Brody's Notes... The High Cost Of Bareback Gay Porn-Death of A Model

Chad Noel  Photo Courtesy Of Gorgeous Boys Online Entertainment Network

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Apr 9 | "Chad was a very dear friend of mine--He was my ray of sunshine in good times and in bad. He has never been far from my thoughts or heart. He was a free spirit, and truly touched my life. I am deeply saddened and shocked by this news. I will truly miss him."  Caroline Radosz-Laramie, Wyoming.  

In the brief death notice ran by the Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home in Laramie, Wyoming's Laramie Boomerang newspaper last March 23rd, there was only a one sentence mention of 25 year old Chad Noel's death with the promise of a full obituary to be published later. But what was more striking were the comments, all of which echoed the above sentiments by Ms. Radosz.  A reader could get a palpable sense of grief and loss of a dear friend, a brother, and a valued member of a community.

What makes this tragedy worse is the fact that Chad Noel's death was completely preventable.

Why? Because the insatiable thirst for so called 'true-to-life' erotic representation of guy on guy sex without using protection by consumers of adult fare directly contributed to this young man's demise. Whose fault you ask? Those persons in the Gay community who demand that the talent not use condoms.

An article written by Staff Writer Kilian Melloy of the Edge News Media Group in Philadelphia's Edge Newspaper reported:

Chad Noel’s March 17 death was reported on at GayPornGossip on March 26. The posting read, "Chad Noel age 25, a former ’twink genre’ gay porn performer using the stage names of Donny Price & Craven Cox passed away in New York City, on March 17, 2010 following a brief illness associated with complications of HIV." The article also noted that Noel had worked for an adult entertainment company that makes videos of men barebacking--a euphemism for unprotected anal sex. Noel had also performed under the names Craven Cox and Donny Price. Noel was a native of Laramie, Wyoming, the town outside of which Matthew Shepard was beaten and left to die.

Noel’s death is the latest chapter in an ongoing debate about barebacking, both in pornographic films and in gay society. Health experts point to a failure among younger gays to use condoms consistently--or to use them at all--as a leading factor in rising rates of HIV transmission among younger men who have sex with men (MSMs). Even so, observers note that the issue is a sensitive one among practitioners of bareback sex, who feel that safer sex advocates are intrusive with their message of the importance of condom use.

Note the last sentence in Melloy's piece: "...observers note that the issue is a sensitive one among practitioners of bareback sex, who feel that safer sex advocates are intrusive with their message of the importance of condom use."  Intrusive?

In a conversation with Dr. Shannon Hader, head of the Distirct of Columbia's Department Of Health HIV/AIDS Adminstration, Dr. Hader indicated that  a leading cause of the rising rates of HIV infections are propelled by depictions of barebacking found in the adult industry. Dr Hader also said; 

"The younger generation of Gay & Bisexual men believe that HIV is no longer a life-threatening disease, due to the success of drug regimens in keeping the virus in check. However, HIV- and AIDS-related illnesses and complications do still prove fatal in some cases, and there is no cure for the disease."

Joe Mirabella, writing from his home near Seattle, Washington, in Op-Ed column published at The Bilerico Project said; 

Chad Noel's untimely death is symptomatic of a growing problem in our community. HIV is on the rise for young people, and the glorification of unprotected sex in gay porn is part of the problem.  

When did porn stars start shedding their condoms for riskier bareback sex? Most of the major labels like Titan, Bel Ami, Lucas Films, and Chi-Chi-La Rue all require their actors to wear protection during production. They understand that not only are their films entertainment, but they are educational.

Proper sex education is lacking in our schools. It has been ever since George W. Bush replaced sex education with "Abstinence Only" education. Fortunately I was taught about sex pre George W. Bush. My mom was a sex education teacher and helped design the curriculum in the school system I attended. 

Every student learned about condom use, and was shown an awkward demonstration about how to put a condom on a banana. The visual was memorable. People still come up to me and tell me my mom taught them how to have sex. I'm proud of her.

Unfortunately, my mom isn't teaching sex ed any more, because no child left behind left schools fending for basic resources based on math and science scores only. Kids are not being tested on whether you should mix Vaseline and latex condoms. (You should not. Water based lubes should only be used with condoms.)

Instead, young people are learning about sex mostly on their own via the internet. Particularly gay adolescents. I'm not aware of a single school in the country brave enough to teach gay sex ed. If I'm wrong, please let me know.Most free gay porn sites are full of bareback sex porn -- the kind of porn that killed young Chad Noel. Why are these sites promoting bareback sex? Because that's what people are looking for.

A simple Google Analytics report will show you that "bareback sex" is a very popular search term. Far more popular than "gay condom porn". So, to stay competitive in a market when most porn companies can't even turn a profit, bareback porn is produced to fill the demand. Every time people click on bareback porn, they help promote risky behavior by telling young people condoms aren't sexy.

The glorification of bareback porn is a dangerous development and is killing our youth. They're being taught that bareback is sexy, it is the norm, and it is how to behave. In turn, they are contracting HIV/AIDS at a staggering rate.

You have to own your role in the system. You know who you are bareback porn fans. When you watch bareback porn online you are voting for more bareback porn production. When you watch safer sex porn from the companies I listed above or others, you are supporting a system that promotes healthier sexual behavior.

There are adult film studio/production houses in the industry that have developed a reputation for showcasing bareback sex including San Diego based, Helix Studios, a producer of hardcore condom-less twink porn. The company, formerly located in Ft Lauderdale, Florida, whose principal owner/producer is Keith Miller, has been reported to  the website Gay Porn Gossip by numerous young men alleging that following their performances and association with Helix Studios, they became infected with HIV. 

Mirabella asks: 

"It is likely that starring in bareback porn starting at 18 will lead to HIV/AIDS, but is the glorification of unprotected sex through the porn industry also leading to an increase in HIV/AIDS related diagnosis among young gay men throughout the country?"

A report of a substantial number of adult film talent testing positive last year prompted worries that California lawmakers would step in to regulate the industry more closely. The industry maintains that it is capable of policing itself and needs no government intervention. Some leaders in the field have taken stands for the conspicuous use of condoms in all adult films, among them Russian émigré and porn producer Michael Lucas.  

In a telephone conversation with Patrick Collins, Communications & Publicity Director for Lucas Entertainment in New York, he remarked:

"It is the policy of Michael Lucas [Lucas Entertainment CEO] to ensure the safety & comfort of our models by not asking them to take unnecessary risks. Michael wants to dispel the myth that erotic means that you must portray bareback to have good sex."

Bilerico's Joe Mirabella wrote in summation:

Young actors like Chad Noel should not have to die, just so you can get your rocks off. Millions of youth do not have to be taught that bareback is ok. Simply, choose safer porn and you will be helping more than you will ever know.