ABSTRACT
HIV/AIDS cases in rural areas are predominantly among men who have sex with men (MSM; Wyoming Department of Health [WDH], 2005). Rural MSM are oft en socially isolated (Cody & Welch, 1997), hiding their sexual preference because of the conservative nature of rural areas. In the last 10 years, rural MSM have increasingly utilized the Internet as a mechanism for communication with other MSM. Th e Internet’s availability, aff ordability, and anonymity (Cooper, 1998) have provided rural men with a vehicle for learning about gay lifestyles, coming out, fi nding sex partners, and unfortunately increased incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and possibly HIV. Th e high frequency of Internet use along with the ability of the men to remain anonymous also makes the Internet a potentially ideal mechanism for contacting and recruiting rural MSM and providing them with prevention materials.
