AIDS 2014 delegates drop their pants

Ana P. Santos

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AIDS 2014 delegates drop their pants
Bare-legged delegates party to celebrate the 10th anniversary of an important tradition and to raise funds for the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS

MELBOURNE, Australia – It was a freezing 5 degrees last night but instead of bundling up, the AIDS2014 delegates stripped down for the No Pants, No Problem (NPNP) party at The Motel Bar.

Men disrobed to trunks, briefs and boxers and women shimmied out of their pants to lace and cotton panties and boxer briefs. Among the many revelations that night was that thongs are strongly preferred by both men and women alike.

Half-naked

The bare-legged AIDS2014 delegates came together to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the No Pants, No Problem Party, which was started by Jessica Whitbread when she was first diagnosed with HIV.

The pressure of disclosure within both straight and queer spaces was intimidating and stressful to the 20-something Whitbread. She craved for a free and safe place where she could express her sexuality and enjoy her body.

She started NPNP in Montreal as a “curatorial arts project” to shed off phobias and inhibitions of all sorts. NPNP parties, which have become somewhat a tradition in HIV/AIDS conferences, have attracted any and everyone including trauma survivors and differently abled people.   

PARTY HARD. Bare-legged delegates come together to celebrate the 10th anniversary of No Pants No Problem. Photo from Hender Gercio

Whitbread opened the party by calling all the other women living with HIV to come on stage with her. 

The motley crew of women from different countries led the crowd in singing one of Whitbread’s favorite songs, “I Want to Break Free” by Queen.

The kissing contest and the party games – the classic Twister was one of them – were used to raise funds for the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) of which Whitbread is the president.

Then there was a kissing contest where Whitbread gave first pick to people “who come from countries where you’re not allowed to kiss someone you like if you’re the same sex.”

Not everyone came dressed down to their delicates though; some stuck it out fully dressed – they were “fined” and had to pay AUD$20 for the entrance fee instead of AUD $15. -Rappler.com

Find out more about the No Pants, No Problem Party by checking out their Facebook page.

Ana P. Santos is a regular contributor for Rappler apart for her DASH of SAS column, which is a spin off of her website, Sex and Sensibilities (SAS). In 2012, Ana was awarded a media grant to write about women who are most affected by the absence of an RH Law. Read the complete story onRosalie Cabinyan and Laura Jane Duran here. Follow her on Twitter at @iamAnaSantos.

Rappler columnist Ana Santos is in Melbourne, Australia covering the AIDS Conference 2014. Check her other stories here:

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Ana P. Santos

Ana P. Santos is an investigative journalist who specializes in reporting on the intersections of gender, sexuality, and migrant worker rights.