Weekend Roundup: Let’s Talk About SEXO, Baby

Photo Credit: ©1992 Peter Lien and Kevin Kendall and GALAEI, David Acosta

In the early ’90s a controversial ad campaign popped up in Philadelphia that had the gall to show a positive and oh-so-erotic representation of gay sex in a time when AIDS/HIV was still so misunderstood. SEXO was a wear-condoms ad in a sense, but it sexed up the whole idea with images of buff men covering their junk not with rubbers (cause that’s what they called them then, right?) but with shiny black latex gloves. It was terribly hot, and, as you can image, it got a few uptight people’s panties in a wad.

Today, thank God, we have a better understanding of sex and AIDS, but there are still so many topics left untouched. Starting tonight (Friday, April 12), The Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative (GALAEI) will try to open some of those doors with its launch of a campaign inspired by that ad campaign from the ’90s. “SEXO: An Exhibit About Sexual Realities” “blends bathhouse, bedroom, back alley and forum into a three-dimensional environment where people ask questions, speak out and create new conversations about sexual realities in their communities.” It comprises an exhibition of the original SEXO campaign posters and a wall of Post-It notes where people can post sex-related questions. You can interact with the campaign online, too, at sexolatex.com. Opening reception Fri., April 12, 6 p.m., free, John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives Gallery, William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.

Also happening this weekend:

FRIDAY:

• Quince Productions’ Eastern Standard is playing now through May 4 at Walnut Street Theatre
• Leather-clad ladies are taking over The Bike Stop’s Pit for Leather Women of Today
• The creepy, fun Olde City Sideshow is performing at National Mechanics
• It’s Making Time time at Voyeur. You can dance

SATURDAY

• Passyunk Avenue is hosting it’s biggest Second Saturday shindig ever
• You can chow down at the Manayunk Streat Food Festival, too
• Go ahead, wear heels to Rocco Yoga!
• RE Pride is throwing a Texas Hold ’em Tournament at Stir
• SPOTLIGHT: Watch Amateur Drag Queens strut their stuff at the William Way-benefitting Beauty Ball
• Take in some showtunes at Mazeppa Productions’ Cocktails and Cabaret
• Straight ally J.J. Tiziou is throwing a party to break in his beautiful new studio space at the Cedar Works in West Philly
• Envelop yourself in horseys, dental dames and oral-sex suicide at iMPeRFeCT Gallery
• There are some tasty treats waiting for you at FREaK BoUTIqUE: CaNDYLAND

SUNDAY

• Kick off this surprisingly busy Sabbath with a QOTA event at Metro Men’s Clothing
• Catch the discounted sneak peek of Quince Productions’ (in)voluntary commitment
• Brittany Lynn and her Drag Mafia are holding camp at Pro Bar AC

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