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24 July 91

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Supervisor Carol Midgen
City Hall
San Francisco CA 94103
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Shred of Dignity
World Power Systems
Tom Jennings
666 Illinois
San Francisco CA 94107
(415)-552-8156
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Saw somewhere in SF WEEKLY about your trying to get ``low�
literacy'' safe-sex propaganda for SF's kids. Enclosed is exactly�
that thing, or at least our version of it.

I reproduce these at my cost for inclusion with HOMOCORE zines I�
ship, and to hand out where possible. I had plans to dump piles�
of them in obvious places (Diamond Youth Shelter, etc) but I�
simply don't have the funds, nor the time to do distribution.

In any case -- it's our opinion that most safe-sex propaganda�
simply doesn't work for us; the overly-cautious language�
(probably necessary for funding) alienates most of the people who�
could use the information, and they use language you'd expect in�
a classroom (oppressive) or from a mother or uncle (oppressive). 

This flyer assumes that people are having sex, like it, and are�
not going to stop. The language is graphic, and simple without�
being insulting. It treats drugs as a reality, without preaching.�
It was authored (as you can see) by Torontonian sex workers.�
Zanne, a local dyke cartoonist, did the custom poly-sexual�
drawings.

At the 1000 quantity level, they cost as little as 6 cents each�
to make. (2.5\cents\ per impression (one each side) plus 
1\cents\ per sheet of paper. At quantity 10,000, probably under a�
nickel. They were designed to tolerate poor reproduction; wide�
margins, standard paper size, decent line thickness.

If you are interested, I will provide, for free, the originals�
for reproduction, and even make changes to the text if necessary.�
I will contact the Toronto prostitutes about reproduction�
rights\footnote*{\twentypointpunk Sorry for the pun, I couldn't pass up the�
opportunity!}; I doubt they'll be anything but pleased to see it�
distributed en masse.

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Don't know if you're familiar with HOMOCORE and it's offshoots.�
(Too) briefly -- it's gay-driven ``punk'', or non-assimilationist�
(in the broadest sense) culture. High emphasis on 
do-it-yourself, and home-made values. (Actually it's very�
American but I rarely mention it for obvious reasons.) 

Shred of Dignity was going to be Duke Crestfield's gay skateboard�
group, but in 1986 S.F. Supe Kennedy proposed an absurd city-wide�
``skateboard ban''. We foiled it, and then turned it to skaters'�
advantage. We went on to do free skate and cultural events for a�
few years: ``hit and run'' shows; barbeques and picnics; free�
music shows without permits in unused lots; HOMOCORE shows at the�
Womens' Building and elsewhere, etc. We've since expanded into�
other areas. All of our work is gay-positive and inclusive, but�
not exclusively gay. We get lots of both straight and gay people,�
and make that clear right up front; we've had remarkable success�
and near-zero trouble.

We are starting a comprehensive graphics facility for our�
community at large. We just leased a brand-new Canon copier, and�
are providing access to it on a membership basis (\$10/month�
membership, low per-copy cost) and making our silk-screening,�
computer and general office stuff more accessible. Collectively�
we're kinda fringy, but do an amazing amount of stuff in this�
city; zines, shows, artwork, films, support services, that kinda�
stuff.

It occurs to me -- if you would be interested in contracting us�
to produce the enclosed flyers or similar for the city at say,�
10--20\cents\ each, in decent quantities, it would provide the�
city with cheap, effective flyers, and us with a small source of�
money to support our print shop. (Though the offer to supply the�
originals for free still stands, regardless.)

If you or someone else is interested, call any time. (Before 10AM�
is probably a bad idea.)


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Sincerely,
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Tom Jennings
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