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Surviving & Thriving: AIDS, Politics, and Culture

U.S. Conference of Mayors and Municipal AIDS Projects

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Better safe than sorry, 1980s

While some government-sponsored campaigns purposefully avoided any discussion of sex, this campaign presented a more realistic approach to managing risk. This poster, produced by the Milwaukee AIDS Project in the mid-1980s, offered a bank of information on safe sexual and nonsexual practices that people could utilize to limit their risk of infection or transmitting AIDS to others.

  • Publisher(s):
    Milwaukee AIDS Project
  • Type:
    Poster
Black and white altered photograph of a shirtless man, to the right is text.
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    BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

    AlDS/STD* RISK REDUCTION GUIDELINES FOR SAFER SEX
    *Sexually Transmitted Disease REDUCING RISK

    Decrease the number of different sex partners.
    Avoid: Group sex/orgies and one night stands with unknown partners.

    Stop the exchange of cum (semen) and blood - ALWAYS USE CONDOMS AVOID: Anal intercourse, rimming (oral-anal contact), fisting (giving and retrieving). scat (contact with feces), and water sports (urine in mouth, anus or eyes).

    Don’t inject any drugs not prescribed to you; avoid drugs and drug users.

    POSITIVE STEPS YOU SHOULD TAKE

    Know about your sex partner and ask about their health when in doubt, say NO!

    Increase touching and general body contact kissing is low risk. at best.

    Shower before sex and inspect your partner swollen lymph glands or skin sores.

    Take good care of your body and general health get enough rest, good nutrition and exercise. Get regular checkups. Find a physician with whom you are comfortable and with whom you communicate your lifestyle openly. Reduce: Stress. alcohol, cigarettes. marijuana, poppers and other recreational drugs.

    Don’t donate blood, plasma. semen or body organs.

    Sex is an important part of our lives. We owe it to ourselves and our partners to keep it as healthy (low risk)as we can.

    AIDS SAFE-SEX GUIDELINES

    SAFE SEX PRACTICES
    Message, Hugging, Mutual Masturbation, Social Kissing (Dry) Body to Body Rubbing (Frottage) Fantasy

    POSSIBLY SAFE SEX PRACTICES
    French Kissing (Wet)
    Anal Intercourse With Condom
    Vaginal Intercourse With Condom
    Sucking—Stop before Climax
    Cunnilingus
    Watersports— External Only (Risk Increases with Multiple Partners)

    UNSAFE SEX PRACTICES
    Rimming
    Blood Contact
    Sharing Sex Toys or Needles
    Semen or Urine in Mouth
    Anal Intercourse Without Condom
    Vaginal Intercourse Without Condom

    Milwaukee AIDS Project
    P.O. Box 92505 Milwaukee, WI 53202 273-AIDS

    This poster was prepared by the Milwaukee AIDS Project with support from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Any opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the policies of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

    IT’S A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH

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