2

This dna was put together by Mary Potter,

a nurse in training. It was written in
collaboration with Leah Newbold and
Adriana. Thank you to Sarah Mangle for
the so amazing drawings. I stin can't get
over how she busted out such fabulous
drawings in one little rainy afternoon.
Thank you to Pam and Allison for taking me
on and letting me do pretty much whatever
I wanted for this project. I also couldn't
have done this without the good folks at
Head and Hands. This was the best school
project I ever did!! Thank you!!!
 3

II.IUG mo
ImliJuGliJU 1
Why a safe sex zine for queers? Page ~
A word on Sex and Gender Page 5
A word on Queer Page 5
A word on Trans Page 6
Queers and Trans People Page 7
A word on Immigration and
Bealthcare Page 8
Sexually Transmitted Diseases Page 9
It's Your Bealth Page 11
Testing Page 12
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Page 1~
Pubic Lice and Scabies Page 16
Syphilis Page 17
Genital Berpes Page 18
Buman Papilloma Virus Page 20
Bepatitis A and B Page 21
BIV/AIDS Page 23
Protect the Penis Page 25
Protect the Vulva Page 27
Protect the Anus Page 28
Protect the Mouth Page 29
Making a Dental Dam Page 30
Cleaning Sex Toys Page 31
Unprotected Sex Page 32
Vaginal Bealth Page 33
Consent Page 35
Masturbation Page 36
Fighting Back Page 37
Radical Resource Page Page 38
 4

W D mGG IftGDDnlft
rafimG Hmo wIDGGoa;
The reason that I am making this zine is
because safe sex education since the
arrival of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic has been
designed in a way to blame and shame not
only queers, but also sex workers, drug
users, people with multiple partners and
non-white people among others. At the same
time education campaigns tend to exclude
these groups from large-scale public
education campaigns making it even more
difficult to get a hold of education and
the tools needed to keep these communities
safe and healthy.
Being safe shouldn't mean giving up our
identities. We can be safe and still fuck
who we want to fuck, be healthy, party how
we want to party, be responsible, have fun,
keep our friends safe, keep our
boundaries, not get married if we don't
want to, have more than one lover if we
want to, and keep our communities safe. I f
you want to and/or can stop having sex
then, cooL .. I f you don't want to and/or
can't, then its good to know ways that we
can be safe without being celibate.
 5

All this sex and gender stuff is a little

confusing but. think about this example:
Think of someone who wears tight pants,
has long hair who loves children and
sewing. What gender does this person have?
Couldn't it be either a boy or a girl? Why
would we first think that someone with
these characteristics was a girl/boy? Does
whether a person has a penis or a vagina
have anything to do with it? Think about
it!

11

Queer has traditionally meant 'strange' or

'unusual', but is currently used in
reference to lesbian J gay, bisexual.
transgender. trans(s)exual. twc>-spirit.
intersex and anyone else who calls
themselves queer. Queer politics / activism
/ academics is a belief system that
embraces an idea of gender and sexual
fluidity. It is a belief system that
rejects thinking in a way that assumes
everyone 1s heterosexual, homosexual or
bisexual. It also rejects the assumption
that boys have penises and girls have
vaginas. or that penises and vaginas look
any certain way. Sex and gender are
really complicated and who we love and how
we love is maybe even more so. No one can
tell you who or how to love! Part of the
fun is figuring out what works best for
you.
 6
l1
f.i3 mmli!l mm °DIiDmn
Trans is a word that can refer to both
transgender and trans(s)sexual people.
People who identify as transgender can be
people who have gender identities,
expressions or behaviors not traditionally
associated with their birth sex. A
trans(s)exual person is a person who self-
identifies as a member of the gender
opposite to the one assigned to them at
birth and sometimes undergoes medical
treatment, including hormone therapy and
sexual reassignment surgery, to change
physical characteristics to match their
gender. A transman (aka Female To Male,
FTM) is a female to male transgender or
trans(s)exual person. This person was
named a female at birth but changed their
identification to male. Thus, this person
should be referred to as he, him, his etc.
A transwoman (aka Male To Female, MTF) is a
male to female transgender or
trans(s)exual person. This person was
named a male at birth but changed their
identification to female. Thus, this
person should be referred to as she, her
etc.
 7

