I actually did research on this very subject.  Believe it or not, condoms were actually invented way back in the mid-1800's.  Yes, I said 1800's.  However, they were not in wide use among gay men until the AIDS epidemic made them essential to survival more than a hundred years later.  Since gay men didn't have to concern themselves with making babies, they were not in as much use with gay men as with straight men before that.  Great comment.  Huge hugs, Grammy