Speaking of socially irresponsible businesses, have you visited the condom counter, or locked case, in your CVS lately? Making the purchase of condoms a lengthy and embarrassing ordeal is one way to promote teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDS.
Way to go, CVS!
WaPo:
Many Can't Buy Condoms Now
Before Paging a Store Clerk to Unlock Them
Sindy Dominguez, 17, of Hyattsville already had a baby, and didn't want another -- at least not until she'd established a home and a career. Three months after her daughter was born, she and her boyfriend went to the CVS pharmacy near their apartment to buy a large box of condoms. They found them locked in a case equipped with a button that read "push for assistance."
They pushed, and heard a call for help for a pharmacist, but no one came. They pushed again. And again.
"My boyfriend said, 'Do you want to just leave?' and I said, 'Yes, let's just go,' " said Dominguez. "We went to a nearby gas station and bought a few single condoms."
Keith Eby had a somewhat similar experience. A day after the 37-year-old health-care consultant found the condoms locked up at his neighborhood CVS at Logan Circle, he tried the CVS on M Street in Georgetown, near his office. Same problem.
"I don't get embarrassed easily, but even I couldn't imagine ringing a buzzer and having everyone in the store know I was purchasing condoms," said Eby. "I can't even imagine what that must be like for someone who does get embarrassed easily or is not comfortable with their sexuality."
Finally Eby remembered that a new CVS had opened across the street in the Ritz-Carlton. He went in and found the condoms unlocked and available on the shelf. He said he bought many so he wouldn't have to go through this again anytime soon.
But Eby remains upset about his experience.
"CVS is going to contribute to a huge increase in HIV infection rates by creating a barrier to getting condoms in their stores," he said.
When experts call condoms a barrier method of birth control, this isn't what they mean.
An informal survey found that almost half -- 22 of 50 -- of the District's CVS pharmacies lock up their condoms -- this in a city where one in 20 residents is HIV-positive. Most of those stores are in less affluent areas where the incidence of HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy -- all preventable with condoms -- are highest. Many CVS stores in the close-in Prince George's County suburbs also lock up condoms.
(Hat tip to Jessica at Feministing, where a commenter says Kroger is guilty of the same.)
Lambasted has the Cock Block Conspiracy:
PA: DAN, CANCEL ASSISTANCE WITH THE CONDOM CASE! CUSTOMER NO LONGER NEEDS TO PURCHASE CONDOMS! THANK YOU!
Reproductive Rights CVS Condoms Contraception War on Condoms Birth Control
