PHOTO: Tony Valenzuela riding horse bareback on cover of POZ magazine #44, Feb. 1999 special issue on gay bareback sex. (For more on Tony Valenzuela and Trevor Hoppe see previous posts Tony Valenzuela and Trevor Hoppe on bareback history (8/1/09), Gay bareback sex history (8/1/09) and Gay bareback sex books (3/5/07))
Just when I thought the topic of gay bareback sex was dead, Portland, Oregon's queer newspaper recently printed the article by Monty Herron, "'Bareback Sex- Tantalizing, or Taboo?'" PQ Monthly posted Apr. 21, 2016 (also on issuu.com/pqmonthly) and the opinion piece by Jeremiah Johnson , "Op-Ed: It's Not Irresponsible to Like Bareback Sex," hivplusmag.com posted Feb. 27, 2016
PQ referenced an article by Taylor Friedman, "Pros and Condoms: S.F. Emphasizes HIV Treatment, but a New Generation Advocates Bareback Sex," sfweekly.com posted Nov 9 2011.
This decent discussion on gay bareback sex made me recall Michael Shernoff, author of a book about gay bareback sex, "Without a Condom." Shernoff died a few years ago. (See article by Paul Schindler, "Michael Shernoff, Gay Psychotherapist, Activist Dies at 57," Gay City News, June 19, 2008, and a review of his book, "Crystal, Barebacking in Perspective - Two front-line warriors for public health offer balanced assessments of risks facing gay men," Volume 5, Number 1, January 5 - 11, 2006 gaycitynews.nyc accessed May 15, 2016 plus "Crystal, Barebacking in Perspective. Two front-line warriors for public health offer balanced assessments of risks facing gay men," Volume 5, Number 1, January 5 - 11, 2006 gaycitynews.nyc accessed May 15, 2016).
I also recalled a discussion of bareback sex on Trevor Hoppe's blog, which I was following until a few years ago when I was sorry to read his "final" post: Trevor Hoppe, "I Bid Thee, Adieu! (And My Greatest Hits)," posted Nov. 14, 2011, in which reiterated his disgust with HIV prevention campaigns based on fear and stigmatization. He also described his disappointment and flagging interest in public health, and his desire to shift his focus to social justice. At that time, he was working on his doctoral dissertation at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. (See previous posts Trevor Hoppe sees public health gay bareback sex politics and quits blogging *12/16/11) and OSU LGBT Services Jeff Kenney replaces Steven Leider (6/2/12) for possible connection to former director of OSU Pride center)
Seven years ago I commented, "It is clear to me that Trevor Hoppe represents the next generation of queer academics and gay activists. I cheer him on and hope he has a long and successful career. My only worry is that his desire for bareback sex will lead to harm. It will be interesting to read his analysis a decade from now, independent of his HIV status at that time." (See previous post Trevor Hoppe, bareback, bottom theory (4/29/09))
It is now 2016, not quite a decade later and my questions are being answered, Trevor Hoppe is doing fine and he is now a Professor of Sociology, sexuality, HIV, and the law at the University at Albany-SUNY where his work touches social justice and the more recent issues of mandatory HIV disclosure laws. (See recent Trevor Hoppe interview by Stateside Staff, "Stateside for Tuesday, April 5, 2016,"michiganradio.org (12 minute long segment at start of 45:51 long program) posted Apr. 5, 2016 and some highlights from his Curriculum Vitae resume below)
See previous posts:
(Quoted from "Trevor Alexander Hoppe, Curriculum Vitae" (PDF) trevorhoppe.com (updated: March 2016))
- born in Columbia, South Carolina on May 11, 1983
- Assistant Professor, University at Albany, SUNY Albany, NY Department of Sociology (2015 - Present)
- Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California at Irvine Irvine, CA Department of Criminology, Law and Society (2014-2015)
- Ph.D. University of Michigan (2014) Ann Arbor, MI Sociology and Women's Studies Dissertation: From Sickness to Badness: Michigan HIV Law as a Site of Social Control
- M.P.H University of Michigan (2011) Ann Arbor, MI Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health
- M.A. San Francisco State University (2007) San Francisco, CA Human Sexuality Studies
- B.A. University of North Carolina (2005) Chapel Hill, NC
- Trevor Hoppe Microbicide delivery method opinion (8/4/10)
- Trevor Hoppe on enemas for gay anal sex (4/7/10)
- OSU gay couples bareback sex research (9/23/09) - Oregon State University PhD student Jason Mitchell is researching how and why infection rates are increasing among gay couples
Bareback sex is often wrapped up in the top vs. bottom role playing that many gay men do, which Trevor Hoppe has clearly researched. This social concept is often telated to the dominant/submissive or masculine and feminine gender roles widely adopted by humans. For example, see the gay magazine article by Brenden Shucart, "My Eyes Are Up Here. A recent study suggests that the whole world knows I'm a bottom -- and they can tell just by looking at my face," The Advocate, April/May 2016, p. 24 posted online March 02 2016 as "STUDY: Can You Tell He's a Bottom Just by Looking?". (See previous post Academic paper on recognition of tops vs. bottoms goes viral (3/16/16))
