ɹˈaɪts wʌz ˈɔːlsoʊ kəmˈɪɾᵻd tə dɪvˈɛləpɪŋ ɐ pəlˈɪɾɪkəl ɹᵻspˈɑːns tə ðɪ ˈeɪdz kɹˈaɪsɪs, səpˈoːɹɾɪŋ pˈɜːsənz lˈɪvɪŋ wɪð ˈeɪdz pˌiːˈɛlwˈɑːz, ænd ɪɹˈɑːɾɪsˌaɪzɪŋ sˈeɪf sˈɛks.
Rites was also committed to developing a political response to the AIDS crisis, supporting persons living with AIDS (PLWAs), and eroticizing safe sex.