Sex lives of CTA riders
What is it about us CTA riders that makes potential advertisers think we are prime audience targets for messages about sexually transmitted diseases, their transmission and prevention?
I've written in the past about the syphilis ads. Today I saw ads from Howard Brown clinic, asking if we are having "recurring genital herpes outbreaks" or "hiding that cold sore again."
The ads encourage us sufferers to enroll in their medical studies.
That's great, but what do those demographics say about us? That all El riders are gays or transsexuals with genital or oral herpes?
but we are
Posted by: GLBT | February 03, 2005 at 07:14 AM
No, I think it just means the Howard Brown Clinic chose subway advertising because it's affordable to them and reaches a diverse audience. It's also an important message and a good way to reach all sorts of people who might have those ailments. Sheesh.
Posted by: Scott | February 03, 2005 at 07:46 AM
Let's see... El riders are younger, poorer, more urban, and more likely to be single than the average population. Demographically, they're probably more likely to be sexually active, or at least less likely to be monogamous. I don't see the giant leap of logic in placing those ads on the El.
Oh, and here's another front page headline: Non-gays and transsexuals also get STDs, and I recall seeing several genital herpes ads on TV... does that mean that people who watch "The West Wing" are especially promiscous?
Posted by: e_five | February 03, 2005 at 09:33 AM
I had a friend in college who got oral herpes from kissing her aunt. That's gross that her aunt would allow people to kiss her when she had a pussy cold sore. Sick.
So, you don't have to be sexually active to get herpes.
Posted by: jz | February 03, 2005 at 10:14 AM
Being gay or transexual has nothing to do with contracting STDs--it can happen to people of any sexual or gender orientation. Come on now.
Posted by: becky | February 04, 2005 at 04:21 AM