LGBTQ Experiences in US History

I found this poster interesting because you wouldn’t know what it is for unless you took a closer look at it. It also relates back to the topics of intersectionality that we have been discussing in class as it is aimed specifically at Native Americans. The poster, which is presented by the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board has the following quote written in the small text: “The greatest risk of AIDS spreading to Native Americans  isn’t sex, IV drugs or alcohol abuse.  It’s from silence.” This quote proves how important it is for people to talk about AIDS and to be knowledgeable about AIDS so that they can better protect themselves and prevent the spread of AIDS.

Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board. “Shhhh!”. 1989. New Mexico, USA. http://aep.lib.rochester.edu/node/40905. Accessed 20 February 2018.

The general behavior of the “Christian” Right during the worst years of AIDS crisis was simply deplorable. Hiding behind a twisted interpretation of the Bible and God’s Word, the so-called  “Moral Majority” worked to against many effective and humane treatments for AIDS and measures to prevent the spread of HIV.  These right-wing evangelicals pushed an abstinence-only prevention agenda, and attempted to shame many of those living with HIV/AIDS, especially LGBT people and intravenous drug users. This poster says, yes, abstinence may lower your risk of contracting the virus, but you should not be shamed into it. Just because a bunch of bigots say marriage outside of “monogamous heterosexual marriage” is sinful doesn’t give them the right to dictate your choices. I like this poster because it acknowledges one of the possible ways to lessen the risk of contracting AIDS while also pushing against an unfortunately prevalent and misguided religious/political philosophy.

This poster struck me as relevant and interesting with respect to the stigma of AIDS. This is clearly reflected in the paragraph entirely dedicated to conveying that the confidentiality and anonymity of anyone who calls will be maintained. Even the headline of the poster, implying that it wouldn’t be right for a child to learn about AIDS from anyone but their parent, perpetuates this stigma. I believe this relates to the idea that sex—especially LGBTQ+ sex, more strongly associated with AIDS—is something to be kept fully separated from the public domain, as discussed by Berlant and Warner and resonated throughout U.S. history.

Sources:

• Pennsylvania Department of Health. If Anybody Tells My Kid About AIDS, It’s Going To Be Me! 1989. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA. http://aep.lib.rochester.edu/node/40852
• Lauren Berlant and Michael Warner, “Sex in Public,” Critical Inquiry 24, No. 2 (Winter, 1998): 547-566.

This poster, by Charles Papavoine, was titled “Concept.” I was intrigued that it did not use any words, and instead just displayed 24 condoms hanging from a clothesline. I can imagine the intention was to normalize talk about condoms; by displaying all sorts of different-looking condoms, their existence becomes more recognized and talked-about, and possibly more accepted. It seems to send a message that we need to stop silencing discussions about HIV/AIDS, condoms, safe sex, and sex in general. The idea of silence and speaking seems to be a recurring theme in our class—after all, many of us said we were taking the class because people refused to talk about queer people, history, and issues in school and the rest of society.

Papavoine, Charles. Concept. 1987, University of Rochester, Rochester. AIDS Education Posters, River Campus Libraries Rare Books and Special Collections, http://aep.lib.rochester.edu/node/40938. Accessed 20 February 2018.

SB

I find this particular poster about HIV and AIDS awareness interesting because there were two versions made, one with all white males and the one shown above. I think that it is extremely effective to show this type of representation within the awareness posters because it shows that HIV and AIDS does not just effect white middle class people but has effective a large number of individuals of multiple backgrounds, races, sexes, and classes. This allows the individuals to connect with the image more seeing themselves represented within the ad itself. It also gets the message across that using protection is sexy rather than just an extra step that “ruins the moment”.

Gay Mens Health Crisis. “He Plays Hard… And He Always Uses Condoms.” New York, 1992. Retrieved from http://aep.lib.rochester.edu/node/40831

I chose this poster specifically because I felt a sense of resistance in its context. Much like what we have learned in class, the LGBTQ+ community has focused on fighting for exposure and equality, and this poster emulates that fervor. I researched a bit about this poster, and it was created during Rudy Giuliani’s mayoral term of NYC. The first poster translates to “Zero cuts to “Single Room Only” housing”, and S.R.O.’s were significantly reduced in funding under Mayor Giuliani where the conditions were repulsive and there was a lack in social workers from the government. Overall, Mayor Giuliani attempted to abolish the presence of the Department of AIDS Services and made numerous budget cuts to government services. I have detailed more information about the resistance that ensued and the condition of S.R.O.’s below.