GG m Bm
II Bmm ~Gm~IIG
Neither transgender people nor queers have
had their needs met by the health care
community. It is this lack of awareness
that puts these people at risk, not how
they identify! It is important to
recognize that transgender and
trans(s)exuals cannot be automatically
clumped in with 'queer'. Some transgender
and trans(s)exual people identify as queer
and some don't. It's very important to be
able to decide what gender we are for
ourselves. I f we want to be called queer,
we should be able to. I f someone wants to
call themselves a punk I an artist I
straight I a nerd, they should be able to
do that too. Being able to use whatever
terms feel most comfortable for you is a
very important part of feeling good about
yourself. In general, media likes to
assume gender and genitalia only come in
two separate categories. This zine rejects
that idea and instead presumes that men
can have vaginas and women can have
penises. Like Peaches says, "Let a woman be
e. man and let a man do the can-can!!-
 8

m118m 8m
oIii'IIii'I OIUIlD 0am
IIIGIIDDIII SIIOG
Immigration makes health care a real pain
in the ass. People who are non-status (have
not received landed immigrant, refugee or
citizenship status) are denied health care
by our governments who refuse to sponsor
treatment for non-status people. However,
there are a few places that offer health
care to non-status people. In these places,
doctors serve these people for f .ree or
whatever they can afford. Head and Hands
is one of these places. There are also
other people who can help at other clinics,
however it is more up to the health care
professionals themselves to take a patient
or not. CLSC Cotes-Des-Neiges is the center
for dealing with issues of health for new
immigrants (514) 731-8531. At Head and
Hands there is also a legal counsellor who
can be of help when you are dealing with
immigration (4SHl277). The Immigrant
Workers Center is a place that can also
help when dealing with the difficulties of
immigration. They can help you to
understand your rights and offer support.
They are also a big help when trying to get
through all the paperwork. You can get a
hold of them at (514) 342-2111.
 9

One of the main

reasons for this !.ine
is to empower queer
people to make
decisions for
themselves so that
they can stay safe
and healthy.
Empowerment refers to
:' . increasing people's
political, social
,: I and/or economic
\ strength. In other
words it is about
putting power back
into our own hands.
It's important for us
as queers to get
informed about our
health! In order to
do this we need to be
aware of the amount
of risk there is in
each activity that we
, . do. It is also
I . important to be able
to recognize warning signs of potential
problems so that we know when to get
outside help.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (Sns)
(also known as sexually transmitted
diseases, STDs) are one of the risks that we
 10
must be aware of while having sex and we
should teach ourselves how to avoid them.
If we cannot avoid them, it is important to
know how to recognize them so that we can
get help when we need it. As queers we are
often told that the kind of sex we have is
risky business. On the other hand, typical
medical information often downplays the
risk of lesbian sex and the ability of
women to catch STls. If two people having
sex both have vaginas they are often
misled to believe that they are at little
risk for STls and there is no need for
testing or Pap Smears. Two people with
penises having sex are often told that the
kind of sex that they are having is of
very high risk for giving and getting
STls. What is important for us to know is
what the risks are in each sexual activity
rather than viewing our identities as
risky. In this book I include a list of the
STls, however this list doesn't cover
everything and if you have further
questions please contact Bead and Bands at
(5a) 481-0277.

for information on contraceptive methods

such as the pill or for emergency
contraception please contact the health
educators at Bead and Bands to get
informed. It is best to call them as Soon as
possible (within 48 hours is best) i f you
feel like you might need emergency
contraception like the morning after pill.
If you want to get on the pill then make an
appointment with a doctor/nurse/health
educator to talk about your different
options.
 II

lo"n nml!lo IIIGmBolIID

Bealth care is
something that we
all deserve access
to. Sometimes, the
way the health care
system is set up
makes it hard for us
to get a hold of
what we need ... be it
information or care.
Sometimes we learn
that health care
isn't something that we are supposed to
think much about. We often think about it
only when we are not feeling well. Then
we go in to see the doctor and they tell us
what we should do. We go home with their
pieces of wisdom in the form of a
prescription and feel better?? This idea
that they know what is best for us is a
myth. It's empowering for us to know what
we want from our health care providers so
we are able to ask for it. Taking care of
your health may seem like a simple thing
to understand, eat your fruits and
vegetables, get enough sleep, drink lots of
fluids when you have a cold ... but taking
care of ourselves meanS a lot more than
that. It means being able to make choices
about what is best for us ourselves,
recognizing the things that are not good
for us and being able to make changes.
This can also mean not taking risks that
might harm us. Having safe sex is a great
way to keep ourselves healthy.
 12

