Back in the late 1980s, a queer indigenous sex education group called the 2 Spirits Project, along with Queensland Health in Australia, launched a comic book series chronicling the exploits of Condoman — a superhero whose sole purpose was to raise awareness about the perils of not practicing safe sex. Now, several decades later, the comic has been revived — and Condoman has a new partner: The amazing Lubelicious.
This news comes to us via Amber Frost of Dangerous Minds, who lauds the effort to advocate for safe sex among Australia's indigenous youth:
It's actually a really impressive campaign. It's aware enough to know that 1) safe sex campaigns need to be tailored to specific communities, especially with regard to race and class, and 2) safe sex campaigns need to start with age groups that are probably not yet having sex. As some one from abstinence-only middle America, it's a little mind-blowing to see such a frank effort to destigmatize youth-based sex education.
And indeed, the first wave of the campaign was so well-received that a second issue has been released with an updated look. And as noted above, Condoman now has a partner in Lubelicious.
From the QAHC Healthy Communities website:
This comic book is the first time we see a range of new characters- in particular Lubelicious, who helps Condoman to fight a range of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's) in Indigenous communities across Queensland. Lubelicious represents the image of a strong Indigenous woman who promotes the use of water based lubricant. Together with Condoman, they fight STI's and challenge the shame of talking about sexual health.
Also this is the first time we see a number of new characters representing STI's including:
HIV, Syphillis, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, HPV, Hepatitis B and C, Herpes.
Stigmalien - the leader of the STI's represents the stigma attached to living with STI's or being tested for STI's.
To support the Comic Book 2, a range of suits have been developed to bring to life the characters. Many people would have seen Condoman at a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander events across Queensland. Now suits for Lubelicious, and the STI characters are avaialble, which will extend the reach of the characters beyond the Comic Book.
You can check out the comics here.