MUNICH, Germany - LUBExxx was named Best Producer of Lube & Additives in Europe at the 2007 David Awards on Oct. 19 in Berlin.
Volker Hoffmann, president of the company, told AVN Novelty Business that he was glad to receive the award despite controversy surrounding claims that voting depended on nominees' support for the sponsoring magazine and that the awards gave too much recognition to bareback content.
"We noticed some different opinions regarding the awards," he said. "Mostly, it [concerns] the movie industry. From our point of view, we are happy with the award. We didn't pay for anything or have some secret conversation."
Though LUBExxx advertises in GAYeLINE magazine, which sponsors the David Awards, the company also advertises in competing magazines from which it didn't win prizes, Hoffmann added.
"If we wouldn't have won the prize, it would never have come into my mind to say that the award is paid because a competitor had won," he said. "Life is a game where you win sometimes and you lose sometimes."
Marketing Director Mario Zieroth told ANB that LUBExxx shares the concerns regarding bareback content, which Titan Media CEO Bruce Cam has accused of glorifying unsafe sex.
"Of course, we support the concerns of Titan to fight bareback forcefully," Zieroth said. "We truly believe that it is needed to show safer sex as attractive and normal as possible in order to make it a part of every gay man's natural behavior."
On its website, LUBExxx promotes safe sex regarding the use of its products, which are condom-safe. Zieroth also pointed out that boycotting the award show itself could perhaps have an effect opposite of what was intended.
"I'm sure that forbiddance and condemnation is not the right way," he continued. "With every prohibition, it makes it all the more interesting for the younger gays. We invest a lot of money into the gay community by sponsoring pride parades, gay nightclubs, and we are proud to receive an award for producing a lube especially for the gay market."