Often we are confused about what it is

that actually is happening when we go to
see our doctors. This section highlights
the different ways that the health care
provider tests for STIs.
The Pap test. One common misconception is
that a Pap test is looking for STls. The Pap
test is designed to look at the cells inside
a vagina and pick up on any problems there
may be on the cervix. The cervix i. the
lower, narrow portion of the uterus where
it joins with the top end of the vagina.
This is a test designed to catch any
changes in the cells of the cervix. The
changes can be caused by a number of
things but one of the more serious reasons
would be if the cells were pre-cancerous.
Getting the Pap test every year once you
have started being sexually active (oral
sex counts everyone) can catch anything
before it gets too serious.

t\ speculum e. sp~culum in &. vagina

•
 I3
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. While doing a
Pap test a doctor can also swab the cervix
for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. In this test
a speculum is used to open the vagina and
a swab will be taken of the cells on the
cervix. A swab looks like a long q-tip.
They are not likely going to do 5TI testing
while doing a Pap test unless you
specifically ask them to! Por penises. the
doctor will swab the urethra (the hole of
the pe nis where pee comes out) for any
bacterial infections. Make sure if you are
going to see your doctor for an 5Tl test
that you don 't pee for a couple of hours
be fore so that the pee doesn't wash the
bacteria away right before the test. as the
test can read an untrue negative result.
HIV. HepatitiS B and syphilis are tested by
blood tests. This is done using a needle to
draw blood often from veins in our arms.
The time for testing:
» Por syphilis it takes 10 days after a
chancre (sore) appears to test (about 3
to 5 weeks after infection). however
these tests come out negative in late
syphilis.
» Hepatitis can show up as soon as one
month after contact.
» HIV takes 3 months to show up.
» Testing for Ch lamydia can be done one
week after exposure and Gonorrhea
can take up to 3 weeks for a true
result.
» The doctor can tell if you have Herpes
or HPV (Genital Warts) by dOing an
examination of your genital area for
af ther Herpes sores or a wart.
» If there is anything unusual going
on your genitals it's really best to
get it Checked out!
 14

[iJmnl1lii'1~DDB ~mD
mG~
What are they?
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are both
bacterial infections. They are some of the
most common STl. but luckily, are also
treatable with antibiotics.
Bow do I get them?
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea live in the same
places, in fluids in the penis, the vagina,
the anus as well as in our throats. This is
why touching mouth. to genitals, genital-
to-genital contact and anus to genital
contact while having unprotected sex can
spread these diaeases ..
What should I be looking for?
Think of these STls like most other
bacterial infections. Bacteria tend to
multiply in our body fluids, giving the
areas where they live a different texture
or feeling. These are some things to be
aware of
l> genital fluid. of a different
texture, more watery or more thick
l> burning when peeing
l> pain around the genitals or pain
during sex
l> vaginal bleeding during sex
l> vaginal bleeding between periods

Even though we Can remain in touch with

our bodie s and look for signals to let us
know that we might have an infection,
sometimes we are left with nO clues. As we
can often get an infection with Chlamydia
 15
and Gonorrhea and not experience anything
different, it is important that we try and
have as safe as sex as possible. If you are
having safe sex then you don't have too
much to worry about. If there has been an
accident (like a condom broke etc.) then it's
best to go to a clinic for a check up.
Unfortunately, there is a minimum two-week
period between the time of an incident and
the time it takes for an STl to show up. If
you have been assaulted, you also might
want to get a check up and you may be
interested in visiting a councillor. There
is a councillor at Bead and Bands that you
can reach at 481-C277 to make an
appointment or you can call The Sexual
Assault Center Of McGill to speak with
someone on the phone (31lB-8500).
Can 1 get rid of it?
These infections ca n be cured with proper
diagnosis with ju.t one do.e of antibiotic.
taken by mouth. If they are not treated at
this stage, the effects can get much more
seriou.; that is why it's best to treat them
early. If you are being treated for an
STl, write a list of who you have had sex
with recently. Let them know, because if
they are not treated and you have sex with
them again, you can easily get the STI
again.
 16

Pubic lice (also known as crabs) and Scabies

are considered to be STIs but can also be
passed along from person to person through
sharing clothes and towels or sleeping in
the same bed. They are tiny insects,
similar to the fleas our beloved
feline/canine friends sometimes get. These
insects bite us and can dig under our skin
and lay eggs, causing us to be very
(b)itchy.
What should I be looking for?
Scabies:
l> itching, mainly at night
l> a rash may appear between your
fingers, on your wrists, tummy,
ankles or around your genitals
Pubic Lice;
l> itching around our pubic area
l> light brown insects the size of a
pinhead
l> oval whitish eggs on the hair (easier
to see then the insects themselves)
Can I get rid of it?
Scabies and lice may be treated euily with
special creams, lotions or shampoos. These
are available at drugstores (over the
counter), so i f you can find the courage,
ask ... or look around. If you don't treat
these little brats, you may get a skin
infection that can land you in the doctor's
office. Again, be sure to tell anyone you
have been in close contact with, even i f
you just had a sleepover to watch 'Hedwig
and the angry inCh'. You might have left
some bugs in the b ed sheets.
 17

Syphilis is another bacterial infection.

