LOS ANGELES - A leading condoms-mandatory gay adult entertainment production house and a condom manufacturer that markets primarily to the gay community have joined forces to promote safer sex.
Channel 1 Releasing and ONE Condoms will combine the cheeky appeal of ONE's Pride Mix product and Channel 1's overt sexuality to inject a spirit of fun and playfulness into the safer-sex discussion, the companies said.
Pride Mix condoms feature an ultra-sensitive Sensatex condom inside a round foil bearing a sexy, funny or hip image with a cheeky one-liner designed for a gay audience. One example: the image of a towel thrown around the waist of six-pack abs with the slogan "ONE lucky towel." The message conveys a spirit of fun, but safety is always top-of-mind, a ONE spokesman said.
"We take safe sex very seriously at C1R, and the health of our models is second to none," said Chi Chi LaRue, Channel 1 and Rascal Video partner. "When we saw ONE Condoms' Pride Mix, we knew they would be the perfect partner for us.
"ONE has brought the fun back to condoms and made it sexy to not only use but [also to] carry condoms. As soon as we saw the great designs, we dumped the condoms we had been using and immediately replaced them with ONE. We plan on working with ONE for a long time to come...no pun intended."
LaRue, an award-winning director and gay adult film producer, always has been a strong advocate for safety not only on the set, but everywhere. Recently, LaRue and C1R released a new safer-sex public service announcement and website in direct response to the multitude of "barebacking," or condom-less sex, movies being produced and sold worldwide. The PSA addresses the difference between creating a fantasy world for consumers to enjoy and the reality of creating a safe environment for models. LaRue has said he takes particular exception to the potentially negative message bareback films convey to the gay community, especially young men 15-24 years of age. The rate of HIV/AIDS infection has been growing among that age group at an alarming rate, LaRue noted.
The PSA's website features an open letter from the legendary director along with his promise never to shoot a bareback film.
C1R and ONE Condoms plan to launch in early 2009 a line of condoms featuring Chi Chi LaRue and Rascal exclusives.
"For us at ONE Condoms, delivering the message of safety to the gay community is so important at a time where bareback is in vogue and transmission rates are on the rise," said Davin Wedel, president of ONE manufacturer Global Protection Corp. "By partnering with the best of the best in the gay adult industry, we have aligned ourselves with a true life-partner."
Global Protection Corp., founded in 1987, is a privately held company that pioneered the integration of condoms into popular culture with the mission of making condoms socially acceptable. Global Protection partners with some of the biggest retailers and e-retailers in the U.S.; among them are Walgreens, Fred Meyer, Eckerd's, Albertsons, CVS, Publix, Jewel-Osco, Savon, Costco and Drugstore.com. Global Protection also maintains a dedication to education and the prevention of disease and unwanted pregnancy, especially among at-risk populations.
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