Intimacy and Vulnerability among Young Men of Colour who have Sex with Men: An Ethnographic Approach to Social Networks and Public Venues

This paper shows the symbolic and structural vulnerabilities that Young Men of Colour who have Sex with Men (YMCSM) confront in their everyday lives. Through the analysis of social interactions in public spaces, this paper shows some of the hidden risks that these young men face, and how these situations increases their vulnerability to HIV infection. Four situations are described as particularly risky for YMCSM: drug use, inter-generational sexual interactions, homelessness and sex work, and stigma and symbolic violence associated with their sexual orientation. This paper is based on participant observation and focus groups in several public venues in New York City. It provides insights into the different social networks and the strategies these young men use to confront the dual experience of discrimination as sexual minorities and as people of colour.