It is a very serious disease that can
affect your entire body.
How do I get it?
Syphilis enters the body through an
infected person's body fluid entering into
tiny tears in the skin on the inside of a
mouth, vagina and/or anuS. This can
happen in an kinds of sex where there is
an exchange of body fluids such as
unprotected mouth to genitals, vagina to
vagina, penis to anus etc.
What should I be looking for?
Syphilis causes sores to appear around the
vagina, penis, anus and inside the mouth.
The sores may not be painful and may come
and go On their own. It may also cause
"flu·-like symptoms as well as a rash on the
hands and feet or the whole body. If you
don't get tested for this STl you might not
know you have it and it can get very
serious.
Can I get rid of it?
Syphilis can be detected by doing a blood
test. It is regularly tested for during
STl check ups. At Head and Hands they can
test for this with a blood test when they
test for HIV and Hepatitis B. It can be
cured with antibiotics if it is caught
early enough.
 18

What is it?
Herpes is a virus that causes painful sores
commonly on the lips or around the
genitals.
How do I get it?
It can be passed to another person who has
direct contact with an open sore hut it can
also be passed from person to person before
a sore is visible. There are two types of
Herpes. People often think that the first
type affects the mouth and the second type
affects the genital area. This isn't
exactly true - both types of the virus can
affect the genitals, anus and the mouth
and the both types of virus can be passed
from mouth to genitals/anus.
What should I be looking for?
Within the first week of getting Herpes, a
tingling/itching feeling might be felt in
the area where the virus has landed. A
cluster of tiny blisters may appear and
you may get a headache/fever. These
blisters will burst leaving painful sores
that last about two to three weeks. You
should be on the look out for any
sores/bumps/lumps that look like blisters
and may be painful to the touch. It is
important to say that not everyone with
Herpes will have an outbreak. Some people
may have a first outbreak and then never
have one again. Por people who have a lot
of outbreaks, even when you are not having
any sores it is still possible to pass on
the virus. Having safer sex reduces the
chances of passing it on, but it is still
 19
possible to pass on herpes when using
protection.
Can I get rid of it?
There is no cure for Herpes. The important
thing is to minimize and treat your
symptoms. There is medication that can be
used to minimize the pain of the outbreaks
as well as lessen the amount of outbreaks
you are having if you have more than 6 per
year. Stress is also known to playa role
in the outbreaks so it is important that
you do things in your life that help you
deal with your stress Ithis is important
even if you don't have Herpes}. It is
important to inform anyone you are having
sex with that you carry the virus and to
have as safe sex as possible. While you
have sores, it's generally a good idea to
take a break from all sex which might
infect another person.

II ,/

A sore on 8. lip CB.n easil, turn into a sore

on the penia if you're not using a condom!
 20

ml'll1i1BIil IiBClDnn[;lI1i1B mDml'lm

What is it?
BPV (also known as Genital Warts) is
another STI in the virus family. As its
name suggests, it causes warts to appear on
the genital area, or around the anus. This
is the same bugger that causes that wart
on your big toe. There are many different
strains of BPV (over 100) but only around
30~ are known to occur on the genitals. Of
these, fewer than 15~ are known to cause
serious problems.
Bow do I get it?
BPV is one of the most contagious STIs. It
can be passed from hands to genitals or
skin to skin contact. This is why most
forms of sexual contact are able to pass
the virus and why one in four youth have
the virus. Most people who have BPV will
never even have warts or really any
problems. In fact, most people will
probably never even know they have it.
What should I be looking for?
Although most people with the virus will
never have symptoms, if a bump does appear
around your genitals/anus, then you
should go see a doctor for a diagnosis.
Can I get rid of it?
There i. no test to detect whether or not
you have BPV. Diagnoses are made upon the
appearance of warts. I f warts do appear
then they can be removed by your doctor.
If you have a cervix, then yearly Pap tests
are very important as the virus Can cause
changes in the cells of the cervix. These
changes can put you at risk for cervical
cancer.
 21

What is it?
Hepatitis A and B are both infections of
the liver caused by a virus.
Bow do I get it?
Hepatitis A is found in the poo of people
with the virus and is usually spreads by
close personal contact lincluding sex or
sharing a living space). Eating food or
drinking water contaminated with the
virus can also spread it. Sexual acts
involving the anus, such as rimming
llicking around or in the anus), should be
done in awareness of this.
Hepatitis B is spread though infected body
fluids such as semen, blood, vaginal
fluids and saliva. This means it can be
passes through unprotected sex as well as
sharing needles used to inject drugs. It
is a very strong and contagious disease. '
It can survive On toothbrushes and razors
so people sharing the same bathroom can
also spread the virus.

