How excited was I to knit condom amulets for a friend’s event that needed art installations? VERY. I love promoting safe sex, mainly because I had no freaking idea how diseases were spread until probably my junior year in college (yes, some of us are slow, it’s ok). Thankfully I had not put myself in risky positions (all by accident, mind you. it’s not like people were banging down my door to…well…anyway…) and I was educated through doing an AIDS education training. I was lucky. Many people are not. I am a huge supporter of discussing how to prevent pregnancy if you are not interested in being pregnant, preventing the spread of disease, and, most importantly, reminding everyone that we each have a voice regarding our own bodies. We can say no. We can say yes. We can say OH YES, but first, where’s that dental dam/condom?
So, I knit to help spread the word.
I knit these a bit last-minute, so they aren’t as funky as I would really like. They are warm-up foreplay! amulets.
Some things I have learned in the short time since knitting these:
1. The local sex store does not sell dental dams nor do they sell flavored condoms that could be used as dental dams. This is no good.
2. The local sex store does not visually promote safe sex. Condoms were tucked in the corner of the store or you had to ask the person at the counter. This is no good.
3. This shopping experience prompted me to mention to my mom that I was upset that a sex shop wouldn’t promote safe sex, despite having all sorts of toys, videos, and other things I could not identify. We laughed and made plans to take over the store and redo it in a way that highlighted all the fun you could have while keeping your diseases/viruses/whatever to yourself. It was one of the most open conversations I’ve had with my mom about sex. Now THAT is very good!
4. Everyone who I have shown these to wants several! THIS IS VERY VERY GOOD!
Hurray for Naomi for encouraging good discussions! Hurray for condom amulets! Hurray for knowing what everyone is getting for a solstice gift!!!
…now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to eat the mushroom risotto I made for approximately 8 people (um…it’s just me here tonight. Can you freeze it or is that sacrilege?).
hooray for safer sex!! and for open discussions with your mom — that’s awesome.
I definitely think the risotto will lose something if you freeze it. It’d be okay, I guess, but I think you should eat your fill tonight and then enjoy leftovers for the next couple of days.
ROTFL You would be laughing too if you had seen how my eyes popped when I read the title of your post in Bloglines! No fair at startling me like that at 12:41 at night! LOL
And I completely agree about the sex store! How screwed up is that? Wow…can you imagine a sex store run by knitters? Definitely make for an interesting knit night! *snicker*
ohmigod, this is exactly what i’d dreamed of–knitters (crocheters too, must be inclusive) who’d take the notion and run with it.
“foreplay amulets” is inspired. and that is only one of the elements you’ve added to Condom Amulets. btw, it was a great loss to new york city and safe sex that the store in greenwich village, Condomania, closed after ten years. real estate prices are knocking off everything worthwhile here.
i’ll be back to you soon…looks as if the new blog will be public before World AIDS day. thanks again for all your input.
yours, naomi