NYC Wants You to Be Safe When You "Get Some"

Last year, the Health Department unveiled its free NYC Condoms on Valentine's Day. For this year's Valentine's Day, not only will volunteers from the Health Department be distributing condoms again, there's a new packaging and a new ad campaign with the tag "Get Some."

Don't worry - the condom is the same lubricated Lifestyles latex condom as before. The Health Department gave out 36 million NYC Condoms last year and Assistant Commissioner for HIV Prevention and Control Dr. Monica Sweeney said, "The NYC Condom has shown us what a sexy brand can do for safer sex...I hope the fresh look will help even more New Yorkers protect themselves from infection and unintended pregnancy in 2008.”

NYC Condom ad - "Harlem"

The new ad campaign features TV (see one spot here), print and online ads in English and Spanish. (The Spanish tagline is actually "pontelo" - "put it on.") They also feature couples in different settings - Brooklyn, Harlem and the Village - and different kinds of couples (two heterosexual and one homosexual).

NYC Condom ad - "The Village"

Street teams will be handing out these condoms tomorrow, during the morning and evening (8AM-10AM and 5-7PM, or as otherwise noted) commutes at these 14 locations:
- 59th Street - Columbus Circle
- 42nd Street - Grand Central
- 42nd Street - Times Square
- Penn Station (morning only)
- 14th Street - Union Square
- Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall

- Wall Street and Broadway (evening hours are 4 – 6 pm)
- Fulton and Nassau Streets (evening hours are 4 – 6 pm)
- Whitehall Street – South Ferry
- 125th Street, by the Apollo Theatre
- 149th & Grand Concourse - Bronx
- Queensboro Plaza - Queens
- Atlantic Avenue Station – Brooklyn (morning only)
- Borough Hall/Court Street – Brooklyn

NYC Condom ad - "Brooklyn"
Check out the Health Department's NYC Condom website for more information, including where you can get free NYC Condoms. There's even information for female condoms (PDF).

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on February 13, 2008 7:43 PM

Comments [rss]

Elizabeth Pisani

It's great what you're doing in Gotham, really. But in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital and home to more Moslems than any other city, we're doing better. Check out the Earthquake vibrating condoms launching this week.

other_islander

Bizzele, they were ditributing condoms at the St George ferry terminal this morning.

...and I've never had any of 'em break.

roxie

i have heard three separate stories of these condoms breaking - don't trust them people!

Bizzle

I noticed that the street teams are going to be in every NYC borough except Staten Island. Big mistake. People in SI crank out kids like it's a hobby.

Guest

I see that with all other government subway advertising, this initiative only concerns blacks and Latinos.

That probably has to do with the fact that those ethnic groups have higher reported incidents of STDs.

jibbly

I'm not afraid to admit it: They're free, they work, and there aren't any baby Jibblys running around Union Hall.

Jen Chung

hard times > interesting! We should contact the Health Department or Lifestyles about the product testing.

Kevin Bracken

hard times > unfortunately they are not yet selling "wheel grease"-brand lube

hard times

dude I used four of these things last year and three out of them broke. I wouldn't trust them, friends.

JenChungsBaby

Just what I want to think about in that anticipatory moment when I'm opening the condom wrapper -- subways.

Though I guess they do get a lot of tunnel action.

nonumentalart

emily that was the funniest thing i've heard today!

Dave Hogarty

Full Latex Jacket: Get Some

berniegoetz

I see that with all other government subway advertising, this initiative only concerns blacks and Latinos.

ed_Extinct

one size doesn't fit all.

emilydickinson

'And for men cursed with premature ejaculation', says Mayor Mike, 'We'll be distributing a G Train condom, because as we all know, the G just never comes.'