'-""
"

,
Going to lick aomeone's ass? Use e. barrier
like these t'olks to prevent Hep A.
 22
Wha t should I be looking for?
The s ymptoms of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
are pretty similar. Most people who become
infected with the virus have no symptoms.
I f symptoms do occur, they do two to six
months after catching the virus and can
include:
.,. poor appetite, nausea, vomiting
.,. headaches
.,. feeling very tired or generally
not well
.,. jaundice (yellowing of skin and
eyes)
This virus can cause serious long-term
problems such as liver cancer.
Can I get rid of it?
People can sometimes get the virus and
then have it go away on its own. Some
people can get the virus and never be sick
with it and so never get tested for it and
then they never know they have/had it.
This is a problem because they can give the
virus to others if they are not careful.
Hepatitis A and B can be prevented by
getting vaccinated and by keeping sex
safer. Most people raised in Canada were
vaccinated for Hep. B when they were in
elementary SChool. A hepatitis test will
tell you if your body is immune from the
viruses. These are done at Head and Hands.
I f your anus is involved in the sex that
you are having it is a good idea to ask
your health care provider for the
vaccination (if you have not had it
already).
 23

What is it?
RIV (Ruman Immunodeficiency Virus) is the
virus that causes AIDS (Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome). It is a virus
that uses 'Your bod,.'s immune system to
attack the body.
Row do 1 get it?
The virus is spread through body fluids;
blood, semen, vaginal fluids, menstrual
blood and breast milk. You don't have to
worry about pee or spit. The unprotected
sexual acts that can pass on the virus
from one person to another are: penetration
in the anus or the vagina by a penis, blow
jobs on a penis, eating out a vagina
(espeCially if menstruating), putting
fingers in an anus or vagina (if there are
little cuts on the fingers). Raving
another STl Can increase your chances of
giving and getting RIV. The virus Can
also be spread using unprotected sex toys.
The general rule is that if any bodily
fluid enters into your blood stream
through any kind of cut or graze, this is a
high risk activity. Remember that you
won't always notice if something is cut.
POl' example, brushing or flossing teeth
can create tiny cuts in your mouth that
RIV can enter your body through. People
shaving their face or pubic hair can also
create tiny cuts as well.
What should 1 be looking for?
There are usually no changes in your
health in the first couple months or even
years after being infected with RIV.
 24
There is a blood test that tests for t h e
virus. However, if you contracted HIV, it
could take 3 months to show up in your
blood. I f you think that you might have
come into contact with the virus then you
should get tested and continue to have
safe sex at least until your test comes
back negative.
Can I get rid of it?
Unfortunately this virus is with you for
life. But, there are many drugs you can
take in Canada, to help slow down the
development of AIDS, and people can live
with the disease for a long time.

Using 8. condom is an excellent wa.y of decreasing

the chances of giving / getting BIV. Pop on 6 condom
And have fun!!!
 25

liomuGluDmm UIIG
liGmDm In order to protect your
penis (whether a flesh
penis, a dildo, a
zucchini .. . it stin needs
to be protected) from
STIs - try and keep it
protected from other
people's bodily fluids.
You can do this by using
a condom. Condoms
should be used not only
for penetration (penis in
a vagina or anus" but
also during blow jobs
and handjobs. Also,
look and see where you
are putting your penis, are there any
bumps/lumps on the other person? Even if
you do use a condom and the person has a
Herpes sore, the condom might not cover the
area where the sore is. I f there i.
something that you are worried about, ask
about it. I f you are having sex with
someOne - knowing about the kind of
diseases a person might have i. important
info for you to know. I f you don't reel
comfortable asking them about it, then you
might want to think about whether this is
someone you really should be having sex
with. Protecting each other from
infections is respectful and is also a good
way to show each other that you care.
Know how to put on a condom! Practice with
some bananas or cucumbers at home or while
you masturbate. If condoms are breaking
 26
it is almost a sure thing that you are not
using them properly (or maybe you're not
using the right size or enough lube).
Remember to squeeze at the tip and use lots
of lube. Lube is often forgotten. Lube
cannot only make sex more pleasurable but
can also reduce the chances of skin tears
and condom breakage. You can get free
condoms at a lot of places, Bead and Bands
being only one of these. You can also get
them at ACCM (AIDS Community Care .
Montreal), CEGEP's, Bigh School.,
Universities, L'Anonyme and many other
health oriented community services.

