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Sex-Positive HIV Prevention Messages: A Case Study From the Early Years of the Epidemic.

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Title: Sex-Positive HIV Prevention Messages: A Case Study From the Early Years of the Epidemic.
Authors: Adrian, Casey W., Massey, Sean G., Haager, Julia B., Lowinger, Eden
Source: American Journal of Public Health. Feb2026, Vol. 116 Issue 2, p214-221. 8p.
Subjects: HIV infection epidemiology, Prevention of infectious disease transmission, HIV prevention, Instant messaging, LGBTQ+ people, Professional associations, Gay men, Sex education, Leadership, Human sexuality, HIV infections, Fundraising, Communities, Human rights, Sex customs, Condoms, Safe sex, Public health, Interpersonal relations, Health promotion, AIDS, Labor supply
Geographic Terms: New York (State)
Abstract: Beginning with the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s, community-led lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health organizations created prevention materials that affirmed and celebrated gay identity, positing safer sex as a radical method of keeping their communities healthy and liberated past the onset of the virus. Often prioritizing pleasure and featuring erotic imagery, these strengths-based prevention messages implied that community members shared a collective responsibility to care for each other and stop the spread of HIV. Using archival public health materials from the early HIV/AIDS crisis and data collected through oral history interviews with former members of AIDS service organizations, this article explores the roles that gay liberation, community connectedness, and eroticism played in the first decade of HIV prevention messaging. As a case study, this article highlights the works created by GMHC (formally Gay Men's Health Crisis), New York City's premier AIDS service organization and a global leader in these campaigns. Lastly, we note similarities between historic examples of sex-positive prevention messaging and those used by community health organizations and practitioners in the 21st century. (Am J Public Health. 2026;116(2):214–221. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308214) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of American Journal of Public Health is the property of American Public Health Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Sex-Positive HIV Prevention Messages: A Case Study From the Early Years of the Epidemic.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22American+Journal+of+Public+Health%22">American Journal of Public Health</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 116 Issue 2, p214-221. 8p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22HIV+infection+epidemiology%22">HIV infection epidemiology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prevention+of+infectious+disease+transmission%22">Prevention of infectious disease transmission</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22HIV+prevention%22">HIV prevention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instant+messaging%22">Instant messaging</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22LGBTQ%2B+people%22">LGBTQ+ people</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+associations%22">Professional associations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gay+men%22">Gay men</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sex+education%22">Sex education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Leadership%22">Leadership</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+sexuality%22">Human sexuality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22HIV+infections%22">HIV infections</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fundraising%22">Fundraising</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communities%22">Communities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+rights%22">Human rights</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sex+customs%22">Sex customs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Condoms%22">Condoms</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Safe+sex%22">Safe sex</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+health%22">Public health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+relations%22">Interpersonal relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+promotion%22">Health promotion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22AIDS%22">AIDS</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Labor+supply%22">Labor supply</searchLink>
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  Data: Beginning with the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s, community-led lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health organizations created prevention materials that affirmed and celebrated gay identity, positing safer sex as a radical method of keeping their communities healthy and liberated past the onset of the virus. Often prioritizing pleasure and featuring erotic imagery, these strengths-based prevention messages implied that community members shared a collective responsibility to care for each other and stop the spread of HIV. Using archival public health materials from the early HIV/AIDS crisis and data collected through oral history interviews with former members of AIDS service organizations, this article explores the roles that gay liberation, community connectedness, and eroticism played in the first decade of HIV prevention messaging. As a case study, this article highlights the works created by GMHC (formally Gay Men's Health Crisis), New York City's premier AIDS service organization and a global leader in these campaigns. Lastly, we note similarities between historic examples of sex-positive prevention messaging and those used by community health organizations and practitioners in the 21st century. (Am J Public Health. 2026;116(2):214–221. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308214) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of American Journal of Public Health is the property of American Public Health Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=190911965
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.2105/AJPH.2025.308214
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 8
        StartPage: 214
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: HIV infection epidemiology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Prevention of infectious disease transmission
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: HIV prevention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instant messaging
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: LGBTQ+ people
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional associations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gay men
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sex education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Leadership
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human sexuality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: HIV infections
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      – SubjectFull: Fundraising
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human rights
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sex customs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Condoms
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Safe sex
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      – SubjectFull: Public health
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      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal relations
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      – SubjectFull: Health promotion
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      – SubjectFull: AIDS
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Labor supply
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: New York (State)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Sex-Positive HIV Prevention Messages: A Case Study From the Early Years of the Epidemic.
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              Text: Feb2026
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              Y: 2026
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