Resistance

https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/act-activists-resist-new-york-city-mayor-rudy-giuliani-s-aids-policies-1994-95

S.R.O. Cuts & Deficiencies

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/12/nyregion/neighborhood-report-upper-west-side-aids-patients-sro-s-two-west-siders-debate.html

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/10/nyregion/neighborhood-report-new-york-up-close-aids-patients-sro-s-need-site-caseworkers.html

Poster

http://aep.lib.rochester.edu/node/48970

I selected the following image from the AIDS Poster Collection because I found it to have an intense shock value. The message that this poster sends is essentially that by not wearing a condom because you are so eager to have sex with a cute boy, you will die of HIV/AIDS. This message is incredibly crazy, which is why I chose it. To me, it is unbelievable that this message would be publically broadcasted. This relates to the idea of heteronormativity that we have talked about in class. Given that heterosexual sex and relationships are the norm, it is probably never stated that you can die from having straight sex. This poster is saying that you will die from having unprotected gay sex, which shows gayness as being far form the norm.

The above poster is titled “Famous Last Words,” produced by People of Color Against AIDS. The overall message to viewers is that anyone can get AIDS, regardless of race; it’s a huge mistake to assume that only white people can get AIDS.   I find the poster interesting because it challenges the idea that the only people getting AIDS are white gay men; the disease doesn’t care what race you are—it affects anyone infected in an equally horrible way. In our class, we have had several class discussions about intersectionality between different groups, and this poster continues this idea—queer issues (including, but not limited to, AIDS) affect people regardless of race, gender, sex, and other characteristics.

I decided to choose this flyer out of all the others for a few key reasons. The flyer itself is one of many that were found within the AIDS Poster Collection at UR;so that alone makes it part of a larger collection of items that advocate for AIDS awareness. With that being said, this particular poster stood out among the rest due to its message. “Sleeping with your partner is sleeping with their past,” I feel like this message speaks volumes. Often when people get into relationships they tend to not want to ask about their partners past. This can be due to a number of different reasonings: jealousy, being uncomfortable, trying to establish a respect of privacy, ect. With that, I still believe that speaking to one’s partner about past relationships is extremely important.

 

 

Personally, when I start a relationship with someone, this is one of the first questions I ask. Now I understand that not everyone is as straightforward as I am, but this is a habit that I think people should start practicing. Having this conversation is hard when starting off a new relationship but it is also one that can save your life or your partner’s life. Starting the conversation encourages people to go out and get tested and makes people more conscious, as well as gives them a sense control in their sex lives and actions.

 

 

I think that this poster is related to the class because the AIDs outbreak was directly related to the LGBTQ+ community originally. Growing up I was always told that AIDs was a “gay man’s” disease. That comment being made by ignorant people of course, but it was still heavily associated with the greater community.  I also think this poster relates to the class because the poster itself was publishedas a means of educated the community at large
about this outbreak. To me, this class strives to educate the students about all issues related or targeted towards the LGBTQ+ community, by learning about these issues we can hope to spread further awareness and lead people away from cultural ignorance. 

 

I think that this poster relates to our LGBT experiences in history class because we have been learning a lot about the gay/transgender experiences in the 60’s and 70’s. There has been a lot of evidence in the readings that queer youths were having sex at an early age. A lot of transgender youths who used to hustle on the streets would become sex workers by the age of 18 or 19 because they couldn’t find any other work.  This poster is great because it informs the audience that people are having sex really young, and it is important that queer youths know about what HIV/AIDS is, and how to prevent it at a young age so that they can make sure that they don’t get infected. I find this poster interesting because it is very straightforward and isn’t hesitant to talk about sex. The entire point of this poster is that sex needs to be talked about and that moving past the uncomfortability some parents feel talking about sex is necessary in order to keep their children safe. This poster sends the message that AIDS has a huge effect on people’s lives and that it’s important to talk about.

Poster Creators: Country AIDS Awareness Campaign

~BZ