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Introduction <p>The spaces where young men who have sex with men (YMSM) meet sex partners likely play a key role in racial disparities in HIV. Research is needed about racial differences in the online and offline spaces YMSM meet partners and their experiences in these spaces to inform HIV-related public policy.</p> Methods <p>In this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study, we visualized network data from a sample of 413 YMSM (age 16–29) to illustrate racial differences in how participants met their sex partners, which we used in interviews with 33 participants to elicit their responses and interpretations. Data were collected in 2017.</p> Results <p>White YMSM met sex partners in a narrower range of spaces (e.g., using dominant apps that were more popular among White YMSM, through existing networks), whereas Black and Latino YMSM bridged a greater range of spaces (e.g., utilizing multiple apps with diverse user bases, approaching strangers in public spaces). Participants described complex, context- and identity-dependent experiences of risk, safety, and intersectional stigma.</p> Conclusions <p>The spatial structures of partner-seeking among YMSM are racialized: while White YMSM tend to meet partners within insulated, dominant spaces and known networks, Black and Latino YMSM bridge a diverse range of online and in-person venues. These dynamics may help explain racial disparities in HIV transmission networks.</p> Policy Implications <p>Findings underscore the importance of addressing deeper structural and systemic factors that contribute to population dynamics underlying racial disparities in HIV.</p>

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“This Isn’t the Place for That”: Racial Differences in the Virtual and Physical Spaces Where Young Men Who Have Sex with Men Meet Sex Partners

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月23日

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  • Elizabeth McConnell,
  • Angela Li,
  • Michelle Birkett

摘要

Introduction

The spaces where young men who have sex with men (YMSM) meet sex partners likely play a key role in racial disparities in HIV. Research is needed about racial differences in the online and offline spaces YMSM meet partners and their experiences in these spaces to inform HIV-related public policy.

Methods

In this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study, we visualized network data from a sample of 413 YMSM (age 16–29) to illustrate racial differences in how participants met their sex partners, which we used in interviews with 33 participants to elicit their responses and interpretations. Data were collected in 2017.

Results

White YMSM met sex partners in a narrower range of spaces (e.g., using dominant apps that were more popular among White YMSM, through existing networks), whereas Black and Latino YMSM bridged a greater range of spaces (e.g., utilizing multiple apps with diverse user bases, approaching strangers in public spaces). Participants described complex, context- and identity-dependent experiences of risk, safety, and intersectional stigma.

Conclusions

The spatial structures of partner-seeking among YMSM are racialized: while White YMSM tend to meet partners within insulated, dominant spaces and known networks, Black and Latino YMSM bridge a diverse range of online and in-person venues. These dynamics may help explain racial disparities in HIV transmission networks.

Policy Implications

Findings underscore the importance of addressing deeper structural and systemic factors that contribute to population dynamics underlying racial disparities in HIV.