For National Condom Week in February, I spent some
time in the afternoon California sun wearing a colorful,
satin oval that resembled a vulva to catch the attention
of passersby
just long enough to hand them some
safer sex supplies or have a brief conversation with
them about safer sex. Midday
Sproul plaza on the UC
Berkeley campus sees hundreds of people of all walks
of life varying in age, backgrounds, sexual orientations,
gender identities, and more, though when it comes
down to it, safer sex knowledge really is for everyone.
The positive energy, questions, curiosity, occasional
shock, and infinite photo opportunities I was a part of was extremely rewarding. People may not
have been used to being handed condoms and lube on Sproul, but so many were receptive and
interested in what we were doing. Sparking someone’s curiosity or having them learn a single
new thing about safer sex makes the whole day worthwhile. The genital costumes were a pretty
big help in garnering attention, too!
~SHEPI Melanie
SHEP Talk 