Mastodawn

Soatok Dreamseeker

If you see someone posting a photo of a sign at a furry convention that advertises HIV / STI testing while sounding offended, it's a queerphobic dogwhistle.

Spread this to your friends/families to inoculate them from bad memes.

https://soatok.blog/2024/09/30/why-are-furry-conventions-offering-hiv-testing-to-attendees/

Why are furry conventions offering HIV testing to attendees? - Dhole Moments

Spoiler: It’s nothing scandalous or bad. Every once in a while, someone posts this photo on Twitter to attempt to dunk on furries: Midwest FurFest 2018 Over the years, I’ve seen this di…

Dhole Moments

Soatok Dreamseeker 22h ago

If anyone goes to non-furry events with 1000+ attendees, pitch this to their board.

Let's make every event offer harm reduction.

@soatok
Meanwhile, Gamescom is out there doubling the population of Cologne for a weekend once a year and generally acting like a super spreader event

clang-enby 20h ago

A superspreader of privileged takes and beefs especially.

Delta Sierra 13h ago

@soatok Having attended many work/professional conventions and many many furry conventions:

Attendees at BOTH would benefit from HIV testing. Hell, attendees at ANY type of convention would benefit from free HIV testing.

@notthatdelta @soatok there's a post I saw somewhere saying what goes on at furry cons is tame, compared with other cons full of business people away from their partners

Delta Sierra 12h ago

@patterfloof @soatok I'm not sure I believe that (with maybe the exception of alcohol and cocaine use at business events, which could probably fund a small city for a month) but they're definitely both up there!

FurryBeta 12h ago

@notthatdelta @soatok “But if we offer testing, it will make it seem like we’re encouraging that behavior!”, rather than accepting human nature and trying to make sure that what will happen is done at least in a more safe fashion

Delta Sierra 12h ago

@FurryBeta @soatok people are going to fuck, ESPECIALLY in a setting where they don't have to clean up afterwards.

@notthatdelta @FurryBeta @soatok do people fuck in public spaces and expect the staff to do the cleanup? that sounds like jerk behavour to me.

Soatok Dreamseeker 11h ago

@ariarhythmic @notthatdelta @FurryBeta I think they meant hotel rooms.

But also: Please tip your fucking housekeepers (at least in the US and Canada). Even $20/room is meaningful.

Housekeeping gets paid in tips. Most people do not know this. More people should know this.

(Also don't leave horrible messes for them plz)

Delta Sierra 9h ago

@soatok @ariarhythmic @FurryBeta Yeah, I meant hotel rooms. It's nice to not have to worry about post-coital towel/sheet laundry for once, I get that. Plus it feels pretty decadent to order room service and eat/drink in bed!

And also yeah, ALWAYS tip your hotel staff, even if they don't turn over the room daily they still have to clean everything up at the end of your stay. It's also not bad form to leave any (unopened!) leftover snacks, drinks, booze out in plain sight. Never know what might help someone. Plus a bit of pre-cleaning (get all your trash in one spot, towels in one pile, flush the goddamn toilet, etc).

@notthatdelta @soatok @FurryBeta how do you forget to flush a toilet how does that happen

Delta Sierra 8h ago

@ariarhythmic @soatok @FurryBeta there's a line between "I don't clean this space so I'm just going to relax in it this weekend" and "I don't clean this space so I'm going to be a disgusting filth goblin since someone else deals with it", and people cross that line ALL THE TIME.

FurryBeta 4h ago

@notthatdelta @ariarhythmic @soatok No doubt. I can’t imagine what hotel cleaning staff have seen and had to clean up. Unless I was truly desperate, you couldn’t pay me enough to do that job, under the conditions that they work in.

Erin 💽✨9h ago

@soatok @ariarhythmic @notthatdelta @FurryBeta

Housekeeping gets paid in tips

What the Fuck North America.

Soatok Dreamseeker 9h ago

@erincandescent @notthatdelta @ariarhythmic @FurryBeta Yep, my sentiments exactly.

Delta Sierra 9h ago

@soatok @erincandescent @ariarhythmic @FurryBeta The important thing is that stock number go up. If a giant hotel conglomerate has to exploit (often marginalized and/or undocumented) workers to do that, well, that's just good business.

Obviously being fucking sarcastic here.

@erincandescent @notthatdelta @soatok @FurryBeta It's a fucking job what the fuck

Delta Sierra 8h ago

@ariarhythmic @erincandescent @soatok @FurryBeta yeah I'm a weird cryptid furry thing who thinks any fulltime job should pay a living wage but sadly I don't make policy.

FurryBeta 4h ago

@notthatdelta @ariarhythmic @erincandescent @soatok Same here

punIssuer 10h ago

@soatok I understand it is a good idea, but my first a association was https://xkcd.com/463/

Voting Machines

xkcd

Phil M0OFX 2d ago

@soatok Honestly I'm offended that more cons didn't offer it.
Sadly the dogwhistle tactics work - I think I told you about pushing for safe-sex kits in ConOps at one of the UK cons and being told "the media will have a field day, are you trying to destroy the con?"

e: offended is just me quoting OP - really it's more surprised-but-not, with a hint of disappointment?

Captain Bara 1d ago

@philpem @soatok
Furlingame (this weekend!) is offering HIV and STD testing Friday through Sunday.

https://furlingame.com/

Furlingame 2026

A brand new convention finding its home in Burlingame, California. We’re only a stone’s throw away from San Francisco International Airport. Join us from April 3rd to April 5th in 2026, for a weekend of fun, friendship, and community!

Furlingame 2026

@philpem @soatok

Damn that sucks to hear.

I think I mentioned in my survey response that it would be nice to do testing at the con.

Phil M0OFX 9h ago

@guhreth If we're talking the same con - yeah, it wasn't an unpopular request. I'm half expecting Pawsome to be the first to actually do it. Then of course there'll be the "we planned it first" from everyone else, but who cares, it makes safety more accessible!

@philpem yeah that would be cool.
I guess the small scale is both a blessing and a curse, lower demand, but also reduced supply. Don't want someone to have to spend the whole con testing.

@soatok Honestly the sort of cons that should not have something like this is probably on the short list.

This is a good idea and tbh ppl not getting tested is one of the hangups I have w being more active in my spicy life. I test enough to know I am safe, but ppl get weird abt it if I ask them if they do.

"Don't u trust me?" Uhm not anymore.

I see the sign and I think "hey they're doing it right."

I want this at all cons.

Soatok Dreamseeker 1d ago

@tiefling @hazelnoot I'd like @defcon to do this for the hacking community, but I don't know what the logistics are like re: Las Vegas.

Sophie Schmieg 1d ago

@soatok @tiefling @hazelnoot @defcon I hazard the guess that Las Vegas, of all places, has a very healthy supply of HIV testing, condoms, and similar.

DEF CON 17h ago

@soatok @tiefling @hazelnoot Cool idea. Reminds us of the Blood Code blood donation drives we used to do.

Soatok Dreamseeker 14h ago

@defcon @tiefling @hazelnoot Thanks ^

If I can help make it happen, let's talk sometime!

Mees 🔻1d ago

@tiefling @soatok @hazelnoot you'd have to trust not just them, but also their former partners, and their former partners, etc. That's a lot to ask.

River Crow 1d ago

@tiefling @soatok @hazelnoot I'm embarrassed to say I've never thought about this being a thing at cons, but it's a great idea, every con or gathering should offer this.

And anyone who's skeeved out by this ain't someone I'd want to get spicy with anyway.

Octavia Con Amore

pink_moon_and_stars

Succubard's Library 1d ago

@tiefling @soatok @hazelnoot yeah, same times as condoms, i.e. they're especially necessary for people who get cagey about it

Real question, how does one get tested? I asked my primary care at my last checkup and it went something like:

"Hey, can I get, like, a routine STD screen?"
"We only test for stuff that you might have been exposed to, what specifically do you think is a risk?"
"Well, nothing, but-"
"Cool so about that cholesterol..."

Admittedly I'm in the US South so that may be my main problem

kira for scale 1d ago

@soatok genuinely an incredible community resource

@soatok the question is why don't non-furry conventions offer those? This seems like a good idea regardless of fur levels.

verified_transgender

@karl @soatok you can get infected even if you have no fur!

Fenris Lorsrai 1d ago

@karl @soatok find your local harm reduction service, comp them a table, and they will generally be THERE unless they have a previous scheduling conflict.

free mobile events are big part of their mission so they really just need an invite to set up somewhere. so its really just they need an invite, like vampires, because they're going to steal your blood for a snap test.

they'll also usually bring condoms, lube, dental dams, drug test strips, and NARCAN.
(yes I have invited these to many events. plus had them do monkeypox vaccinations at events)

@soatok Yeah, because "sex bad". All simpleminded prudes are like that. There is nothing wrong with being responsible for the freedom you have, like any adult.

Krzysztof Sakrejda 1d ago

@soatok I see we're moving on from forgetting makes and into forgetting the 1990s

@soatok Furry cons offering HIV testing seems like an indication of broken public health services.

Good on furcons to pick up the slack.

@lettosprey @soatok even with intact public health services in Europe, people don't get tested regularly because there is social stigma attached - I actually had my doc try to argue me out of it once, asking why I wanted to do that

if people are carried by momentum and the opportunity to be safer is *right there*, it's just great community service

Advanced Persistent Teapot 1d ago

@mmby @lettosprey @soatok one good thing about the UK is that you can get a pretty comprehensive battery of STI tests purely through the post. Order on an NHS website, pop the samples back in a postbox, results emailed or texted to you. Only a handful of more advanced tests need an appointment and those can still be booked directly with the GUM (genito-urinary medicine) clinic, no need to go via GP. I *hugely* approve of this process and every country should be taking notes.

NilaJones 1d ago

@mmby @lettosprey @soatok

When a doctor asked me why I wanted an STD panel, with no symptoms, and telegraphing obvious intent to say no, I looked him in the eye and said

'Because when I am dating someone, I want them to have had the tests. And I can't ask them to test if I haven't done it'

Woot, doctor approved the tests. And I never went back to that doctor

Soatok Dreamseeker 1d ago

@NilaJones @mmby @lettosprey The health department employee asked me a lot of questions the first time I went for it.

I was like, "That's none of your business, I'm here to get tested so I know my status." Really uncomfortable.

As soon as I heard about MISTR, I never looked back.

NilaJones 1d ago

@soatok @mmby @lettosprey

Hahahaha, The one time I went to the health department, the nurse asked me how many partners I had had recently and when I answered she said I have to ask...? I said yes I'm going through a phase. She said okay good for you!

@mmby Then the public health service is broken in that regard. We have drop-in clinics for free testing, that are not going to talk you out of it.

That isn't saying it is a bad thing that furry cons offer this anywhere, but it seems like a symptom that society isn't handling things well when they see a need to do it.
@soatok

@mmby @lettosprey @soatok I’ve seen (and used) a similar booth in a christian pilgrimage event.

I’m assuming some people there would feel ashamed of going to a sexual health clinic and would feel more comfortable having a priest praying for them after potentially receiving bad news.

Pete / Syllopsium 1d ago

@lettosprey @soatok I've not had a problem in the UK getting tested, but you do have to book. On the other hand I've also been to a convention which had people visiting doing STI tests, and all that was necessary was to queue!

a fresh pup of coffee

@soatok at a time when the government is trying to make it harder to access medication to prevent or manage STIs, this is even more necessary.

tiger tiger tiger 1d ago

@soatok
Even to the most queerphobic prude, the existence of such testing should sound better to them than the absence.

But it doesn't. Because they want people like us to suffer and die, for nothing more than being nice to each other.

@soatok "To wit: Ask any experienced event organizers about their experiences with Tupperware conventions, and you’ll hear stories that make furry convention antics seem tame in comparison."

I hear Grindr spikes whenever there's a Republican convention in town too...

@soatok is it bad that I'm picturing the effect of a dogwhistle at a furry con? 👀

George Steel 1d ago

@soatok Another aspect is that furry cons tend to involve a lot of sewing and sewing supplies can be an HIV vector (fortunately not as much as they used to be due to better handling procedures).