Gay men have so far been most vulnerable to HIV infection in this country. With some exceptions, a disproportionately small amount of work is being done for gay men by statutory agencies. A recent report showed that, of 226 organisations with a remit for HIV prevention (including 190 Health Service Units) 60% had not worked with gay men and only 4% had developed substantial work with gay men.

Legislation such as Clause 28 makes it more difficult to reach young gay men with the information and support that they need then it is to reach their heterosexual counterparts.

Culturally we discriminate against male gay sexuality in a range of ways. The age of consent is eighteen, two years higher than for heterosexual sex. The police are very vigorous in enforcing the laws against gay men.

There are very few positive role models of gay men in culture. Gay men are generally absent from high positions in society; there are very few gay teachers and youth workers who feel confident and supported enough to 'come out'; the gay sexuality of many great artists, writers and musicians is ignored; gay men who live together, or who have an active role in parenting their children are called 'pretended families'; there are few images in the media, either real or fictional of gay men who are responsible, reliable and grown up. In fact we are fed a constant diet of crude media and press stereotypes which portray gay men as sexually predatory and voracious, immature and irresponsible and incapable of forming good relationships.

All the major world religions celebrate, legitimise and endorse sexual relationships between men and women. None of them, however, will give any status to gay relationships. In fact they positively reject them calling them evil and sinful.

The medical establishment has labelled gay sexuality as deviant and sick. The word 'homosexual' was invented by doctors to describe an immature and neurotic sexuality. Although many doctors do not subscribe to this view personally, the vast majority still do.

All gay men receive messages from the culture, from a very early age that they are sick, evil, deviant and worthless. It takes a tremendous effort of courage and will to resist these messages, and to develop a sense of self-worth and sexual rights. HIV has made this even harder as it has been culturally constructed as a punishment for gay sexuality. Many gay men have internalised these messages and, at some level, believe them to be true. They can believe that they are not worth looking after, that what they are doing is wrong, that they do not deserve support and, if they become infected with HIV, this is one of the many punishments that they have always expected for being gay.

Gay men are subjected to the same cultural conditioning as heterosexual men. They too will have received messages that sex is about penises and penetration; that sexual prowess and conquests are the mark of a successful man; that men bond with each other through activities rather then shared talk and feelings; that feelings are something to be kept to oneself.

There are some important distinctions in the ways in which lesbians and gay men are treated by the law. There is no specific law, which makes sex between women a crime, and, therefore, no separate age of consent.

Lesbian mothers are discriminated against in law in a way that heterosexual mothers are not. Research into lesbian custody cases shows that courts are unlikely to award custody of children to lesbian mothers. This only happens where the father can be demonstrated to be totally unsuitable, e.g., an abuser or an alcoholic. The risks of losing their children make it necessary for many lesbians to conceal their sexuality. It is, consequently, difficult for them to obtain information about any risks that might be involved in lesbian sex.

Sexism, as well as heterosexism, in the culture creates difficulties for lesbians trying to negotiate the kind of sex they want. Women's sexuality is not taken seriously in our culture, and is usually defined in relation to men's.

Both lesbians and gay men receive a lot of other oppression. This oppression includes: