Fortunately, recent research proves what I was trying to illustrate so long ago - that penetrative anal sex only occurs in about a third of sexual encounters between cisgender gay men. I was only able to do so much to expand their views about gay sex, especially in a climate where the lives and experiences of LGBTQ people are still stigmatized and where six states have laws that expressly forbid teachers from discussing LGBTQ issues. It was only until I had had enough of butt jokes from cisgender straight friends that I realized that they thought of relationships cisgender gay men only have penetrative anal sex.
I found that sex included consent, trust, kissing, masturbation, oral intercourse, and more. Coming into my identity as a cisgender black gay young man, I used the internet to increase my understanding of sex and healthy relationships.
Growing up, the sex education lessons that I received in school were exclusive of LGBTQ people and solely focused on intercourse between a cisgender straight man and woman.
