Trojan's Rude Wakeup Call

In times defined by rampant sexual imagery, the fear of HIV/AIDS, and the ever-increasing need for safer sex, offering boob tube viewers commercials focused on health promotion should be a no brainer. That is, of course, unless you're Fox or CBS, whose recent decision to not run footage from a responsible condom ad campaign makes us wonder whose interests these boobs truly have at heart, as they are evidently not the general public's.

Earlier this week, Trojan got the latest rude wakeup call concerning the taboo nature of protected sex in our pleasure-phobic, sexually unrealistic nation, with Fox and CBS both refusing to give the condom company's newest commercial airtime, in spite of their own far from pure programming. Why all the fuss? According to a New York Times article outlining the Trojan ban, a bombshell blonde sits perched on a stool amidst a bar full of actual swine, only to meet Mr. Right duly transformed from pig to prince via the purchase of a condom in the restroom. Such brilliant marketing, designed to encourage an evolution in a market where, for example, only one in four extramarital sex acts is protected, was banned by the two aforementioned network powerhouses, evidence that America's prudish and irrational approach to pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted infection control still prevails, despite calls from various advocacy, health, and citizen organizations, among other noted prominent individuals, like former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, for the media to step up and support responsible sexual health efforts.

Sure, several other networks will run this well-intended and targeted piece, and grassroots efforts are already causing a stir by getting the commercial circulated online. But we have to ask ourselves, given the hyper-sexualization of young people on television, the ease of accessible soft-porn and other media, America's outright love affair with youth and the implications of reckless, often irresponsible sexuality, and the age at which first sexual encounters occur, who are these media mavens to deny necessary frank and funny discourse concerning condom use? And what are they afraid of? Lovers respecting and caring enough about each other and themselves to throw on a rubber, whether they're having casual sex or making love in a solid relationship for the hundredth time? Are they fearful of encouraging young people, even those of adult age, to have sex, despite research showing that educational efforts involving condom use do not encourage sexual behavior? Do they seriously think that a condom commercial does more "damage" than any of those adolescent commercials we see from them daily involving some idiot male getting the hot chick by choosing the right beer -- commercials that insinuate he's going to get laid, almost assuredly without a thought to protection?

The New York Times, too, pressed these networks for some answers, finding that Fox is concerned that "contraceptive advertising must stress health-related uses rather than the prevention of pregnancy," while CBS simply "did not find it appropriate" for its network. Lacking complete common sense and logic, these narrow-minded arguments wreak of hypocrisy when you consider the "quality" programming these stations regularly run. Between The O.C. (a show with 6.7 sex scenes an hour), Temptation Island, Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, and even The O'Reilly Factor titillating itself with sex news coverage, Fox and CBS have been making a killing on sex, only contributing to the prevalence of sexual content on our televisions -- 70 percent of all TV shows and 77 percent of prime-time shows (in 2005) to be exact.

Thankfully, our country is not reliant on Fox or CBS in promoting better health. Having only made friends with the television industry recently, condom companies have long been pursuing alternative means of getting their safer sex message out -- and prophylactic enthusiasts are responding. During a recent trip to the Bonnaroo by one of the current ranters, the Trojan stand at the music festival was overheard telling interested condom grabbers to get the goods while they were still available, as they were nearly tapped. Just think of how many unplanned pregnancies and STI transmissions Trojan prevented, as well as many lives the company saved, by advocating for people to equip themselves with condoms should they need them!

So rather than sit back and accept anti-prevention message efforts, we'd love for you to do something about it (besides simply buy and use condoms, if you need them, of course). It doesn't take much. Simply fire off a note to Fox and CBS.

Furthermore, hit Fox and CBS where it hurts. Normally, we'd suggest their balls, but they've proven that that they don't have any. So instead, don't watch shows on these stations. Support programming on other channels that are willing to promote public health for your better interests instead. As part of the public, you have power -- and it can be as easily exercised as your remote.