Some people regard as bigoted mention that homosexuals and bisexuals are more promiscuous than heterosexuals. If one were to cite studies such as the classic study by Bell and Weinberg (1970s), then they would dismiss most of them as artifacts of non-random sampling. If representative samples were used, then some would insist that whereas studies using representative samples have shown greater average promiscuity among homosexuals and bisexuals because a small number of promiscuous nonheterosexuals jack up the average, they haven't shown greater median promiscuity. An example of such reasoning is the use of the following studies by Jeramy Townsend:
J Billy-1993: Family Planning Perspectives 25:52-60
R Fay-1989, Science 243:338-348
D Binson-1995: Journal of Sex Research 32: 245-54.
M Dolcini-1993: Family Planning Perspectives 25: 208-14.
Laumann, Edward, et al. The Social Organization of Sexuality : Sexual Practices in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994.
If one goes through these studies, except for the Fay et al. study (1989; non-random sample), others address data from the late 1980s through early 1990s. What is special about this period? Summarized from Ostrow:1
Since 1991 and continuing through the middle of the first decade of the twentyfirst century, there has been a steady increase in the rate of unprotected anal intercourse among homosexuals who largely describe themselves as "burned out" on safer sex or resigned to the fact that they will either become infected or infect their primary partners.2, 3
So, Townsend and others like him have just picked the wrong time period to try to argue that median promiscuity is not greater among homosexuals and bisexuals. One need only look at the venereal diseases and HIV/AIDS literature to note that these conditions are much more likely to afflict homosexuals and bisexuals, obviously in part because of their greater promiscuity.
In the 2000 British NATSAL survey, a random and population-based sample, “Men with a homosexual partner during the past 5 years reported a mean (SD) of 26.7 (109.9) sex partners during that time, compared with 4.1 (8.3) among those men who reported having no homosexual partnerships.”4 Since the data are from a random, population-based sample, several of the MSM would be heterosexual-identified and mostly leaning toward heterosexual interests. The differences in median promiscuity were not reported, but they would have been higher among the nonheterosexuals. Look up additional details about venereal diseases among the nonheterosexuals in this sample.