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?

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. A notice of Noel's death was also published in the Laramie Boomerang on March 23.

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.

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.