Fri 8 Apr 2016 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The NZAF say a safe-sex Tinder campaign launched by a condom company has “got it totally wrong” in using AIDS as a punchline. The Hero Condoms campaign launched this week features anthropomorphised STIs introducing themselves with tongue in-cheek bios including a character who says, "Knock knock. Who's there? AIDS," and another called Aydes who tells people to "only swipe right if you like incurable diseases” and goes on to list a range of symptoms. “There are two sides to this Tinder campaign,” says Shaun Robinson Executive Director of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation. “Hero Condoms are to be commended for trying to draw attention to STI risks using Tinder, especially given that the App is used for huge amounts of sexual hook-ups. But they have got it totally wrong in the delivery where they have stigmatised people affected by HIV and AIDS and other STIs. “Personifying the virus in a character just continues the stigma that the person with HIV is the problem, and that their life is defined as the virus. People living with HIV are people with the same rich diversity of life as anyone. Hero Condoms CEO David Wommelsdoff told AdNews that the campaign aims to reach youth and destigmatise the use of condoms, saying that a critical role in the companies efforts “is to encourage young people that being prepared is actually being sexy.” “Carrying a condom should not be seen as a sign of bravado or promiscuity but rather a symbol that you are in charge of your own sexual health and that of your partner(s).” he says. The company has removed the AIDS related profiles from their website however these are still making the rounds on social media. “HIV is a serious health issue for the whole community; it is everyone’s concern and everyone can play a part in ending HIV transmissions in NZ,” says Robinson. “We are glad Hero Condoms has withdrawn the ads and hope they work to remove them from the internet. We also hope they continue to look at ways to be responsible about educating people about STIs and sexual health, but that they talk with people living with HIV as they develop their next approach.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 8th April 2016 - 11:13am