2008 Woodie Awards
Let's Rip 'N' Roll for Condom Day
American Public Health Association declares condoms "the reason for the season."
Susan Maltby
Issue date: 2/23/05 Section: Opinion
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Is that a Susan B. Anthony dollar in your pocket or are you just following the Boy Scout's motto: be prepared? Either way, you can get your party started because February is the month to celebrate coins and condoms. Not to mention that it's also Black History month. (Insert Chris Rock joke here.)
Feb. 15 is Susan B. Anthony Day. Her head's on a silver dollar. Other than that, who the heck is she, anyway?
More familiar to most college students are names like TrojanTM , DurexTM and LifestylesTM. Those are names we recognize. Names we trust. And now, names we can celebrate. According to the American Social Health Association, Feb. 14-21 is National Condom Week.
It's time to remember that condoms help reduce the spread of disease and lower the risk of unplanned pregnancy. To put it bluntly: Herpes is for life, not just for Christmas. Use condoms to help ensure that your genitals don't write checks that your butt can't cash.
After two decades of safe sex promotion, more than 65 million Americans over age 12 have an incurable sexually transmitted disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Promoting safe sex during February makes sense.
"Valentine's Day is nationally recognized as a time for love," said Linda Alexander, President and CEO for ASHA on their official website. "We encourage people to talk openly and honestly with their sexual partners about the sensitive subject of condoms as a way to reduce the risk sexually transmitted diseases."
Last year, more than 60 health and human service organizations joined together to oppose comments from Congress and the media that disparage condoms.
"Promoting fear-based messages that question condom effectiveness and go so far as to suggest that condom use is unsafe jeopardize the health of millions of Americans," stated the coalition in a letter to Congress.
In its letter the coalition also said: "the surest way to eliminate the risk for sexually transmitted diseases is to refrain from any sexual contact with another individual. However, for individuals who choose to be sexually active - a group that includes the vast majority of Americans - condoms remain an extremely important tool in the drive to reduce sexually transmitted infections."
Heh, heh, they said 'tool' and 'drive.'
Despite the sophomoric jokes, condom use is a serious issue.
An estimated 15.3 million new cases of STD's are diagnosed every year in this country, according to statistics from the CDC. Also, two-thirds of all STDs occur in people 25 years or younger.
Nearly one in four Americans have genital herpes, yet at least 80 percent of those are unaware they have it, according to ASHA.
The message is as clear as K-YTM. Condoms are important all the time. Well, maybe not all the time, but definitely when you're having intercourse.
For many people, the sobering STD statistics are enough incentive to choose abstinence and declare that instead of a day of love, Valentine's is simply National Chocolate Day.
If you decide to celebrate the season with sex, be sure to surprise your special someone with the perfect accessory: a black, chocolate-flavored Susan B. Anthony condom.
Feb. 15 is Susan B. Anthony Day. Her head's on a silver dollar. Other than that, who the heck is she, anyway?
More familiar to most college students are names like TrojanTM , DurexTM and LifestylesTM. Those are names we recognize. Names we trust. And now, names we can celebrate. According to the American Social Health Association, Feb. 14-21 is National Condom Week.
It's time to remember that condoms help reduce the spread of disease and lower the risk of unplanned pregnancy. To put it bluntly: Herpes is for life, not just for Christmas. Use condoms to help ensure that your genitals don't write checks that your butt can't cash.
After two decades of safe sex promotion, more than 65 million Americans over age 12 have an incurable sexually transmitted disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Promoting safe sex during February makes sense.
"Valentine's Day is nationally recognized as a time for love," said Linda Alexander, President and CEO for ASHA on their official website. "We encourage people to talk openly and honestly with their sexual partners about the sensitive subject of condoms as a way to reduce the risk sexually transmitted diseases."
Last year, more than 60 health and human service organizations joined together to oppose comments from Congress and the media that disparage condoms.
"Promoting fear-based messages that question condom effectiveness and go so far as to suggest that condom use is unsafe jeopardize the health of millions of Americans," stated the coalition in a letter to Congress.
In its letter the coalition also said: "the surest way to eliminate the risk for sexually transmitted diseases is to refrain from any sexual contact with another individual. However, for individuals who choose to be sexually active - a group that includes the vast majority of Americans - condoms remain an extremely important tool in the drive to reduce sexually transmitted infections."
Heh, heh, they said 'tool' and 'drive.'
Despite the sophomoric jokes, condom use is a serious issue.
An estimated 15.3 million new cases of STD's are diagnosed every year in this country, according to statistics from the CDC. Also, two-thirds of all STDs occur in people 25 years or younger.
Nearly one in four Americans have genital herpes, yet at least 80 percent of those are unaware they have it, according to ASHA.
The message is as clear as K-YTM. Condoms are important all the time. Well, maybe not all the time, but definitely when you're having intercourse.
For many people, the sobering STD statistics are enough incentive to choose abstinence and declare that instead of a day of love, Valentine's is simply National Chocolate Day.
If you decide to celebrate the season with sex, be sure to surprise your special someone with the perfect accessory: a black, chocolate-flavored Susan B. Anthony condom.
