Surface Level Live @ Harlem Stage

Damon, Jordan, and Tony are curious – is Queer pleasure a privilege? This National Black HIV/AIDS Day, we had the privilege of hosting Harlem Stage Presents: Surface Level Live, powered by Gilead Sciences. We are grateful for those who were able to join us in person, and we’re beyond excited to share the experience digitally with our Surface Level Insiders who couldn’t be there.

During Part 1 of this special series, we explored our connection to pleasure in the age of PrEP. We discussed how modern medicine has created an environment where queer men no longer need to fear sex. We also examined the new stigmas that have emerged from these protection measures, and we shared our thoughts on how we should speak to each other about sexual health.

During Part 2 of this special series, we are excited to welcome producer, writer, and director Patrik-Ian Polk to our Surface Level family. We continue the conversation with a unique perspective on sexual health from a member of our community who lived through the AIDS crisis. We also discuss how his beloved work, such as Noah’s Arc, has addressed issues related to sexual health, the evolution of expectations surrounding the disclosure of HIV status over time, and the fine line between secrecy and privacy. It was an honor to have this conversation with someone we admire, and we are excited to share this raw and honest discussion with our audience.