Sex Positive

Taking its name from a term that celebrates open sexual expression, Sex Positive tells the story of Richard Berkowitz, a former S&M hustler turned safe sex advocate, whose tireless contribution to the promotion of gay male sexual health in the 1980s has been unduly neglected. Berkowitz sent shockwaves through the New York gay community with his outspoken views on promiscuity, and his claim that gay men must take personal responsibility for their actions. Despite numerous public appearances and the publication of a book on safe sex, his stance was considered too radical at a time of widespread confusion and misinformation, leading the community to turn their backs and label him a self-hating gay man.

In retrospect, Berkowitz's contributions cannot be overstated, and this documentary gives the now reclusive Berkowitz a chance to speak openly about his life and work. In combining personal stories of his former hustling days with the bigger picture of the state of gay male health, the film is much more than just another dry documentation on the Aids crisis, raising still relevant questions about sexual identity along the way. Expertly crafted and subtly cinematic, this is a long overdue account of an unsung hero.
Michael Blyth