Earlier this year, the Graying of AIDS project worked closely with New York City-based AIDS research, education, and advocacy organization ACRIA to create an intimate portrait series of older adults – alone and with “partners” – for their Age is Not a Condom HIV/AIDS and aging awareness campaign.

One of the key themes motivating our Graying of AIDS documentary work is that we think it’s a problem that we rarely see older adult intimacy in our media. In a youth obsessed culture, it suggests that older adults aren’t sexual, or that their bodies should be hidden; on the rare occasion that we DO see older bodies in a sexual context, the images are often disrespectful or comical. We have long wanted to counteract this ageism by creating beautiful images that celebrate intimacy, and with this collaboration we had a chance to do exactly that in a very public way.

During the month of May, when these posters were on display on bus shelters around the city, Naomi and I had the chance to visit many of those sites to photograph the images in place and ask people for their thoughts. A repeat comment was that there just aren’t enough visuals like this out there – In 2014! In NYC! – and without trying to shock or be gratuitously in-your-face about sex, these images and their message worked by being “quietly radical.”

For some of the reactions and comments on the campaign, check out our project blog.

A big, big thanks and shout-out to everyone who helped make this series possible! We were honored to work with a wonderful group of volunteers, from talented MAC Cosmetics make-up artists to the fabulous friend who generously allowed us to use her loft space, and the many individuals and organizations throughout the city who helped us get the word out about our search for participants.

But most of all, a deeply grateful THANK YOU to our immensely brave volunteer “models”!! These are all “real people” who participated in this series out of a commitment to HIV education and prevention. It takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there larger than life size, and it’s been an amazing experience to see these moments of intimacy huge, on bustling street corners throughout the city!

Really, really proud of this collaboration!!

There are a total of 8 images in English and Spanish, which were featured in 30+ locations.
For more info on the campaign go to: www.ageisnotacondom.org