Students were exposed to a condom emporium as they participated in a workshop about AIDS in the black community, last Thursday. Antonio Adolphues, a trained volunteer with the organization BEBASHI -- Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues -- gave an hour-long seminar on life in the age of AIDS. Adolphues began his lecture by dispelling many misconceptions about AIDS. He said that it is wrong for many blacks to believe that the virus is a form of genocide because having sex is a decision most often made by consenting adults. Adolphues concentrated on the black community because drug use and prostitution is rampant in the urban areas in which many blacks live. The transmission of sex was another misconception Adolphues feels needs to be remedied. For Aolphues, casual contact was an area of concern. "Sex, not casual contact, is the number one way to transmit AIDS," said Adolphues. He also said that this fact should dispel the belief that drug use is its main cause. Though Aldolphues said that abstinence is the best way to prevent the spread of AIDS, condom use was stressed as a more realistic means of controlling the virus. The small but attentive audience snickered as the display of the wide variety of contraception went from the practical to the unmentionable. The condom, the most common form of contraception, was the highlight of this presentation. Adolphues said that not all condoms provide equal amounts of protection. "Latex condems with spermicide are the only type of condems that should be used during sexual intercourse," said Adolpheus. He added that the condoms with spermicide are the best on the market because they also kill germs. Snickers changed to laughter when Adolphues introduced the audience to colored, flavored, vibrating and spiked condoms. Also on display was the "dental dam," a recently developed form of contraception for oral sex. Adolphues said he hopes that immersing people in contraceptive devices will increase society's desire to use them. "Attitudes about condom use must change," said Adolphues. "People are more likely to use contraception if they can be used in new and more romantic ways." The reality, however, is that despite the breadth of contraception available on the market, the number of AIDS carriers is on the rise. To remedy this situation, Adolphues stressed anonymous testing. "Testing results are not given over the phone and are most effective in medical facilities that are in a residential setting." said Adolphues. He said that he feels this makes it easier to maintain confidentiality and a comfortable atmosphere. While Adolphues said AIDS keeps society under siege, he said he feels that educating everyone about the facts of AIDS will continue to be the first step towards lessening its presence.
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