Safe Sex and Other AIDS-Related IssuesSafe Sex and Other AIDS-Related IssuesThe AIDS epidemic has had a dramatic impact on the Tarheel Leather Club. To date we have lost 15 members to AIDS or AIDS-related illnesses. We maintain a plaque with those members' names under the inscription, “Gone But Not Forgotten.” We have contributed to at least twelve different AIDS service organizations in seven cities across North Carolina, and have even established our own emergency assistance program, The Randy T. Fund, honoring one or our founding members. TLC is a member of The Names Project and has twice participated in the display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
We were certainly not the first, but have always provided a “safe sex” packet of materials in our run package for our annual Anniversary Celebration; it is now a common practice for almost all levi/leather/SM fetish clubs. Our programs and discussion groups frequently focus on “safe sex.” The Lesbian SM Safety Manual, which has excellent material on safe practices, is part of the required reading for membership in TLC. Our Color Guard includes the safe sex flag, along with that of the United States, the state of North Carolina, the leather pride flag, the gay pride flag and the bear pride flag.
TLC early on adopted a “safe, sane and consensual” policy for all activities, whether it be SM play or just plain old fashioned sex. As part of our community outreach and education, we have cooperated with the Guilford County Health Departmentto write, produce and distribute “safe sex” materials and information. We have long been a participant in Triad Health Project's programs, and especially in providing condoms and other safe sex materials to high risk groups.
TLC has also created a “Safe Sex” brochure in cooperation with Dr. Timothy Lane, MD, FACP, Professor, Infectious Diseases, Moses Cone Health Systems. Single copies of that brochure are available free by contacting TLC. Quantity prices are provided upon request. We encourage reproduction and distribution of the brochure with the addition of your organization's name in the “Distributed by” space. The brochure may not be altered or copied in any other manner.