ACON launches new women’s sexual health initiative with new Lady Sings It Better video

Star Observer Journalists
March 4, 2016

ACON has partnered with Australian feminist cabaret act Lady Sings it Better for a creative approach to female sexual health.

As part of ACON’s women’s sexual health project Claude, Lady Sings it Better has filmed a music video of their cover of Nine Inch Nails’ song Closer.

The video is a creative take on the traditional sex education demonstration of the “condom on the banana”, but extends the theme to latex gloves and a range of fruits.

“Feminist activism can take so many forms and we try to contribute through music and humour,” Lady Sings it Better director Maeve Marsden said in a statement.

“Our high-camp, high-femme, not-quite-safe-for-work interpretation of Closer is a musical celebration of diverse women’s sexuality.”

ACON HIV and Sexual Health Director Karen Price said awareness of the sexual health risks to LGBTI women was low among health professionals.

“Evidence indicates that women who have sex with women have the same rate of STIs as heterosexual women, however this is not widely recognised,” she said.

“Our sexual health work with women is about highlighting that women in LGBTIQ communities should not be presumed to be at low or no risk of STIs.

“Research from the Sydney Women and Sexual Health Survey reveals that 40 per cent of lesbian and same-sex attracted women have never had an STI test.

“We want more women to learn about their STI risk, and how they can prevent these infections, based on their sexual practice.”

Dr Viv McGregor, who works for ACON on the Claude Project, said the Closer video offers an upfront message about how to use gloves to prevent the transmission of STIs.

“A lot of women don’t understand why or how to use gloves in sexual settings,” she said.

“They also stop the risk of small tears and cuts from fingernails, which – aside from being painful – can cause infection and make it easier to transmit STIs.”

Watch the video: