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We celebrate the bravery, beauty, and art that sustained our community
25th November 2025, 6:18 pmWorld AIDS Day
Poster circulated by Tom of Finland Foundation (ToFF)
Tom’s art has long supported HIV/AIDS awareness globally;
since 1988, his drawings have promoted safer sex.
Tom made safer sex hot. During the AIDS crisis, he added condoms to his drawings to help shift culture, and it worked. His Foundation continues that legacy today: sex-positive, artist-forward, and always pro-health.
Since 1984, Tom of Finland Foundation has amassed the world’s largest collection of erotic art representing the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences. Initially created to preserve Tom’s legacy, our mission expanded during the AIDS epidemic to safeguard the work of artists who turned to us.
We honor these courageous artists whose creativity inspires our community.
Scott O’Hara (1961–1998), an American porn performer, author, poet, editor, and publisher, viewed his 1981 HIV diagnosis as “an undeniable blessing” and in 1994 he tattooed “HIV+” on his arm for visibility. As his illness progressed to AIDS, he openly discussed it and documented his painful lymphoma treatments. O’Hara lived with the disease for over a decade, passing away at 36. As the Foundation’s first Lifetime Member, he donated over 500 works—the largest gift to date—leaving a lasting testament to his life, art, and advocacy.
Bruce Rapp (1952–1995) created art during the early AIDS epidemic, capturing Queer intimacy despite the risks. A notable artist in the Gay-Leather scene, Rapp produced work for Drummer, designed safe-sex posters, and created Chicos Modernos, a Spanish comic novella about young Latinos learning about HIV/AIDS.
Victor Arimondi (1942–2001), a photographer and model, captured Queer beauty with unflinching honesty. Moving to the USA in the late 1970s, his early work documented the pre-AIDS culture of the 1970s and early ’80s. Later, his photography documented San Francisco’s homeless population and the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic. Arimondi died of complications related to HIV in the summer of 2001.
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- Etienne was a pioneering artist whose career was cut short by AIDS, his work helped define the visual language of Queer desire and masculinity.
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- Bastille was celebrated for the richness and intensity of his imagery, combining fine art technique with a bold exploration of Queer desire. His work, preserved by ToFF, introduced a darker, more visceral visual style.
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- Domino captured working‑class men with raw detail and emotional depth. His work expanded the visual vocabulary of Queer masculinity and is preserved by ToFF.
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- A. Jay was a Gay Jewish American artist active from the 1960s through the ’80s. He is credited with the creation of the first-ever Gay comic strip and Drummer‘s founding art editor. He was close friends with Etienne, Tom of Finland and Domino. He died at home of AIDS-related complications.
Carrington Galen (aka Dylan) shaped TOM House, transforming Pleasure Park and planting its iconic Brugmansias. A 2015 Inspiration Award recipient, he also contributed to the Foundation’s Art & Culture Festivals, leaving a lasting impact on the community.
Published: 25th November 2025
Tags: A. Jay, Bastille, Bruce Rapp, Carrington Galen, Domino, Etienne, Scott O’Hara, Victor Arimondi, World AIDS DayCategorised in: For the Record