What is Bugchasing?
'''Bugchasing''' is trying to get [[HIV]] through [[Sexual intercourse|sex]].{{sfnm|1a1=García-Iglesias |1y=2020b |1p=1232|2a1=Holt |2y=2010 |2p=473|3a1=Klein |3y=2014 |3p=54|4a1=Malkowski |4y=2014 |4p=211|5a1=Tewksbury |5y=2003 |5p=468}} People who try to get HIV are called bugchasers, and they are all [[men who have sex with men]].{{sfn|García-Iglesias|2021|p=154}} It is not entirely understood why people try to get HIV, and bugchasing actions are hard to understand. It is rare. == Motivation and action == Bugchasers are men who have sex with men and purposely try to get HIV.{{sfnm|1a1=Buys|1y=2010|1p=483|2a1=García-Iglesias|2y=2020b |2p=1232|3a1=Grov|3y=2006|3pp=990–991}} It is not understood why this happens.{{sfn|Medeiros|2016|p=67}} There are four common explanations.{{sfnm |1a1=Carballo-Diéguez|1a2=Bauermeister|1y=2004|1p=5 |2a1=Gauthier|2a2=Forsyth|2y=1999|2pp=93–96}} First, it is thought that some men become bugchasers because they fear HIV infection, which had previously changed how they have sex. This can include things like men abstaining from sex entirely, only having sex with one person, or using sexual protection like [[condom]]s.{{sfnm |1a1=Ames|1a2=Atchinson|1a3=Rose|1y=1995|1p=70 |2a1=Gauthier|2a2=Forsyth|2y=1999|2p=93 }} Second, some men think having HIV is sexy. This means it can feel good to think about it, or that it is the ultimate [[taboo]] to overcome.{{sfnm |1a1=García-Iglesias|1y=2020b|1p=1237 |2a1=Gauthier|2a2=Forsyth|2y=1999|2p=94 |3a1=Santiesteban Díaz|3a2=Orlando-Narváez|3a3=Ballester-Arnal|3y=2019|3p=1420 }} Third, bugchasers might think having HIV makes them part of a group.{{sfnm |1a1=Dean|1y=2008|1p=91 |2a1=Gauthier|2a2=Forsyth|2y=1999|2p=94 |3a1=Palm|3y=2019|3p=131 |4a1=Swan|4a2=Monico|4y=2014|4p=466 }} And fourth, bugchasing might be an action against [[heteronormativity]], the idea that everyone is [[Heterosexuality|heterosexual]]. The idea is that bugchasers do not achieve some expectations placed on them, including [[safe sex]].{{sfnm |1a1=Crossley|1y=2004|1p=235 |2a1=