1. First, make sure the condom you are

using is not expired (there are expiry
dates written on the side of the condom)
2. A penis needs to be hard before you put
the condom on, ah hem.
3. If the penis is uncircumcised pull the
foreskin back.
4. Bold the top half-inch of the condom
between your fingers and use the other
hand to roll it down the shaft of the
penis/dildo.
5. Use lots of lube, especially i f you are
going to be putting the penis in an anus.
Dry condoms break more easily.
 27

(ioBUOluOml UIIIO
mllmE!
Vulva's come in all
different shapes and
sizes. In fact, you
could say that
genitals are like
snow flakes, no two
look alike. Whatever
your vulva looks like,
there are many things
that we should do to
protect it during sex. If we are inserting
penises into vaginas we can use condoms
(condoms for the penis or the ones that go
into the vagina). If we are inserting
fingers or fists into vaginas we should
use gloves. Lube is again important for
decreasing the amount of tearing involved.
I f we are putting a mouth or tongue to a
vulva we should use dental dams to protect
the vulva from bacteria and viruses.
Dental dams are hard to come by but they
can easUy be made using non-lubricated
condoms or gloves (see page 30). Another
thing that can lessen tearing is getting
hot and horny. The vagina is a muscle and
if you are really into the sex you are
having it's going to be relaxed and stretch
more easily. Let your partner know that
the hotter
, sex the safer
 28

moGoGloOml oDlG
Bml!Jn
Talking about
anuses is not done
often enough. Por
some people their
anUB has
absolutely
nothing to do
with their
sexuality and
this is fine. Por
others it is the
rainbow leading
them to a world of
fUn, happiness
I . and extremely hot
sex.
Unfortunately it
is particularly
easy to pick up an STl by way of the anus.
It is lined with a tissue that is quite
sensitive to tearing and the tissue inside
is very absorptive (sort of like a sponge).
It also does not lubricate itself like a
vagina does. This doesn't mean that you
shouldn't have anal sex, but that you
should cum prepared. Using lube becomes
very important when inserting things into
anus es and i f you are going to be licking
around the anus it is important to use a
barrier there such as a dental dam (cut
condom/glove, see page 30).
 29
{iB~i1GIli1DliJm "~l!Ili.1 mJ~l!Ii11l1

Rere's a scenario.
You are about to meet
your hot new love
interest for a movie
night. You are
pretty sure that it's
not just a 'movie'
you're going to be
playing. You want to
freshen up before your date and get rid of
that garlic smell coming from your mouth.
You brush and flOBS your teeth and TADA ...
you just made ita lot eaBier to catch an
STl. Your mouth isn't often thought of as a
place where you can catch STIs. However,
it's quite easy for bacteria and viruses to
get into the small cuts in the mouths often
made by doing things like brushing your
teeth and flossing. When putting penises
or vaginas or anuses in our mouths it is
important that there be a barrier between
the inside of our mouth and the fluids
coming from these other body parts. This
can be done by putting condoms on penises
or using a latex barrier on an anus or a
vagina. Chlamydia, Herpes, Gonorrhea,
Syphilis, Hepatitis A are some of the
things we are trying to avoid here. I'm
not saying that you shouldn't floss or
brush your teeth, because you probably
should to prevent gingivitis and other
problems that would make catching an STI
also more likely. I am just saying that
before your date, i f you just ate some baba
ganoush, try and pop a breath mint and us e
a barrier.
 30

mJlI.!mDwm B !lGWilBU !lBI:i.i1

Dental dams are important and ignored
topic in safe sex education. They have a
very lunsexy' title and actual dental dams
are quite thick. In order to make a quick
and accessible barrier just find an un-
lubricated glove or a condom, a pair of
scissors and follow the directions below.
For condoms:
1. Unroll the condom about halfway.
2. Use scissors to cut the condom up the
side.
3. Take your final product, hold the sides
with your hands and start licking!

