A new study suggests that gay men have fewer sex partners. "The mean number of male sexual partners MSM reported in the previous year fell significantly from 2.9 to 2.3 between the two surveys (p = 0.035) and was more marked in men under 24 years old (mean 2.9 to 2.1 partners, p = 0.027). The number of partners also fell in men aged 35 to 44 from 3.0 to 2.2, though this was not quite statistically significant (p = 0.07)." Through the different demos there was a consistent (if not hugely significant) drop in the number of sexual partners, which leads me to wonder if marriage equality is starting to have an effect on our community as a whole. Could it be that with the new possibility of legally settling down with someone a shift is beginning in how we date and hook up? It's probably too early to say, but based on this study it's definitely a possibility.
Unfortunately while the number of sexual partners has dropped, the rates of HIV and STDs have risen. But still some hopeful news is that the number of gay men who had never been tested for HIV fell from 25% to 15%.
With new legal possibilities and views about how we love and live, will there be a shift in the way we think about sexual partners?

























