David Richards, Lifelong AIDS Alliance (LAA) education director, wasn't aware that a local gay bar was hosting a bareback-themed night, and refused to comment. LAA's P.R. director, Sophie Petersen, later assured me that LAA's outreach workers would be at the Eagle on Thursday nights to hand out condoms and literature. "Obviously we're aware that it's a pun on the barebacking thing," said Petersen, "but as a form of damage control, we were planning on having an outreach worker there to hand out condoms and pass out information. We would be kidding ourselves to believe that this event isn't a draw for people interested in that kind of play." Petersen continued, "We are also aware that the clientele [at Bareback Thursday] won't be that responsive to what we're doing."
"I'm pushing the edge," admits Keith Christensen, the manager of the Seattle Eagle. "But it's humor more than anything else. It's not an invitation for people to come in here and have bareback sex. It's a shirtless night, but we use the word 'bareback' to pull people in." And as far as Christensen is concerned, LAA's outreach workers are welcome at the Seattle Eagle. "[LAA] can come and hand out all the condoms they want," says Christensen. "I give more condoms away than anybody in this city. We are the number-one condom distribution spot in town."
AIDS organizations once challenged bar and bathhouse owners to act responsibly when AIDS was an emerging health crisis. LAA insists AIDS remains a crisis, yet the group is unwilling to demand that the Seattle Eagle end the promotion--or at the very least change the night's name to, say, "Show-Us-Your-Tits Thursday." Despite the risk barebacking poses to gay men, Petersen feels it "might not be prudent" for LAA to interfere with the Eagle's "marketing strategy."