:,

Por Gloves:

VYj""" ,....,«.,....
You can use both ways below to cut your
dental dam. You can leave the fingers on
"'~

f
\,
..-.-~\
:
\
or
..,,"...
'-
4"

•
 31

(iDm.mOmll nm_ ullnn

I f you are using sex toys that come into
contact with your bodily fluids it is
important that these be properly cleaned
before they are used again whether it is
with the same person or not. If you are
using the toy on different partners or
both around an anus and a vagina then it
is best to use 8. new condom each time you
use your toy. What you will do to clean it
depends on what the toy is made of. Use
water-based lube. Toys don't lubricate
themselves.
Silicone: silicone toys can last a long time
if taken care of properly. They can be
washed with a mild antibacterial soap and
water, can be boiled for up to five minutes
and can even be put into the top rack of a
dishwasher. Make sure the lube you're
using has no silicone in it.
Rubber: using a mild soap and leaving the
toys in some soapy water for about 20
minutes then wiping them with a wet cloth
can clean rubber toys. Barsh detergents
should be avoided because any possible
residue can cause irritations.
Vibrators: vibrators are sometimes more
complicated because there are parts that
shouldn't be getting wet. Remove the
batteries and make sure it's off before
using a wet cloth with an anti-bacterial
soap to clean it. Try not to get water near
any metal areas because the metal can
rust.
Pruit and Veggie.: Are you gonna eat your
ZUCChini after you stick it in your
friend'. vagina? It's probably not a good
idea. Throw it out and don't use it in your
salad.
Don't want to use protection? Think that
it 's time for you and your lover to throw
a way the barriers and accept the
responsibility of unprotected sex???
Unprotected sex is often portrayed as only
an option foX' heterosexual monogamous
virgins. Even if you are in this category,
this is still a huge decision. This
decision should be made with a lot of
thought and discussion with your sexual
partner/so Before you make a decision to
stop using protection it's important to
consider:
~ Have you and your partner been
together for more than 3 months using
protection every time?
'" Bave you and your partner been tested
before and after the three month
period for STl's? Seen the results?
~ Have you or your partner had any
unprotected sexual contact with
anyone else in this time?
'" Is your partner sharing stuff to use
drugs (pipes, needles, etc.)
'" Bave you thought about pregnancy (if
this is an option)?
Se x without protection is a lot riskier
than with a barrier. Sex can be much less
stressful just knowing that using
protection every time can reduce all risks.
If you're thinking about having
unprotected sex. it's a good idea to make an
appointment with a health professional.
Call Bead and Bands for an appointment.
 33

8 GJ 80m
I f you have a vagina it's important that
you take good care of it. The word vagina
has been used most frequently but we are
also talking about vulvas (the outside part
of the genitals). The vulva and the vagina
have a delicate environment, which can
easily be disrupted by things like changes
in our diet, stress, or taking medications.
Vagina's can get infections other than
STls, although this i. not to say that they
can't be caught through sex. The two most
common types of infections are yeast
infections and bacterial vaginosis. A
fungus found regularly in mouths and
vaginas causes yeast infections. Certain
things can cause the fungus to get out of
control and cause itching among other
things like white clumpy discharge or a
funky odour. One common reason people can
get yeast infections is through using soaps
to wash the vagina. The vagina is self-
Cleaning. I f you have a yeast infection
you don't have to go to the doctor, you can
pick up some Monistat or yogurt pills at
the local pharmacy to get rid of it.
Bacterial vaginosis is very commonly
caused by an imbalance of bacteria that
live in the vagina. It can cause itching
and a white or greyish, not so good
smelling discharge coming from the vagina.
It can be treated with antibiotics
prescribed by your doctor.
The mixing of genital fluid. can pass
yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis
from person to person. I f you have the
symptoms of one of these infections, make
sure you start using a barrier (if you are
 34
not already using one}. I t is common for
people to continue getting these infections
from their untreated partners. It is good
to know that both vulvas and penises can
get these infections through sex.

-
~ .'
•
 35

Sex is supposed to be about having fun, not

about doing things that make other people
feel bad, unsafe, or uncomfortable. If
anyone is feeling this way. then sex
should not happen. A situation where one
person haa a lot of power over another
person generally creates an unsafe sexual
environment. Examples of this would be:
teacher/student relationships, parent or
guardian/child relationships etc.
Situations like this can hurt people and
organizations like Bead and Bands and
SACOMSS (396-8500) can provide help. Safe
sex includes taking responsibility for
your actions and avoiding putting anyone
else in a place where they feel bad. Safe
Rex includes sex where everyone involved
is giving consent.
Consent is complicated. It doesn't mean
only saying yes or no. Consent can also be
expressed in body language. I f someone is
turning away or pushing you away it is a
way of saying they do not consent. Just
because you are dating somebody, doesn't
mean that they consent to having sex with
you. Just because somebody had sex with
you once, doesn't mean they will consent to
it the next time. Consent changes over
time. Even while in the middle of having
sex a person has the right to change their
mind. A person's frame of mind may also
interfere with a person being able to give
consent (if they are really wasted etc.)
Communicate with your sex partners about
what kind of sex you are comfortable with
having ahead of time! Talk about what
kind of protection you're gonna use.
 36

