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Safer at Home: Exploring the ONE Archives Collection

Simply having one on hand won't do any good

Text continues: "For a latex condom to be effective against AIDS, you've got to put it on the correct appendage. Use a condom. Barring abstinence, it's the best way to prevent AIDS. For more information about HIV and AIDS, call the AIDS Action Committee Hotline at 1-800-235-2331." Black text on white background. The center of the poster contains a color photograph of a yellow condom inside a clear wrapper.

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1. Simply having one on hand won't do any good Text continues: "For a latex condom to be effective against AIDS, you've got to put it on the correct appendage. Use a condom. Barring abstinence, it's the best way to prevent AIDS. For more information about HIV and AIDS, call the AIDS Action Committee Hotline at 1-800-235-2331." Black text on white background. The center of the poster contains a color photograph of a yellow condom inside a clear wrapper.
2. Or, you can stick your head in the sand
3. Life Preserver Text continues: "Wearing condoms saves lives. Maybe yours. Your partner's. Or the loves of future partners. And though condoms can't cure AIDS, they can stop it. But only if you wear them. So make a habit of sleeping with condoms. As though your life depended on it. Use condoms. There's living proof they stop AIDS." Black text on gray background. The upper half of the poster contains a black and white photograph of an unwrapped condom.
4. Put it on
5. What have you got against a condom?
7. What the smart dressed man is wearing, condoms
8. Protect Our People Text continues: "If you bring AIDS into a relationship, it can infect your partner and your unborn children. The only 100% sure protection is doing without sex completely. Next best is using a latex condom with every partner, male or female, every time. Remember, sharing needles for drugs can give you AIDS. Drugs and alcohol affect your judgement, too, and make it hard to stay safe. For more information, call the AIDS hotline at 1-800-922-2437 in Southern California or 1-800-367-2437 in Northern California. AIDS. It's up to you." Black text on white background. The lower right quadrant of the poster contains a black and white photograph of a condom and a feather.
Contents of this path:
1. Bobby Mendoza posing with "Interview" magazine
2. Ron Grayson and Troy Perry at police protest
3. Charles Pierce as Bette Davis
4. Dan Luckenbill in a chair
5. Women socializing at a house
6. Dorothy Putnam in feminine attire
7. Dorr Legg sits on grass
8. John Quitman Lynch at the piano
9. Edgar Sandifer posing
10. Edith crossdressing
11. Eric Evans and Girly
12. Hal Rebarich rowing
13. Harmodius In Exile
14. Black Cat demonstration--six signs
15. Jerome Strum and kitten
16. Woman working in the yard around the house
17. Jim Kepner in apartment
18. "Black Gay's Unite" banner
19. John Quitman Lynch with his artwork
20. Dorr Legg at the drafting table
21. Lisa Ben outside reading
22. Friends having fun at a house party 2
23. Dorothy Putnam in masculine attire
24. Madeline feeling devilish
25. Gay leaders at police station Al Gordon, looking to challenge the unequal enforcement of sex laws in Los Angeles, persuaded Morris Kight to make a citizen arrest of three couples; Jeanne Cordova and Barbara Gehrke, Reverend Troy Perry and Steve Jordan, and Jeanne Barney and Frank Brighamand. The photograph captures Al Gordon and Morris Kight attempting to turn in the "Felon 6" to the police at the Rampart Police Station. The event was witnessed by community leaders Pat Underwood (left at counter), W. Dorr Legg (to Pat's left), Al Gordon (in front of officer), Reverend Troy Perry (behind Al), Morris Kight (black jacket and glasses), Steve Jordon (sunglasses), Frank Brighamand (black tie), Barbara Gehrke, and Jeanne Barney (right). In 1975, Willie Brown's bill to reform the California sex laws passed with the help of Senate Majority Leader George Moscone and Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally. July 1974. Al Gordon, looking to challenge the unequal enforcement of sex laws in Los Angeles, persuaded Morris Kight to make a citizen arrest of three couples; Jeanne Cordova and Barbara Gehrke, Reverend Troy Perry and Steve Jordan, and Jeanne Barney and Frank Brighamand. The photograph captures Al Gordon and Morris Kight attempting to turn in the "Felon 6" to the police at the Rampart Police Station. The event was witnessed by community leaders Pat Underwood (left at counter), W. Dorr Legg (to Pat's left), Al Gordon (in front of officer), Reverend Troy Perry (behind Al), Morris Kight (black jacket and glasses), Steve Jordon (sunglasses), Frank Brighamand (black tie), Barbara Gehrke, and Jeanne Barney (right). In 1975, Willie Brown's bill to reform the California sex laws passed with the help of Senate Majority Leader George Moscone and Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally. July 1974.
26. Man cross-dressing
27. Matthew and Buddy of Glendale costume party 4
28. Man feeds cat and dog
29. Morris Kight talks on the phone
30. Stonewall June 27 76
31. Matthew of Glendale with friends
32. One woman smoking while another stirs a pot
33. Lisa Ben with her cat
34. Pat Rocco plays the piano
35. Matthew and Buddy of Glendale costume party 3
36. Madeline in tub
37. John Quitman Lynch reading
38. Two men in costume at a house party
39. Peron in seaweed skirt
40. Protest against the the lack of hospital space for AIDS patients
41. Lisa Ben plays the guitar
42. Matthew of Glendale with Daschunds
43. Reed Erickson with leopard
44. Dorr Legg at the piano
45. Sandifer posing 4
46. John Quitman Lynch drawing at desk
47. Eric Evans posing nude in garden
48. Show your outrage! Text continues: "To ex-chief of LAPD; State Senator Ed Davis; and Mr. Big in Bigotry Governor Pete Wilson over: continues GOP AIDS inaction; AB 101 veto; SB827 veto (sexual harassment bill) ; Davis bill SB 982 (proposed criminalization of all sex for HIV+ persons; legal demonstration and elective civil disobedience with legal support."Black text on yellow paper. The top margin of the poster provides a list of organizations affiliated with the host coalition. The bottom half of the poster lists the location information for the demonstration in Woodland Hills, civil disobedience training sessions in Plummer Park, and a pre-action rally in Silverlake. This poster is double sided, the alternative side provides identical information in Spanish. Queer Nation and the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center are listed next to ACT UP/LA as organizers of the demonstration.
49. Lisa Ben eating an ice cream bar
50. Anti-racism protest in front of Studio One
51. Two men wear bird cages at a house party
52. Unidentified woman behind the wheel of a car
53. Wife Madeline with woman in yoga variant pose
54. Woman reclining in grass
55. Simply having one on hand won't do any good Text continues: "For a latex condom to be effective against AIDS, you've got to put it on the correct appendage. Use a condom. Barring abstinence, it's the best way to prevent AIDS. For more information about HIV and AIDS, call the AIDS Action Committee Hotline at 1-800-235-2331." Black text on white background. The center of the poster contains a color photograph of a yellow condom inside a clear wrapper.
56. Black Cat demonstration--five signs
57. Woman testing out clothes
58. You don't have to look sick to have AIDS Text continues: "Men get it. Women get it. Even children get AIDS. Protect yourself. Protect your children. If you already have the virus, treatment will keep you healthy. If you don't have it, you can make sure you don't get it. Call today for a blood test. It's free. They won't even ask your name. Don't wait. Call today." The center of the poster contains a black and white photograph of a woman in a jacket, her hands resting on her hips. The right margin contains white text on black background.
59. Dorothy Putnam with Shep
60. Young Pat Rocco holding a duck
61. Friends having fun at a house party
62. Matthew and Buddy of Glendale costume party 5
63. Black Cat demonstration--three signs
64. ONE Magazine Cover May 1962
65. Weathers Photograph album 5, page 8 On the way to a camping trip at Lake Piru. (Top photo) Prissy the bulldog sitting inside Blunderbuss. September 1970. (Middle photo) Kaye Pender and Carolyn Weathers, wearing hats, inside Blunderbuss. (Bottom left photo) Sharon Lilly and Brenda Weathers in front seat of Blunderbuss. September 1970. (Bottom right photo) Blunderbuss parked by the side of the road. Brenda to the right. September 1970.

