Background
Los Angeles County began its endeavor to develop an L.A.
branded condom in 2010. Through a
grant from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the Department of Public Health was
required to develop a condom distribution program.
After research and discussions with New York City's
(NYC) Health Department, which developed a very
successful condom distribution program using a NYC
branded condom, the Los Angeles County Department of
Public Health, Division of HIV and STD Programs (DHSP)
set out to not only distribute condoms, but to create
interest and buzz around this new condom program by
introducing an L.A. Condom with the goal of increasing
condom use and awareness of HIV and STDs. There
were multiple facets to the campaign:
-
DHSP felt strongly that any
new condom design should be community driven.
This directive resulted in the development of a
condom design contest in which L.A. County
residents were invited to submit designs for the
new L.A. Condom wrapper. A
L.A. Condom website
was established and
the community was invited to submit designs via
social media. Twelve winning designs were
used on one million and one condoms.
-
It was important to create a
condom campaign that was fun and edgy with the
goal of encouraging condom use and alerting the
community that free condoms are available.
-
We try to meet people where
they are. A motor home was wrapped to
create a "condom mobile" that drives to various
events (concerts, fairs, beach events, etc.) in
L.A. County to pass out condoms.
Additionally, businesses and community
organizations are invited to support the cause
and be a location where people can pick up free
condoms. Finally, social media is used
extensively to reach young adults and to let the
community know where condoms can be found and
where the condom mobile will be next.
And the
winner is...
The "Suit
Up, L.A." design was the condom wrapper design
contest in which over 185,000 people voted! There were
nine runners-up, and two "Friend's of L.A. County" that
are also in production. See all the
winning designs that are available for free
throughout the County.
Current
Campaign
The current campaign is titled,
"Active and Healthy" and features players from various
gay sports leagues in Los Angeles. The campaign's
slogan is a play on the message that people can choose
to stay sexually active and simultaneously protect
themselves and others from HIV and other STDs, thereby
preserving their health and the health of their
partner(s).
Various Campaign Images
and Designs
For more information,
including how to use different types of condoms
(male, female, dental dams) and where to find
free condoms, click
here! Also, you can
"Like" us on
www.facebook.com/lacondom and follow
campaign updates.
