Israeli gays shun condoms despite worrying rise in AIDS
Ofri Ilani, 9/7/08
Ro’i, 26, grew up in an Orthodox home. About 10 years ago, when he began having sex with men, he lived with a strong sense of sin. Now, after becoming accustomed to it, he has discovered that he faces another kind of prohibition. He has found the new sense of sin in sexual relations without a condom. “Sex without a condom excited me because of the prohibition involved,” he says. “Every type of homosexual sex is forbidden by the Torah, and there is something arousing about the very transgression against the prohibition. So apparently I’m looking for another prohibition, which will be even stronger.” A few weeks ago Ro’i met another young man who was looking for sex in a gay chat room. When they spoke via the chat room, Ro’i asked his future partner about his preferences.