Condom Bar "First Dates"
Where Every Penis Knows Your Name
The youth Mpowerment program (Color in Common) of the Los Angeles LGBT Center were challenged to find a way to distribute condoms in a more interactive method. With growing numbers of STI rates it was important to stress that condoms are still an important part of the STI/HIV toolbox. The result was The Condom Bar: Where Every Penis Knows Your Name
This model proved to be an activity that youth found useful and relatable. We borrowed from the popular 80’s show, Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your name). The concept was to create a pop up bar where people felt comfortable to engage in conversations about various condoms instead of just leaving condoms in a jar or out on a table with the hopes that someone will take them.
The Condom Bar helped us to distribute more condoms, PEP & Prep info and increase informal outreach numbers. The bar is easy to set up and makes for an exciting event for the guys to feel they are actively making a dent in high impact prevention through the use of proven methods of condom use. When you are using the correct condom for your specific need, you actually increase your protection against the HIV virus as well as other sexually transmitted infections.
Our target population is MSM of color between the ages of 18-24. Although some are not of a drinking age, they socialize with a drinking age population. We felt our activity already connected to where our clients were socially, so the concept of a portable bar that looked like it served liquor but distributed condoms would engage in a friendly way but not a passive way. The guys were challenged to come up with drink names that would be fun, but had a message.
The menu would be made up of "specials."
1. A “special” would be something like a Lifestyle extra strength condom renamed “Safer Sex on the Beach."
2. A “mixer” consisted of either a water based lube, an oil based lube or a flavored lube. Imagine mixing water, soda or fruit with your "drink.
3. Condoms are distributed in paper “cocktail” cups
4. Participants are asked to hashtag #DesignatedCondomWearer & #MyFavoriteCocktail