Condoms play a central role in HIV & STI prevention because they are highly effective, readily available, and affordable. Unfortunately, condom promotion efforts often incite fear as a motivating force, while also taking the common “one-size-fits all” approach. Reframing condom promotion through a sex positive framework, focusing on pleasure and highlighting condom fit issues, we can make condoms more engaging and increase utilization.
Join our condom workshop, where we’ll explore condom promotion by emphasizing pleasure, proper fit, new innovations and distribution best practices!
Joshua O’Neal is a sexual health content expert, providing technical assistance and training for the Southeast HIV/STI Prevention Training Center. Joshua earned his master’s degree in human sexuality with a focus on sexual health promotion and has more than 15 years of experience in public health and community-based clinical settings, working as a tireless advocate for GBQ+ communities, people in the sex trade, and people who use substances. His professional and academic work related to condom-fit, HIV testing technologies, sex positivity and clinical best practices for GBQ+ communities have been published in peer reviewed journals. A passionate educator, Joshua teaches human sexuality courses and presents and trains on sexual health best practices through sex positivity and harm reduction frameworks across both local and national stages.
Leslie Fowler has been a registered nurse for over 30 years and is a long-time advocate for HIV and sexual health. She has provided HIV, STI, and hepatitis testing and education for many years. Leslie has served as an HIV Case Manager, a TB Case Manager, the Principal Investigator for the CDC’s STD, HIV, and TB prevention grants, and a board member for several non-profit organizations. In her roles related to HIV, STI, and hepatitis, she has implemented strategies to enhance prevention and testing, resulting in reduced morbidity. Leslie has been a member of NCSD since 2016, completed the NCSD Policy Academy in 2017, and has served on the NCSD Board of Directors since January 2023.