Homo Part of the Problem
posted by on June 27 at 12:31 PM
So this campaign, according to Dom’s post earlier today, is a good example of effective HIV prevention education:
But Dom hadn’t seen the fine print on the full-page ads running in the Stranger and elsewhere that are part of this campaign when he sat down to write about these sidewalk stencils. Here’s the ad from the back of the official Pride Guide, which reproduces the copy above (“IT’S THE LITTLE PRICK YOU CAN DEAL WITH: It’s just a swab or finger prick to know your HIV status”). I have two issues with the ad.
First, the small one: Local HIV prevention educators have been telling us for, oh, fifteen years now that their primary mission is boosting the self-esteem of gay men. Raise gay men’s self-esteem, they’ve argued all the way to the bank, give gay men accurate and non-biased information (which has meant, perversely, giving gay men information that isn’t biased against dangerous and unhealthy behaviors and people), and gay men will start making better choices about sex, condoms, safety, etc. But… uh… what about the self-esteem of gay men with small cocks? You know, all the men out there with pricks other gay men presumably can’t deal with? Won’t seeing this message on sidewalks and in newspapers and pride guides all over town increase feelings of worthlessness in the non-hung community?
Second, the big problem: The fine print that isn’t being stenciled on the sidewalks but is in the full-page ads in the Stranger, on the back page of the official Seattle Pride Guide ‘08, and in the SGN:
What message does the fine print send? Here’s the intended—and confused—message Public Health no doubt means to send: If you’re the kind of gay man that isn’t using condoms for anal sex over and over and over again (“No condoms?”), be sure to get tested over and over and over again. Because, you see, once the inevitable happens and you find out that you’ve finally succeeded in getting your dumbfuck ass infected, then you’ll be motivated to start taking precautions! Because, hey, even though you failed to use condoms to protect yourself from HIV, you’ll surely want to start using condoms to protect others after you’re infected. Right? Um, hello? Anybody listening?
No, those guys aren’t listening.
Here’s what this ad really succeeds in doing: It further confuses testing with safety in the minds of many in its target audience. Some HIV prevention campaigns do this far more explicitly (“Stay Safe: Get Tested.”), but this ad campaign helps drive that message home. Years of hammering away at the “stay safe: get tested” message has left a number of gay men with the impression that they’re somehow being safe if they’re getting tested regularly (“test often. test often. test often.”), as if the test magically provides them with some sort of retroactive immunity. It doesn’t. Being safe means taking all reasonable precautions—which means, for neg guys, yes condoms for anal sex with partners whose HIV-status they’re not absolutely certain of—and taking those precautions consistently.
Sure, test often—know your HIV status. But testing isn’t safety and regular testing is no substitute for consistent condom use. Public Health shouldn’t create ad campaigns that imply otherwise.
The self-esteem angle on unsafe sex seems to proceed from the dodgy assumption that people engage in risky sex exclusively because of some inner self-loathing and never, you know, because it feels good.
i thought you didn't become gay unless you had a big cock.
wtf? I don't care about a gay man's self-esteem issues with his tiny dick. If you're anyone having sex, gay or straight, ESPECIALLY if you're not using condoms, and you're not getting tested regularly; you're an idiot.
I'm a straight girl who gets tested for ALL std's each year. Sure, it's not cheap but it's worth the peace of mind.
What I'm surprised about is the ad...I was just tested again 4 months ago and they drew blood. No finger prick. No swab. I want THAT test! :(
Well if that isn't the stupidest public health message since "Condoms and Meth go together, yay lets smoke!"
Foreplay is the most important part of sex for me, but oral sex lines up 2nd. Condoms destroy the sensational act of sucking warm, hard penis: immediately. There's no flavored condom that will stop that. Sucking latex cock is boring, sad, and yes, it leaves you unfulfilled if you haven't already ripped it off to turn lame into awesome.
But you do have to worry about precum. You really, really do. And you almost always end up wanting to suck that load down in the heat of the moment. There isn't any way around that if you're as impatient and stupid as I am, but you can at least reduce your risks by following these tubular rules:
One you pull down his pants...
- Does he have a hot face? No? Then why did you just pull down his pants? People will talk...
- Is it a pretty penis? Is this a penis you could suck for at least one year without needing a variety? No? Then don't suck it. Leave.
- Is his penis gorgeous, but his body doesn't do anything for you? Yeah? Then don't suck it. Leave.
- Does he provide boner-killing commentary during foreplay? LEAVE. Ugh.
- Is he [now] trying to rape you? Is he older and stronger? Well, you shouldn't have been so inconsiderate and irresponsible. Have fun showering five times a day and shitting blood for two weeks. If you're still alive, go get tested.
With all of the above in mind, you should get tested every 3 months. Period. If you hate getting your blood drawn and you're too lazy to get tested even with a finger prick, like me, just lie about it. Like me.
Oh, I almost forgot.
- Is his penis smaller than 7"? Point and laugh, and then leave. The great thing about gays is that even with average size, you won't have to worry about them bothering you after you make fun of it. It's the #1 thing that will cancel all communication for eternity. Weee!
^ fascinating. that probably works
Really gross. Is Gay Week over yet, please?
Poe: Your rules work for straight women too. We all need to evalute our men after that crucial 1st step (too small, ugly, bent).
And yes, people will talk...so no uggies. Unless you want to kill yourself afterward.
Hello, Dan!
Duh! Testing prevents HIV, not condoms! And besides, men with small pricks don't get laid anyway!
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the following:
Being safe means taking all reasonable precautions—which means, for neg guys, yes condoms for anal sex with partners whose HIV-status they're not absolutely certain of—and taking those precautions consistently
should read:
Being SAFER means taking all reasonable precautions—which means, for neg guys, yes condoms for anal sex with partners whose HIV-status they're not absolutely certain of—and taking those precautions consistently
condoms are not safe, they are safer. Even with a low (though not rare) failure rate, a single incident of failure is a horrfic event. Not only for gays with the HIV risk. Ask any straight guy who has faced a condom failure and spends the next days and weeks scared to death the he might be a daddy. If you (gay) are going to do this a lot, you would be smart to have a "morning after" antiviral profolatic plan.
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