Choose safer sex

Poster, 'Choose safer sex' , aimed at the gay community giving details of the AIDS telephone helpline, produced by the Health Education Authority, England, c1990-1995.

'Choose safer sex' was a slogan aimed at the gay community. It promoted the use of condoms to stop the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is the virus which leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV can be spread by both homosexual and heterosexual intercourse despite a deeply held misconception this was a ‘gay’ problem. A HIV carrier can live for many years with little or no symptoms so there was enormous potential to spread the disease unknowingly. The poster advertised a 24-hour AIDS hotline and information leaflets to be found in gay bars and nightclubs.