HISTORY
Stop sida was created in 1986 as a grassroots community association under the banner of Gais per la Salut,(Gays for Health) with the aim of combating AIDS among the Catalan gay community. Since then, the association has grown continuously as have the information and service based projects that are carried out by volunteers from the gay and lesbian community.
14 years have passed since its first safe sex poster was published and the first free condoms were distributed on the gay scene. Today Stop sida works on important projects such as nationwide HIV prevention campaigns, the aims of which are to raise HIV/AIDS awareness within the gay and lesbian community and foster solidarity towards those infected. Stop sida also creates one-off campaigns each year on dates such as St. Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, St. George's Day and at Easter and Christmas as well as other days throughout the year, taking advantage of the festive occasion by distributing different types of materials, each with the same objective: the fight against HIV via messages of prevention and the promotion of the use of condoms to practice safer sex. Each year Stop sida mounts the Summer Campaign when its volunteers distribute safe sex kits comprising of a condom and water-soluble lubricant on gay beaches, at foam parties in gay discos, and at cruising areas such as Barcelona 's Montjuic.
Each year, to coincide with World AIDS day, on December 1 st , Stop sida and Positive Gays organise El Gran Baile de Solidaridad con los Gays Seropositivos (The Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays). The Ball is one of the most important events celebrated in Barcelona to commemorate this day.
Stop sida has been a pioneer in the introduction of safer sex campaigns such as those directed specifically at lesbians and transsexuals, as well as the initiation of safe sex workshops for gay men, a project which began in 1988.
Chronology
1986
First distribution of condoms at gay venues. Edition of the first poster promoting safer sex, with money raised from collaborations from those venues.
1987
Edition of the sticker " Barcelona , posate'l guapa" ( Barcelona , put it on, gorgeous) and the second safer
sex poster.
Distribution of the leaflet "El misterio de Navón" (The Mystery of Navon), a comic by famous Catalan illustrator Nazario
1988
First safer sex workshops for gay men; fruit of the experiences of other organisations in San Francisco .
The introduction of safer sex stickers on sauna locker doors.
1989
Publication of the book "Disfruta la vida, evita la sida" (Enjoy Life, Avoid AIDS).
The First Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays at Martins Disco
1990
Publication of the leaflet "Sexe entre homes" (Sex between men).
Creation of Gais Positius (Positive Gays), the first self-help group for HIV positive gay men in Spain
The Second Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays at Metro Disco .
1991
On 6 th May, the service "Teléfono ROSA" (“The Pink Line”) opens. This is the first information service specifically for gays and lesbians.
The name of the association Is changed to “Stop sida".
The Third Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays at Zeleste with 2000 people in attendance.
1992
Change of address. Stop sida moves to a bigger space. The Pink Line changes its phone number.
Initiation of the first Safer Sex Weekend Workshops .
The Fourth Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays at Cibeles with 1500 people in attendance
1993
First survey on the sexual behaviour and practices of gay men in Catalonia .500 gay men participate.
The Fifth Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays at Zeleste to commemorate World AIDS Day.
Extension of The Pink Line service to 4 hours daily from Monday to Friday..
1994
“Cuídate ‘94”(“ Look After Yourself ‘94”) The First National AIDS prevention campaign with the collaboration of The Ministry of Public Health.
The Sixth Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays at Sala Apolo with 1500 people in attendance.
Gais Positius becomes an independent organisation. The first safer sex workshops for women are organised.
1995
Second survey on the sexual behaviour and practices of gay men in Catalonia . 700 gay men participate.
Stop sida initiates a buddying service and a HIV testing service
The Seventh Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays at Sala Cibeles.
Ralf Konig collaborates in the “Cuídate '95” (“Look After Yourself ‘95”) Campaign.
1996
First Forum for the Study of AIDS and New Families . The most renowned AIDS specialists meet for five days to discuss and share new information about HIV and AIDS.
"Cuídate 96 " (“Look After Yourself ‘96”) Campaign.
The Eighth Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays with the emission of a video made by Barcelona TV containing messages of support from people recognised for their participation in the fight against AIDS and well known cultural and media figures.
1997
Presentation in conjunction with the Sanitary Council of the results of the survey jointly carried out with
CEESCAT. “Monitoring the Prevalence and Level of Prevention of Infection of HIV in the Male Homosexual Community”
"Cuídate'97" (“Look After Yourself ‘97”) Campaign . The first poster promoting theprevention of HIV for lesbian women is published.
Campaign for the prevention of HIV in summer . A light airplane flies over the Catalonian coastline displaying a banner that says , “Always use a condom”.
The Ninth Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays with the participation of Lucrecia. At this year's event, a piece of video art about HIV prevention by Carlos Congost is shown.
1998
Third survey on the sexual behaviour and practices of gay men in Catalonia with the collaboration of CEESCAT. 700 gay men participate
Cuídate'98 " (“Look After Yourself ‘98”) Campaign with the distribution of the material that has been the most successful so far, " Juego de las mariquitas ".(“The Ladybird Game”)
The Tenth Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays at La Paloma with the participation of Alaska and her group Fangoria.
