Dearest Friends,
I am honored to be able to once again bring OPN back to the Wreck Room. Last year was amazing, and this year promises to be as well. That being said, I have spent countless hours discussing my motivations for this event. I want my attendees to understand why this event is so dear to me.
In 1991, when I was four years old, I lost my Uncle Allan to HIV/AIDS. He was my grandmother's oldest son. I didn't understand the situation at the time, but because of it, I grew up very aware of the dangers and implications of unsafe sex. My grandmother was also a foster parent, assisting to raise many young men in a time that being homosexual, queer, weird, or mentally ill was a socially acceptable reason for caregivers to abuse, neglect, or abandon their child. Several of those young men returned in adulthood, having also contracted HIV, eventually dying of the illnesses for which they had no ability to battle. One day I showed up at the Panhandle AIDS Support Organization (PASO) for the free HIV/STI/STD screening. Here I met a wonderful woman named Rhonda. Her kind and happy nature made me comfortable enough to speak with her openly. Through this conversation I learned about the Street Outreach Team, of which she is a part. They are a wonderful group of people, with whom I have worked on several events with now. They are always open-minded and genuinely intrigued by what they may find, but moreover we get to assist each other in the fight against the spread of HIV.
"Safe sex" means more than using a condom. Between condoms breaking, latex allergies, moments of passion, and a general disdain by some individuals for the sensation; people are not as safe as we like to pretend. That being said, sexuality is natural and it feels good. We are consenting adults that wish to share intimacy. Some of us are still searching for that perfect partner, some of us don't believe we should have just one, and some of us may simply be looking for someone to share a moment or two with and move on. Being "Sex Positive" is all about being open and honest with your partner(s). I encourage you to be honest with your partner about your wants and needs, as well as other companions you may have. Allow your partners to understand what makes you feel good, and afford them the opportunity to consent to entering into an intimate interaction with you. Consent is not just a legal term used in rape cases. Consent is about knowing the risks and agreeing to conditions. When you are honest with your potential partner about everything, you give them a choice. Sex positive isn't about being promiscuous, it's about not being ashamed. Being sex positive engenders a healthy confidence in a person. This confidence allows you to look at your partner/lover/spouse/"buddy" and ask questions without fear of offensiveness. Questions like....
When is the last time you got tested?
Sincerely,
Alicia Kochenower
Director "On Pins and Needles"
In 1991, when I was four years old, I lost my Uncle Allan to HIV/AIDS. He was my grandmother's oldest son. I didn't understand the situation at the time, but because of it, I grew up very aware of the dangers and implications of unsafe sex. My grandmother was also a foster parent, assisting to raise many young men in a time that being homosexual, queer, weird, or mentally ill was a socially acceptable reason for caregivers to abuse, neglect, or abandon their child. Several of those young men returned in adulthood, having also contracted HIV, eventually dying of the illnesses for which they had no ability to battle. One day I showed up at the Panhandle AIDS Support Organization (PASO) for the free HIV/STI/STD screening. Here I met a wonderful woman named Rhonda. Her kind and happy nature made me comfortable enough to speak with her openly. Through this conversation I learned about the Street Outreach Team, of which she is a part. They are a wonderful group of people, with whom I have worked on several events with now. They are always open-minded and genuinely intrigued by what they may find, but moreover we get to assist each other in the fight against the spread of HIV.
"Safe sex" means more than using a condom. Between condoms breaking, latex allergies, moments of passion, and a general disdain by some individuals for the sensation; people are not as safe as we like to pretend. That being said, sexuality is natural and it feels good. We are consenting adults that wish to share intimacy. Some of us are still searching for that perfect partner, some of us don't believe we should have just one, and some of us may simply be looking for someone to share a moment or two with and move on. Being "Sex Positive" is all about being open and honest with your partner(s). I encourage you to be honest with your partner about your wants and needs, as well as other companions you may have. Allow your partners to understand what makes you feel good, and afford them the opportunity to consent to entering into an intimate interaction with you. Consent is not just a legal term used in rape cases. Consent is about knowing the risks and agreeing to conditions. When you are honest with your potential partner about everything, you give them a choice. Sex positive isn't about being promiscuous, it's about not being ashamed. Being sex positive engenders a healthy confidence in a person. This confidence allows you to look at your partner/lover/spouse/"buddy" and ask questions without fear of offensiveness. Questions like....
When is the last time you got tested?
Sincerely,
Alicia Kochenower
Director "On Pins and Needles"