Biden’s Monkeypox Adviser Wears BDSM Harness on Taxpayer’s Dime.

White House Monkeypox Adviser Appears in Bondage Gear at Conference

Last month, Demetre Daskalakis, the White House deputy monkeypox response coordinator, made headlines for his appearance at a conference in Las Vegas. Daskalakis, who was on official duty, appeared on stage in bondage gear and discussed “sex positivity” during pandemics.

The video of his appearance went viral on social media, showing Daskalakis strutting onto the rainbow-lit dais, accompanied by two shirtless men wearing brightly-colored bikini bottoms with matching socks. The occasion was the seventh annual Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit, where Daskalakis took part in the kickoff panel discussion titled “‘Sex is natural, sex is fun.’ The politics of sex and pleasure in the age of pandemics.”

Exploring the Politics of Sex Positivity

The panelists, which included a transgender “equity consultant” and a “sex-positive Leatherman,” explored the historical perspectives on the politics of sex positivity during the last four decades of the HIV pandemic to the present days of COVID and MPOX. Specific topics included “kinks, barebacking, fetish, BDSM, Chemex, group sex, bathhouses/sex clubs, porn, consent, and more.”

Daskalakis was described as “on assignment” in his role as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s director of the division of HIV/AIDS prevention, for which he was paid a taxpayer-funded salary of about $246,000 last year. Other conference sessions advocated federal funding of HIV prevention medication. The lead sponsor of the conference was PrEP manufacturer Gilead Sciences.

CDC Guidelines for Limiting the Spread of Monkeypox

The conference’s “sex positive” theme appeared to be in tension with CDC guidelines for limiting the spread of monkeypox, which the agency implicitly acknowledges is primarily spread through sex between men. The CDC advises limiting the number of sex partners, using condoms, and being aware that “back rooms, saunas, sex clubs, or private and public sex parties” are potential spreading events. However, in a nod to the BDSM community, the CDC adds: “Leather or latex gear also provides a barrier to skin-to-skin contact; just be sure to change or clean clothes/gear between partners and after use.”

A global outbreak of monkeypox has subsided since last summer, when Biden named Daskalakis to the response team and belatedly shifted focus to the gay community. Last week, however, the CDC warned that “the risk of resurgent mpox outbreaks is substantial in the United States.”

Controversy Surrounding Daskalakis’ Appearance

Daskalakis’ appearance in bondage gear has sparked controversy, with some questioning the appropriateness of his attire and the topic of discussion given his official duties. The White House has not yet commented on the matter.

Conclusion

While the conference aimed to explore the politics of sex positivity during pandemics, Daskalakis’ appearance in bondage gear has raised eyebrows and sparked debate. As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious diseases, it remains to be seen how discussions around sex and pleasure will intersect with public health guidelines and official duties.