In the early 1980s, as the AIDS epidemic ravage our community Richard Berkowitz, Michael Callan and Joseph Sonnabend had a revelation that AIDS is sexually transmitted. This meant that the practice of safe sex might help prevent it spreading. However, this insight was met with contempt by some in the gay community. Knowing what was at stake, they pressed on and educated folks on “How to Have Sex in an Epidemic.” Berkowitz is the subject of Daryl Wein’s 2009 documentary, Sex Positive which won Best Documentary at OUTFEST. Please join us for a special screening of Sex Positive and Q&A with Richard Berkowitz and Brandon Cuicchi. We will discuss the evolution of safer sex from the beginning of the AIDS crisis to now. Organized by Sean Apparicio.

Suggested donation of $5 to benefit the Bureau. No one turned away for lack of funds.

Richard Berkowitz is the author of Stayin’ Alive: The Invention of Safe Sex, A Personal History, his 2003 memoir about coming out amid the sexual exuberance of NYC in the 1970s. His collaboration with his physician, Dr. Joe Sonnabend and the late activist Michael Callen culminated in their May 1983 publication, “How to Have Sex in an Epidemic,” which is widely regarded as the invention of safe sex. Berkowitz is the subject of Daryl Wein’s 2009 documentary, Sex Positive which won Best Documentary at OUTFEST. He’s the last surviving co-founder of the PWA self-empowerment movement, which created the Denver Principles. He continues to live, write and protest in New York City.

Brandon Cuicchi was born and raised in a religious family in Memphis, TN. He has a BA in theater from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MFA in film/TV from the University of Miami. In 2007 he moved to Brooklyn, and in 2011 he joined Queer Occupy Wall Street. Since then he has been instrumental in growing the online and digital impact of ACT UP (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power) while working in post-production for reality tv by day. He sees AIDS activism as intertwined with Black Lives Matter, criminal justice reform, homeless advocacy and LGB-and-especially-Transgender liberation, and he works to show solidarity with those struggles through street activism.

Sean Apparicio is the founder of One+Love. One+Love is a geo-local mobile LGBT community center—connecting users to local events, supportive online community, entertainment, lifestyle and news that reflect and celebrate diverse sexual and gender identities.

Before forming One+Love, Sean was multidisciplinary creative director specializing in digital media, commercial direction, Branding and Marketing Strategy. He has over 17 years of award winning industry experience. He’s re-launched multiple brands, strengthened their visual identity and introduced current trends in technology to develop solutions for his clients. Most notably, under his direction, the BET Redesign won 11 Tellys and a Promax/BDA Diverse Voices Award.

Sean has worked for over 26 years as an advocate and activist for LGBTQ issues. He’s done outreach and community organizing with the Audre Lorde Project, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, and TransJustice. He has worked as a life coach at the Ali Forney Center; raised hell with ACT UP to raise HIV/AIDS awareness; mentored LGBTQ youth and lectured at UC Berkeley regarding coming out in the age of AIDS; provided safer sex education via the National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project; served in a harm reduction center for at-risk clients; and has worked to become a griot of U.S. LGBTQ history.