Book Of The Day: Stayin’ Alive, the invention of safe sex
In 1983, when fear and confusion reigned, Richard Berkowitz and Michael Callen published “How To Have Sex In An Epidemic: One Approach”, a pamphlet that offered suggestions to gay men that were simultaneously sex-positive and designed to limit the risk of sexually-transmitted infections.
It isn’t an exaggeration to claim that Berkowitz and Callen invented safe sex, which has prevented countless HIV infections over the past three decades. Relatively unsung heroes, Callen died in 1993, and Berkowitz was recently featured in a long overdue award-winning documentary about his life and work called Sex Positive.
Mr Berkowitz’s memoir, Stayin’ Alive: the invention of safe sex was described by Tony Kushner as “an intelligent and perceptive commentary on the gay scene, from an AIDS activist of many years standing, a pioneer in the field of safe sex practices, a thoroughgoing mensch and a good writer.” POZ magazine said the book is “required reading for anyone trying to understand the ideological divide between risk reduction and abstinence.”
Browse copies on Amazon, or even better, head over to Mr Berkowitz’s engaging website, where autographed copies are available, direct from the author.
3 notes
-
fearandfolly reblogged this from outrate and added:
Proud to be named after Mr. Michael Callen.
-
fearandfolly likes this
-
eppieblack likes this
-
outrate posted this
