Respect Yourself. Protect Yourself.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are at risk for HIV, STIs, and pregnancy. This feature answers your questions about abstinence and safer sex, including:

How do I choose to be abstinent or to practice safer sex? If you're straight, lesbian, bi, trans, gay, or queer, this tells you what you need to know.

How do I use a condom correctly and effectively?

How can I talk to my partner? We need to discuss if we are going to choose abstinence or if we are going to be sexually active - and we need to talk about safer sex.

Where can I get more specific information on HIV and other STIs? Check out our sections on HIV, STIs, and hepatitis.

Emergency Contraception: Oops... the condom broke. If you're having heterosexual sex and protection fails or if you forget to use a condom, you need to know about emergency contraception.

If you need more information please call:

National AIDS Hotline - 1 (800) 342-AIDS, answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week

National AIDS Hotline ( in Spanish) - 1 (800) 344-SIDA, answered Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)

National AIDS Hotline TTY Service - 1-800-AIDS-TTY (1-800-243-7889)

National Information Clearinghouse - 1 (800) 458-5231, answered Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST

CDC National STD Hotline (English) - 1 (800) 227-8922

CDC National STD Hotline (Spanish) - 1 (800) 344-7432

CDC National STD Hotline (TTY) - 1 (800) 243-7889

National Herpes Hotline - 1 (919) 361-8488