Questions Asked Frequently
Calendar Logistics
Where do you find the models?
Yes, but how do you get them to agree to pose naked?
Were you guys really in public for all those shots?
Did you get harassed by the police?
How do you decide what photographs to do?
Who is your photographer?
If you're a collective why does everyone have a title?
What do you mean when you say that you're trying to "combat lookism"?
How do I become a model or volunteer?
Beneficiaries
Who does the calendar benefit?
Points of Distribution
Needle Exchange Emergency Distribution
San Francsico Needle Exchange
Syringe Exchange
Why should I care about syringe exchange?
Sales Stuff
I sent in my order but you messed it up OR I never got my calendar! OR I have a complaint!
Why is the calendar "sliding scale"?
That's nice, but really: what do you want me to pay?
How can my organization benefit from the calendar?
What is a "Major Hottie"?
Calendar Logistics
Where do you find the models?
Models come to us from a number of avenues, but mostly we harass people we know and put ads all over the internet.
Yes, but how do you get them to agree to pose naked?
This is San Francisco, the city that gave the world Burning Man and the Folsom Street Fair; we can barely get people to keep their clothes ON here.
Were you guys really in public for all those shots?
Yes, we really were. All of the photos this year were taken on location in and around lovely San Francisco.
Did you get harassed by the police?
We got harassed twice by the police, during the shooting of “Queer Army” and “Coit Tower Fairies”. The cop who came to the Castro was perfectly civil and didn’t really care; we gave her a 2006 calendar. The cop at Coit tower was more officious and told us we had to leave or get cited, so we moved to another park and superimposed Coit Tower; we think we earned it. After all we actually were there, naked, at 6 a.m. on a Sunday.
How do you decide what photographs to do?
Every year it’s different. Mostly those decisions wind up being made by the photographer, the photoshoot coordinator, the project coordinator and the designer, though anyone who wants to put in the effort can make suggestions.
Who is your photographer?
For the past three years we’ve had the privilege of having Kasper Koczab be a part of our project. Kasper is an accomplished photographer who had previous experience photographing syringe exchange and other public health workers for his senior thesis at UC Berkeley.
If you’re a collective why does everyone have a title?
Mostly out of necessity, people take you more seriously if you have a title, no matter how obscure and/or fictional it may be.
What do you mean when you say that you’re trying to combat "lookism”?
Lookism, defined as prejudice and discrimination based on lack of conformity to a beauty ideal or standard, is an extremely prevalent part of modern life. In addition to having a negative impact on individual self-esteem and long-term earning potential, lookism (along with ableism, ageism and fatphobia) denies us all exposure to beautiful people who don’t conform to the Madison Avenue ideal. In answer to that the calendar has consistently chosen to showcase a variety of people who represent the deliciously broad range of human hotness.
How do I become a model or volunteer?
Please see our volunteer information page for more info, then contact us and tell us why you’re interested in being a Hotty.
Beneficiaries
Who does the calendar benefit?
The calendar primarily benefits three syringe exchanges. In addition anyone who provides harm reduction based direct services can benefit from the calendar via our bulk buying program.
Established: 2001
Primary Population Focus: Homeless people not accessing exchange.
Geographic Location(s) Served: Homeless encampments in Oakland and San Francisco
Services Offered: Out-reached based syringe exchange, safer sex supplies, health education, referrals, OD prevention and training.
Total Annual Budget: $10,000
Percentage of Budget Used to Pay Employees: 0%
Number of Volunteers: 5-10
Established: Sept 31, 1990
Primary Population Focus: Injection drug users in Berkeley.
Geographic Location(s) Served: Berkeley.
Services Offered: Syringe exchange, safer sex supplies, health education, referrals, wound and abscess care, HIV testing, hepatitis testing and vaccination, OD prevention and training.
Total Annual Budget: $85,000
Percentage of Budget Used to Pay Employees: 7% (2 coordinators @ $250 per month).
Number of Volunteers: 15-20
Established: 1997
Primary Population Focus: Homeless street youth.
Geographic Location(s) Served: San Francisco, primarily the Haight and the Mission.
Services Offered: Syringe exchange, safer sex supplies, health education, referrals, wound and abscess care, HIV testing, and OD prevention and training.
Total Annual Budget: $100,000
Percentage of Budget Used to Pay Employees: 30% (1 full time employee).
Number of Volunteers: 15-20
In addition anyone who provides harm reduction based direct services can benefit from the calendar via ourbulk buying program.
Syringe Exchange
Why should I care about syringe exchange?
Because you’re morally superior…
…or because you realize that injection drug users don’t deserve to die as a result of their injection…
…or because you realize that providing someone with safe injection equipment is far more cost effective (approximately $2,500 per person over his/her lifetime) than treating the same person for HIV over his or her lifetime (approximately $119,000 per person over his/her lifetime)…
…or because you recognize that an increased rate of HIV among injection drug users means an increased risk for everyone…
…or because you’re frustrated that, despite overwhelming evidence that syringe exchange provision lowers rates of HIV transmission but does not increase drug use, there is no federal funding for it.
Order Stuff
I sent in my order but you messed it up OR I never got my calendar! OR I have a complaint!
First we ask for your patience, we really are a grassroots operation. We are all volunteers with other life obligations. Our order packaging and shipping is all done by hand, which means we have been known to make mistakes. That said we will do everything within our power to fix mistakes we do make. If you have a problem please feel free to contact us here. If that doesn’t work you can call us at (510) 472-3401
Why is the calendar “sliding scale”?
We sell the calendar on a sliding scale largely because we think that spreading the information in the calendar is just as important as raising money and the scale allows more people to buy it.
That’s nice but what do you want me to pay?
We generally expect people to pay as much as they can. If assessing that for yourself seems difficult pay us $20. If that seems like highway robbery pay less.
How can my organization benefit from the calendar?
Any organization that provides harm reduction based direct services can benefit from the calendar via our bulk buying program.
What is a “Major Hottie”?
Anyone who contributes at least $200 to the calendar is considered a Major Hottie.