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1. You don't have to look sick to have AIDS Text continues: "Men get it. Women get it. Even children get AIDS. Protect yourself. Protect your children. If you already have the virus, treatment will keep you healthy. If you don't have it, you can make sure you don't get it. Call today for a blood test. It's free. They won't even ask your name. Don't wait. Call today." The center of the poster contains a black and white photograph of a woman in a jacket, her hands resting on her hips. The right margin contains white text on black background.
2. Protest against the the lack of hospital space for AIDS patients
4. What have you got against a condom?
5. Put it on
6. Simply having one on hand won't do any good Text continues: "For a latex condom to be effective against AIDS, you've got to put it on the correct appendage. Use a condom. Barring abstinence, it's the best way to prevent AIDS. For more information about HIV and AIDS, call the AIDS Action Committee Hotline at 1-800-235-2331." Black text on white background. The center of the poster contains a color photograph of a yellow condom inside a clear wrapper.
8. Protect Our People Text continues: "If you bring AIDS into a relationship, it can infect your partner and your unborn children. The only 100% sure protection is doing without sex completely. Next best is using a latex condom with every partner, male or female, every time. Remember, sharing needles for drugs can give you AIDS. Drugs and alcohol affect your judgement, too, and make it hard to stay safe. For more information, call the AIDS hotline at 1-800-922-2437 in Southern California or 1-800-367-2437 in Northern California. AIDS. It's up to you." Black text on white background. The lower right quadrant of the poster contains a black and white photograph of a condom and a feather.
9. What the smart dressed man is wearing, condoms
10. Or, you can stick your head in the sand
11. Life Preserver Text continues: "Wearing condoms saves lives. Maybe yours. Your partner's. Or the loves of future partners. And though condoms can't cure AIDS, they can stop it. But only if you wear them. So make a habit of sleeping with condoms. As though your life depended on it. Use condoms. There's living proof they stop AIDS." Black text on gray background. The upper half of the poster contains a black and white photograph of an unwrapped condom.

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Week 11 (July 6, 2020) The poster collection at the ONE Archives includes many examples, such as this one, of campaigns funded by different agencies and aimed at different viewers but all promoting condom use during the AIDS epidemic.The research is clear that abstinence is 100% effective in preventing AIDS, but impossible to implement as a universal public health strategy. These campaigns promoted the next best thing—condoms as a form of harm reduction or risk mitigation. They showed individuals how to still engage in sexual intercourse but almost entirely reduce the risk of transmission. Their aim was to make condom use widespread and accepted through education. Destigmatizing condom usage through consistent, direct, and varied messages was essential. The posters were clever, catchy, and appealing. Using humor and appeals to common sense, they raised awareness and promoted safer behavior.

Replace the condom with a mask and references to AIDS with COVID and these messages work as well today as they did in the late 80’s and 90’s. Then and now, risk reduction is essential to creating a safe environment. Wearing protection is not just about protecting oneself but also others. Neither mask or condom do any good if worn incorrectly, kept in one’s pocket, or not used at all. Though the act of wearing a condom or a mask is simple, getting compliance is challenging. The number of these posters shows the amount of messaging and educating required to change behavior—a reminder especially apt at a moment when the number of cases of COVID in the state of California is rising to new heights each day.