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2 MB
Extraction Summary
3
People
2
Organizations
1
Locations
2
Events
2
Relationships
5
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
Web article/blog post printout (evidence file)
File Size:
2 MB
Summary
This document appears to be a printout of a blog post or article (likely from Clarisse Thorn's website) featuring an interview with activist Richard Berkowitz. The text discusses Berkowitz's experiences with BDSM, sex work, and his frustration with the delays in safe sex education in NYC during the AIDS epidemic. It includes links to the original interview, Berkowitz's website, and a documentary about him, and ends with the beginning of a 2010 post titled '[theory] Social Responsibility Within Activism'. The document bears a 'HOUSE_OVERSIGHT' Bates stamp, indicating it is part of a congressional investigation production.
People (3)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Berkowitz | Subject/Interviewee |
Discussing his history with sex work, BDSM, and safe sex activism during the AIDS crisis.
|
| Clarisse Thorn | Author/Interviewer |
Name appears in the blog URL; likely the person who conducted the interview and wrote the post.
|
| Daryl Wein | Filmmaker |
Director of the documentary 'Sex Positive'.
|
Organizations (2)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| House Oversight Committee |
Indicated by the Bates stamp 'HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_018568'.
|
|
| NYC |
Mentioned in context of the delay in launching the first safe sex campaign.
|
Timeline (2 events)
2009-03-23
Publication of interview with Richard Berkowitz on clarissethorn.com
Internet
Historical (early 1980s implied)
Locations (1)
| Location | Context |
|---|---|
|
New York City, location of the discussed safe sex campaign delays.
|
Relationships (2)
URL indicates an interview on clarissethorn.com with Richard Berkowitz.
Text recommends Daryl Wein's documentary 'Sex Positive' which is about Berkowitz.
Key Quotes (5)
"Many of us came to realize that sexual fantasies don't diminish us as people -- they can actually help free and enrich us when we understand what we're doing."Source
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Quote #1
"In the end, though, BDSM and my love for it is part of what saved my life."Source
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Quote #2
"I was furious that there was no place in the community for me to do safe sex education."Source
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Quote #3
"Sex can become an addiction, and when you reach that point, people use recreational drugs to keep that level of hypersexual activity going."Source
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Quote #4
"You can't imagine the rage I felt that it took two entire years after we wrote and published 'How to Have Sex in an Epidemic' for NYC to do its first safe sex campaign."Source
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Quote #5
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (2,516 characters)
realize this, and we understood that a lot of sexual fantasies are socially constructed by
the times that shaped us. Many of us came to realize that sexual fantasies don't diminish
us as people -- they can actually help free and enrich us when we understand what we're
doing.
the times that shaped us. Many of us came to realize that sexual fantasies don't diminish
us as people -- they can actually help free and enrich us when we understand what we're
doing.
I'm reluctant to put myself forward as a role model for BDSM and sex work, because of
what happened to me after AIDS when I went back to hustling. I was furious that there
was no place in the community for me to do safe sex education. I felt so hurt that some
people only saw me as a sex worker/sadomasochist and that political differences got in
the way of saving sexually active gay men's lives. You can't imagine the rage I felt that it
took two entire years after we wrote and published "How to Have Sex in an Epidemic"
for NYC to do its first safe sex campaign. I went back to hustling in such despair that I
was an addiction waiting to happen, and that's what did.
what happened to me after AIDS when I went back to hustling. I was furious that there
was no place in the community for me to do safe sex education. I felt so hurt that some
people only saw me as a sex worker/sadomasochist and that political differences got in
the way of saving sexually active gay men's lives. You can't imagine the rage I felt that it
took two entire years after we wrote and published "How to Have Sex in an Epidemic"
for NYC to do its first safe sex campaign. I went back to hustling in such despair that I
was an addiction waiting to happen, and that's what did.
In the end, though, BDSM and my love for it is part of what saved my life. If I weren't so
busy hustling with BDSM before AIDS and safe sex, I would have spent much more time
at the baths having high risk sex, and died long ago. I think each of us has a limit to how
much sex and how many different partners our spirits can bear. Sex can become an
addiction, and when you reach that point, people use recreational drugs to keep that level
of hypersexual activity going. If I had found a place in safe sex education, my life would
have been a much happier, healthier journey. But I never lose sight of how grateful I am
to still be here, or how much joy and pleasure sexual freedom gave me until the world I
loved started collapsing all around me and taking the men I loved along with it.
busy hustling with BDSM before AIDS and safe sex, I would have spent much more time
at the baths having high risk sex, and died long ago. I think each of us has a limit to how
much sex and how many different partners our spirits can bear. Sex can become an
addiction, and when you reach that point, people use recreational drugs to keep that level
of hypersexual activity going. If I had found a place in safe sex education, my life would
have been a much happier, healthier journey. But I never lose sight of how grateful I am
to still be here, or how much joy and pleasure sexual freedom gave me until the world I
loved started collapsing all around me and taking the men I loved along with it.
* * *
This can be found on the Internet at:
http://clarissethorn.com/blog/2009/03/23/interview-with-richard-berkowitz-star-of-sex-
positive-and-icon-of-safer-sex-activism/
positive-and-icon-of-safer-sex-activism/
Check out Richard Berkowitz's web site to read more about him and investigate his book
(which I admit I have not read), Stayin' Alive: The Invention of Safe Sex:
(which I admit I have not read), Stayin' Alive: The Invention of Safe Sex:
http://richardberkowitz.com/
And seriously, if you get the chance, watch Daryl Wein's awesome documentary Sex
Positive:
Positive:
http://www.sexpositive-themovie.com/
* * *
* * *
* * *
ABUSE:
[theory] Social Responsibility Within Activism
I wrote this post in 2010 for Thanksgiving (the original post had a bunch of "thank yous"
at the end, which I removed from this version). The questions here seem to be some of the
at the end, which I removed from this version). The questions here seem to be some of the
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_018568
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