If so, young persons may feel that there is less immediate need for them to change the behavior that puts them at risk of infection. Some researchers have suggested that many young people hold the erroneous belief that HIV is an infection that older people contract ( Rutledge, Roffman, Picciano, Kalichman, & Berghuis, 2002). For example, Orellana and colleagues (2006) found that among high-risk, sexually active MSM, those ages 20 – 24 years old were nearly three times as likely to not enroll in a brief telephone-delivered HIV prevention intervention compared MSM 40 and above those ages 25 – 29 years old were twice as likely not to enroll compared to MSM 40 and above. Yet, evidence points to a disconnect between current HIV prevention programming and interest in those approaches among YMSM ( Holloway, Cederbaum, Ajayi, & Shoptaw, 2012). Social venues that cater to members of the various gay communities may offer HIV service organizations with opportunities to deliver their HIV education and prevention programs to men who may not be willing to go to the site where the organization is located.Įpidemiological data documents a 34% increase in HIV infection among YMSM (ages 13–29) between 20 ( Prejean et al., 2011). However, YMSM are often first exposed to gay communities through their attendance at social venues, such as bars and clubs, where many attendees engage in behaviors that increase their risk for contracting HIV ( Stall, Friedman, & Catania, 2007). YMSM may receive social support during adolescence and young adulthood through connection to gay communities. YMSM also engage in frequent substance use and risky sexual behaviors, which may put them at risk for contracting HIV ( Clatts, Goldsamt, & Yi, 2005). Young men who have sex with men (hereafter YMSM) are disproportionately affected by mental health difficulties, including depression and suicidality ( Kipke et al., 2007). Young gay, bisexual and other men who have sexual intercourse with men face developmental challenges related to their sexual identity during adolescence and emerging adulthood, which may include coming out to friends and family, harassment and discrimination, and difficulties forming romantic relationships and/or friendships with similar peers ( Tolman & McClelland, 2011).