There are reports of a possibly more virulent strain of HIV found in New York in a man who admitted to having unprotected sex while high on crystal meth with numerous people. This, of course, sparked speculation that there were huge groups of gay men having intoxicated unprotected sex and rapidly spreading this new super-virus, but that assumption being challenged by other groups. Here are a few articles I pulled up, though I can’t vouch for the sources:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=20043

http://www.gaycitynews.com/gcn_360/expertsquestion.html

1. while the incidence of heterosexual transmission of HIV is much much much lower in this country than other parts of the world, that is still no reason not to take intelligent precautions AND remain cognizant that other nasty diseases are out there being passed along male-to-female every day. not to mention this seems somewhat irresponsible considering your discussion and the ramifications.

2. your gay friend at the party who says gays aren’t worried about HIV because there is the “cocktail” is either an idiot himself, or hangs out with idiots if they really believe this. I know many gay people, and not one believes in any way that getting HIV infected is just fine because there are drugs. a ridiculous assertion by your friend.

3. the “bug chasers” – people who intentionally try to get infected – is nearly entirely a myth that was debunked years ago. take a peak at this article. http://www.thebody.com/asp/mayjun03/lazarus.html NO ONE thinks of it as an initiation. the very notion is rubbish and factually wrong.