Campaign for the prevention of HIV in summer . A light airplane flies over the Catalonian coastline displaying a banner that says, “Always use a condom” .
The creation of HIV Infoservice , a new service offering emotional assessment and support through counselling for HIV positive people and/or their partners, friends and family.
1999
The Eleventh Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays at La Paloma with the participation of Folklóricas Arrepentidas and Soldiers of Dance.
Campaign for the prevention of HIV in summer . A light airplane flies over the Catalonian coastline displaying a banner that says, “Always use a condom”.
Consolidation of HIV Infoservice , which has been running for over one year, and the project
“Education in the Prevention of HIV and AIDS on the Street”.
"Cuídate'99" (“Look After Yourself ‘99”) Campaign.
2000
Change of location. Stop sida moves to the third floor of 45 Finlandia Street , in Barcelona .
Fourth survey on the sexual behaviour and practices of gay men in Catalonia with the collaboration of CEESCAT. 700 gay men participate.
The Twelfth Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays at La Paloma with the participation of Antonia San Juan and Lluís Font.
Campaign for the prevention of HIV in summer . A light airplane flies over the Catalonian coastline displaying a banner that says , “Sexe segur. Safe sex”.
"Cuídate 2000 " (“Look After Yourself 2000” ) Campaign
2001
“Cuídate 2001” ( Look After Yourself 2001) Campaign this year along with the poster “I am HIV Positive and I want your respect” in which five members of Positive Gays stand up to be counted in what is an important step forward in the visibility of the HIV positive community.
The Thirteenth Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays
Campaign for HIV testing , “Isn't it better to know?” in the gay media, with postcards and leaflets.
Safer Sex Weekend Workshops.
2002
“Cuídate 2002 ” , (“Look After Yourself 2002” ) Campaign with the use of the image from the poster “I am HIV positive and I want your respect” on a postcard, and the adaptation of the campaign, “Isn't it better to know?” for use by all the associations and collaborators involved.
The Fourteenth Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays in the presence of Lola Herrera and Arturo Fernandez and the actresses from “The Vagina Monologues”.
Consolidation of the Safer Sex Weekend Workshops.
2003
“Cuídate 2003 ” , (“Look After Yourself 2003” ) Campaign with the incorporation of the HIV testing campaign “Isn't it better to know?” and the release of a CD-ROM about various issues relating to the HIV test. During this campaign, a workshop is held to train various members of the participating associations in the skills necessary to run the safer sex workshops.
First Internet Study of HIV and the behaviour of men who have sex with men . Data was collected from a questionnaire on the webpage www.cuídate.info to evaluate the sexual behaviour of gay men in relation to HIV and to assess the diffusion and awareness of the campaign “Cuídate 2002” . The study was promoted in Barcelona , Madrid and Valencia with the collaboration of Cogam from Madrid and Col lectiuassess from Valencia .
The Fifteenth Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays with appearances by Joan Manuel Serrat and Chenoa.
The campaign “How do you know what you know?” about the myths surrounding anti-retroviral treatments.
2004
“Cuídate 2004 ” (“Look After Yourself 2004” ) Campaign, along with which the CD-ROM “Isn't it better to know? You decide”, about the HIV test is reissued. As well as being distributed amongst the network of associations, a two page insert is published in the gay magazine “Zero” along with two advertisements. During this campaign, a workshop is held to train various members of the participating associations in the skills necessary to run the safer sex workshops. In conjunction with the a postcard and safe sex kit of a condom and lubricant, Stop sida publishes a leaflet showing solidarity with HIV positive gays . “SOY” (”I AM”)
Campaign for the prevention of HIV in summer . A light airplane flies over the Catalonian coastline displaying a banner that says , “Sexe segur. Safe sex” and thousands of safe sex kits with condom and water-soluble lubricant are distributed on the gay beaches of Barcelona , Sitges and Lloret.
The Sixteenth Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays , with the appearance of Soledad León de Salazar and the projection of the gay themed short film “ San Salvador ”.
2005
“Cuídate 2005” (“Look After Yourself 2005” ) Campaign, with a play on words using a well known catchphrase from an advertisement adapted to the different messages being promoted. “ Well it's going to be a no “ (“I do it without a condom? Well it's going to be a no”). As well as its distribution amongst the network of associations involved in the campaign, an insert with a sticker was placed in Zero magazine, to celebrate June 28 th . The campaign included a prevention kit and a postcard.
The thirteenth campaign for the prevention of HIV in summer . A light airplane flies over the Catalonian.
Coastline flying a banner that says “Sexe segur. Safe sex” and more than 20,000 thousand safe sex kits with condom and water-soluble lubricant are distributed on the gay beaches of the Catalonian coast and at the foam parties in the gay discos of Barcelona and Sitges.
The Seventeenth Grand Ball for Solidarity with HIV Positive Gays , with the appearance of Soledad León de Salazar and her musical group The sKarias Sisters and a performance by the group Pastora.
The publishing of the conclusions drawn from “ The Fifth Study of the Prevalence of HIV and the level of prevention of HIV/AIDS amongst Men who have Sex with Men” in a pamphlet in Spanish and Catalan.