I f you don't know what you like, it's

probably going to be difficult for anyone
else to figure it out. When it comes to the
enjoyment of sex. you are your own
'sexpert' • . Masturbating is a safe and fun
way to find out what you like.
Masturbating is a great way to cope with
things as well. I f you are feeling
stressed out or sad, it can help. I f you
aren't ready to start having sex with other
people or don't want to, masturbate.
Masturbation is a great way to be sexually
active· without the risk of STls.
Masturbate! It's for everyone!
 37

tlDmGJuDrnm
mmsil DOD
Since people discriminate against queer.
and other oppressed friends of ours it is
good to not only be aware of how this is
done but also to fight back. It is good to
know that queers are not responsible for
the BIV/AIDS Pandemic. It is good to know
that sex-workers, Blacks. Hispanics, homos,
and poor people are not responsible for it
either. It hurts, but is good to know, that
because this disease was first most common
in these minority groups in Canada - our
government. and health care systems did
very little about it for almost 16 year •• It
is also good to know that a lot of people in
Canada still don't have access to the money
and services needed to protect themselves
from BIV/AIDS and other STls. There i. a
very clear connection between the
discrimination against minorities and a
lack of services and their health outcomes.
So, it's good to share your knowledge about
safe sex and it's cool to support people who
educate and give health care to non-statu.
people and who fight for queer right ••
People at Bead and Bands are part of this
struggle. Come and jOin us!
 38

The Radical Resource Page

)- This zine W68 made primarily as a resoul'C&
for Bead and Hands. Bead and Bands is a non-
profit organization with lots of resources
including a medical cUnic. legal
counselling, street workers, health
educators, a councillor, a young parents
progra.m and a youth drop in center (Jeunssa
2000). You can check them out at
.'!'l~.he a4and,handJ?. &!b (614-) ... 81-0277,6833
Sherbrooke West in NDG, Montree.l, QC.
» STELLA: an organisation in Montreal fighting
for sox workers rights www.ch ~zs t~lla!.Q.;:g
,. 2110: peer counselling, information and
referrals, resource library, free TTY phone,
trans friendly resources and free syringe
eXChange program for hormone US6. 2110 rue
Mackay. Montreal, Qc. 8"'~2t2"'.
» CACTOS: action community centre for
intravenous drug users (51+) 847..{)O67
)0 Queerl1ne - (614-) 396-6822 Listening / support
/ referral. Open Mon-Sat. 8-11pm
)- ACeM - !!(:cm Q..%l.~.~1!1 .org I: (614) 697-0928 - BIV
education, prevention. support groups, social
events, etc.
)- OLSe des Paubourgs - (614-) 621-2361 (InfoSante,
open 24-/7) I: .wVLW .cl s cdesfaubou rg s.~!! -
Confidential BIV tests and confidential
sexual health services for people under 18.
1705, rue de 1a Visitation
j.» Project 10 - 51111ngua1 support, on&-on-cne
meetings, support groups, phone 11ne, zlnes
etc. Tel: (6U) 9894585 Fax: (6J4) 93U089
f!.roj~J 1 Q1!p...Jp.qc. fJJ and Eh'.!!"!.P-10.qc.;.~
)0 Project Max: A sub-group of Project 10, offers
support and activities for trans 'Jouth and
youth questioning their gender identity.
WEBSITES that rock!
)0 h ttpllLeminl!U!l.org for a new spin on feminism
j.» wwY{ ._ ge nder ~g for more about gender
» .Y!YL~,-l arge sse .ne t about fat-positivism.
» ,~w~~s!:..~n.!.org a queer community message
board
» www.alp.cQDI Audre Lorde Project
» www. s oli dari tyacr ossbo~..9.§ rs.ou
39

To contact the writer of this zine (if

you want a copy or have some health
questions) please send an e-mail to
maryelpotter@gmail.com.
40

Itl: 514 4l3 i·0277 fox: 514-4812336

!nto o; neoaondnonds.ca
~ )i~rl.J'JO . v O. L . "'<46.~= "Xi f.ilO'l'rl.ol l =-q. H"" 31'0