The gay community has been hit hard by the AIDS epidemic in the United States and in much of Europe; as a result, the gay and lesbian community has been forced to examine existing notions of what it means to be gay and to belong to a community based on sexual orientation. This book explores gay and lesbian sexual behaviour, personal identity and community membership from diverse perspectives. Chapters report the authors′ own AIDS-related research and include discussions of AIDS in both large urban centres, such as New York and San Francisco, and in less populated settings outside the AIDS epicentres. Contributors also examine issues related to public policy, volunteerism and long-term survival.