User:Lifeisgood20/sandbox

Gay Sex Tourism:

The sex tourism industry offers a flourishing submarket for gay, bi-sexual and bi-curious tourists. Existing studies suggest that gay sex tourism has similar motivations as non-gay sex tourism, with the added element of being able to connect to ones gay sexual identity. As these studies present, ”leisure activities and holidays have a particular significance for gay men as they provide the most significant opportunity for constructing, confirming and/or changing their sexual identity.”  Gays may find their home communities not to as gay-friendly as other travel destinations may be, therefore allowing them opportunities to find other gay identifying individuals to explore their identity with. Popular gay sex tourism markets in “Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Sardinia, Sicily and Fire Island have been journalistically described as holidays where gay sexual activity is widely possible” Just like in heterosexual sex tourism markets, some arrangements may be monetary and some may not. Different places have different ways of identifying their interest in such arrangements. For example, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for example, gay sex tourism has become a popular niche hosting a racially diverse market. The workers there are called “Michês” and stand out by wearing bright blue towels and often work in saunas (bath houses). Events such as Pride Parades, LGBT cruises such as Vacaya and other gay oriented festivals such as Circuit Festival and A Magical Weekend at Walt Disney World, provide an opportunity for gays to connect in great numbers, to one destination at a time and by default, may create an environment for sex tourism. Gay sex tourism has seen attacks with protests by religious and anti-gay groups.

Opposition:

Violence: Additionally, sex tourism can put people, especially women, in danger of violence. In the United States for example, the 2004 homicide rate for female sex workers was estimated to be 204 per 100,000, making it the riskiest job in America.

HIV: Another concern is the acquiring and spread of HIV. According to the CDC, The risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases is high among persons who exchange sex for money or non-monetary items. Few large-scale (population-based) studies have been done on HIV among this diverse group of people. Many social and structural factors make it difficult to prevent and treat HIV among persons who exchange sex for money or non-monetary items. Despite free-STD testing that some countries offer, HIV can take up to several months to seroconvert, making it possible to test false-negative and unknowingly spread HIV further.