Author: Paul Cameron, Kay Proctor, William Coburn, Jr., and Nels Forde

Summary: 4,340 adults randomly drawn from five metropolitan areas were questionnaired about their sexual orientation, involvement with unusual sexual practices (e.g., sadomasochism, bondage & discipline), oral/anal sex, number of homo- and heterosexual partners, and sexually transmitted disease (STD) experience. Bi/homosexuals of both genders (4.4% of the sample) reported higher lifetime rates for most of the STDs and admitted to higher rates of deliberate infection of others than their heterosexual counterparts. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that degree of participation in unusual sexual practices, anal/oral contact, age and number of homosexual partners predicted STD experience. Younger adults and homosexuals more frequently reported engaging in both unusual sexual activities, oral/anal contact, and having had STD experience. Homosexuals appear to contribute no less than 15% of the nation’s STDs and probably act as a significant vector in generating additional fractions to the STD pool.

References: Nebraska Medical Journal, 1985, 70(8), 292-299.