Rip ‘N Roll returns

Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (QAHC) has launched the third incarnation of its controversial Rip ‘N Roll safe sex campaign, which received national attention in 2011.

Despite recent funding cuts and the campaign receiving the most complaints for any advertisment in 2011, according to Advertising Standards, QAHC had always planned to keep the campaign running for a few years, according to executive director Paul Martin.

The campaign will feature subtle safe sex messages with a group of three friends being the primary image. Appearing in bus shelters throughout Brisbane and billboards around Queensland, the ads will use a range of new models and, for the first time, a trans man.

“We expect that the campaign will reinforce condom use as a community norm among gay men, by using a sex positive and affirmative approach, rather than fear, blame or guilt,” Martin told the Star Observer.

As for the notoriety the campaign received last year, specifically from the Australian Christian Lobby, Martin said that these ads have not been designed to be controversial.

“We’ve designed the version for outdoor advertising to be a subtle as possible – the men are clothed, there’s no ‘rude’ words, there’s no depiction of sex acts,” he said.

Martin said QAHC is prepared to explain and defend the ads if they attract the same negative attention.

Last month saw the official end to government funding of the LGBT health organisation. Martin said staff are managing and coping in their own way.

“The common feeling is of anger and helplessness. The reasons given for our de-funding by [Health Minister Lawrence Springborg] are based on misinformation… but we are powerless to change his decision, given he won’t even meet with us,” he said.

This week will see the redundancy of 22 staff members around the state.

QAHC now depends on volunteers and donations to continue their work.