DC To Give Away Free Female Condoms

Washington, DC is about to become the first U.S. city to give away free female condoms, thanks to the MAC Cosmetics AIDS Fund!

DC plans to give out 500,000 condoms in beauty salons, high schools and convenience stores to battle the city's insane HIV rate.  Distribution of the female condoms could begin in the next 3 weeks.

This is good news for the ladies! It means the city is taking a much more aggressive stance on combating HIV, by putting the power in our hands, rather than keeping up the usual practice of giving out free condoms to just men only.

According to the CDC, the rate of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 2007 for Black women was nearly 20 times as high as the rate for white women and nearly 4 times as high as the rate for Latinas.

A side note, ladies, if you're scared to try the female condom... let me assure you, it's easier to insert than a tampon. It's not really complicated at all. See how I try stuff out for you before I let the masses know... ya know, all in the name of science and stuff!

Whether you opt to use the female or the male condom, just make sure you wrap it up!!!

Very progressive, DC... now, get to working on that statehood thing!

Photo: Getty Images
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Brew News: Obama Lifts HIV/AIDS Travel Ban

President Obama continues to move us out of the dark ages. Mr. O lifted the 22 year long travel ban that kept HIV+ people and those with AIDS from entering the country.

The President called it a "step that will encourage people to get tested and get treatment [and] it's a step that will keep families together, and it's a step that will save lives."

The US was the first nation to impose the ban - which was largely based on fear. The President went on to day that "if we want to be the global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it!"

Obama also signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, which gives a 5% annual increase in federal support over the next four years for HIV/AIDS treatment for underinsured, low-income Americans.

Hats off to the Prez!

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Brew Health: Cheaper Female Condom

The second generation female condom will soon be available in the US for less! The condoms are 30% cheaper than the original female condom. And, reportedly, they are more user-friendly.

African American and Latino women are infected with HIV at disproportionately alarming rates. It's always best to be in control of your own reproductive health and, honestly ladies, these really aren't that difficult to use.

The new female condom is made from synthetic rubber instead of the polyurethane used in the old ones.

The female condom hasn't really taken off in the US but it is widely used in foreign countries. Health organizations already have the new condom but DC-area CVS stores will begin carrying it in December.

Monster On The Loose

This just in...

At least 3% of Washington, D.C. residents have HIV or AIDS. Officials say that percentage surpasses the 1% amount that constitutes a "generalized and severe" epidemic.

The Washington Post reports the AIDS rate in D.C. is higher than parts of West Africa, as AIDS cases are on the rise among every mode of transmission: male-to-male, heterosexual and needle drug users.

A more detailed report about the heterosexual cases will be released Monday.

This celibacy thing ain't looking so bad...