Talking about sex might be OK, but what about telling your mates you’ve been a bit of a slut? Why is indulging in copious amounts of safe gay sex so taboo?

Whenever I run into gay acquaintances around town we’ll inevitably start quizzing each other about our sex lives and who we’ve been shagging recently.

What pisses me off is that guys never want to admit that they’ve slept with more than one person in the last day/week/month for fear of being labeled a manwhore, so truthful answers are a rarity.

I don’t really see why it’s such a big deal to be sexually liberated and proudly promiscuous? I always spill the beans on my X-rated dalliances, but that’s probably because I lead such a PG-13 lifestyle (I’m far too shy to be unzipping my pants for every guy in town).

But I wholly respect those who do, because there’s really nothing wrong with choosing to copulate with numerous men.

Psychology and sexuality lecturer from Monash University Gordon Walker believes social conditioning plays a major role in gay men’s lives and the ways they perceive morality and sex.

“from a young age gay people are bombarded with images of the hetero-masculine norm of booze, broads and beer, they’re exposed to role models on film and in the media who are celebrated for their promiscuity like James Bond and Hugh Hefner,” he points out.

“On the flipside, many gay celebrities like Anthony Callea and Carson Cressley don’t seem to lead sexually-charged private lives, because if they did they’d be seen as morally decrepit. So it’s understandable why many same-sex attracted people see gay promiscuity as impure or unpalatable.”

Walker’s words are definitely food for thought.

As a collective people we’ve survived ghastly oppression, so why can’t we just say it loud and proud – we’re free to fuck whomever we please on as many occasions and in as many positions as possible.

Gay sex is the beautiful act that distinguishes us from our heterosexual counterparts – and we should feel proud to take a great big sizeable bite from our forbidden fruit. whether we fuck 1 or 1,000 guys in a calendar year is irrelevant.

We’re free to follow our own sexual path, and we live in an era where homosexual activity is no longer a punishable criminal offence.

Whilst it’s true that HIV and a host of other sexually transmitted infections are omnipresent in gay society, that fabled sheath of latex we call a condom is an impermeable barrier when used correctly and consistently, and with regular testing appointments we shouldn’t spend too long stressing over STIs and their cavalcade of symptoms.

Besides, condoms and sexual health tests are no-brainers for us in the pink kingdom, but are they commonplace in the heterosexual world? how many of our straight peers use condoms with every sexual partner and get themselves screened for STDs every 6 to 12 months?

Yes we have a higher prevalence of STIs in the gay male population, but in the modern-day globalized world, everybody has to be on their guard when it comes to these viruses and bacteria, so we’re right on the frontline in the battle for optimal sexual health.

Many believe we can only experience deep connections and ‘genuine’ passion with long-term partners or bonafide soulmates, yet that’s just not true. we write our own narratives in life, we set our own rules and we can experience a healthy nirvana with total strangers if the chemistry is right.

I believe we can learn something from every sexual experience we have. Sex with a veritable stranger (albeit someone who respects their fellow man) can be as rewarding and heartfelt as shagging your long-term spouse.

In short, nobody has the right to sit atop a moral high horse and judge others based on their breadth of sexual partners.

Bed-hopping straight men are hailed as heroes yet gay guys are shamed into silence, yet morally speaking, sex with a man is no different to sex with a woman – full stop.

Gay intimacy is a basic part of who we are as homosexual homosapians, and we deserve to have as much of it as we desire without feeling unnecessarily bloated.——Robert Edward Smith is a 24-year-old Communications graduate, freelance writer and bisexual advocate for equality based in Melbourne, Australia.

Ronald Elson was only diagnosed with the illness last year – but may have had it for 25 years.

He recently attended a star-studded event with celebrities such as Sadie Frost, Meg Matthews, Peaches Geldof, Jimi Mistry and David Morrissey to raise awareness about Hepatitis C.

Ronald, of Cranmore Drive, spoke openly to the Highland News about how he got the illness and hopes by telling his story he can banish some of the stigma surrounding the disease.

Mr Elson told the HN: “I am not sure exactly how I got it, but I snorted cocaine and dabbled in drugs as a youngster. I took intravenous drugs too. It was a craze that me and my mates were going through and at the time we didn’t realise what the consequences could be. Hep C is a blood-borne virus.”

He explained that for him the symptoms weren’t obvious until he was eventually diagnosed and successfully treated.

“Over the years I had been so confused and had very bad moods and was depressed,” he said. “I think I had the illness for about 20 to 25 years. there were so many side effects. I was erratic, and had no confidence.

“Last year I went to the doctor with joint pain – another side effect – and they tested me for a whole host of things and it was found I had Hep C.”

Mr Elson, who works for Bairds Maltings in Inverness, added: “Getting diagnosed was life changing. I was immediately treated – I had to take five tablets a day and have one injection a week for 24 weeks.

“It is intensive but it has turned my life around. in fact, the treatment is similar to what people going through chemotherapy get. you can lose you hair through the treatment.

“I had symptoms that I didn’t even know were related to Hep C such as mood swings and I am only just realising now that this is why I have been behaving in certain ways.

Ronald Elson is setting up a support group for people affected by the virus. Gary Anthony

“Having Hep C really held me back for a number of years, which is why I want to get the message out there that people can potentially be cured.”

The 46-year-old, who lives with his partner Caroline MacKinnon and who have five children between them, added: “I set up the support group because when I was in hospital getting my treatments I couldn’t figure out why there was no support for people with Hep C.

“I thought I would take matters into my own hands. there are so many people in the Highlands with Hep C. in fact, it kills more people in the UK than HIV.

“There is a definite need for the group. there is so much stigma surrounding Hep C.”

Mr Elson was recently invited along with 100 others with the illness, to an awareness-raising dinner arranged by the the Hepatitis C Trust.

He said: “It was great fun. I had to go down to London.

“The Trust invited me along as they have acknowledged that I am giving up some of my time to do this support group.

“We meet once a month and our next meeting is on January 14 at 34 Waterloo Place.” anyone is welcome to attend the support group.

For more information, call Ronald Elson on 07599 504843.

c.doughty@highland-news.co.uk