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Surviving & Thriving: AIDS, Politics, and Culture

Condoms as Safer Sex

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You can’t live on hope, 1980s

Outreach campaigns frequently used comics to depict a wide variety of situations involving AIDS, often employing humor to communicate important information about prevention, testing, and treatment. This poster employed thought bubbles to contest an all-too-common myth that AIDS did not affect the straight community and reinforce the importance of testing.

  • Publisher(s):
    New York City Department of Health
  • Type:
    Poster
Black and white drawing of a white man and woman naked in bed kissing, both have thought bubbles over their heads.
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    I HOPE HE DOESN’T HAVE AIDS!

    I HOPE SHE DOESN’T HAVE AIDS!

    YOU CAN’T LIVE ON HOPE.

    You hope this guy is finally the right guy.

    You hope this time she just might be the one.

    And you both hope the other one is not infected with the AIDS virus. So, what should you do?

    Of course you could ask. But your partner might not know. That’s because it’s possible to carry the AIDS virus for many years without showing any symptoms.

    The only way to prevent getting infected is to protect yourself. Start using condoms. Every time.

    Ask him to use them. If he says no, so can you.

    AIDS
    If you think you can’t get it you’re dead wrong.

    NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 1 (718)485-8111

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