sitters, they are also condemned as risking women's lives because they have sex with men and women. The percentage of women being newly diagnosed with HIV in ‘developed’ countries is increasing. Focusing on possible present HIV risk, this article examines the empirical evidence of widespread HIV transmission or risk to women from bisexual men. To examine whether the ‘bisexual infector’ is a reality, this article examines behavioral, epidemiological and virological evidence.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV/AIDS
• bisexual men
• high-risk sex