Health Department Launches NYC Legend XL Condom

New NYC Legend XL condom wrapper design selected by community members

Health Department and community partners to hold five community events citywide on National Condom Awareness Day to launch the NYC Legend XL wrapper

February 14, 2020 — To celebrate National Condom Awareness Day, the Health Department today officially launched a new NYC Legend XL condom wrapper design. The design – a round, gold wrapper featuring a grid street map of New York City – received the most votes in an online contest of four New York City-themed designs.

"City residents helped us select the design, so this is a condom by New Yorkers for New Yorkers," said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. "While the condom is new, the message stays the same—have fun but remember to use the tools that help you lead a healthier, safer sex life."

"The new NYC Legend XL condom wrapper is the latest Health Department effort to re-energize the conversation around condoms, a fundamental component of the sexual health toolkit," said Dr. Oni Blackstock, Assistant Commissioner for the Health Department’s Bureau of HIV. "A half century after the Health Department began distributing condoms in its STD Clinics, now known as our Sexual Health Clinics, New York City remains a leader in ensuring access to condoms and other safer sex products for all New Yorkers."

"A legendary city deserves a legendary condom, so we’re excited to bring ONE® Legend to communities across New York City," said Davin Wedel, Founder and President of ONE® Condoms. "The NYC Condom Availability Program’s innovative thinking is an inspiration to sexual health programs everywhere, and we’re thrilled for this continued partnership."

"We are so excited to offer the Queens community the NYC Legend XL condom," said Danielle Bagley, Program Coordinator at The LGBT Network. "We are already fielding multiple requests from our community partners to include NYC Legend XL condoms in their monthly supply of condoms and safer sex products."

"No glove, no love!" said Carine Jocelyn, CEO of Diaspora Community Services. "Protect yourself with the NYC Legend XL."

To celebrate the new NYC Legend XL condom wrapper, the Health Department partnered with its condom distribution contractors Bronx Care, Diaspora Community Services, GMHC, LGBT Network, and Project Hospitality to host community events across the city. This afternoon’s tabling events will be at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City in Queens, GMHC in Midtown West in Manhattan, and BronxCare Health System in Morrisania in the Bronx. A fourth tabling event occurred on Wednesday at Project Hospitality on the North Shore of Staten Island. A social event celebrating the NYC Legend XL wrapper is set for this evening at Three Dollar Bill in Williamsburg in Brooklyn. All events will feature free NYC Condoms and other safer sex products, as well as NYC Legend XL-themed t-shirts and other swag.

The new NYC Legend XL condom wrapper is the latest Health Department effort to reenergize the conversation around and interest in condom use, a fundamental component of the sexual health toolkit. The Health Department’s NYC Condom Availability Program works to increase the availability, accessibility, and acceptability of free safer sex products by providing access to free condoms and lubricant at over 3,500 locations citywide and providing education and technical assistance related to correct condom use. Since its debut in 2007, the NYC Condom continues to be in high demand. Last year, the Health Department distributed over 31 million condoms and other safer sex products. Since 2017, the Health Department has partnered with ONE® Condoms on the NYC Condom, including the ARTCondomNYC and NYC Legend XL wrappers, as well as on the wrappers for all alternative condoms.

HIV Prevention, Care, and Treatment Information and Resources

For more information on HIV and AIDS, including resources on HIV prevention, testing, care and treatment, and HIV Undetectable = Untransmittable (U = U), the evidence-based finding that people with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV through sex, visit nyc.gov/health and search "HIV."

NYC Condom

To find free NYC Condoms or to request a condom education training, call 311 or visit nyc.gov/condoms. In 2019, the Health Department launched the NYC Safer Sex Portal, an online ordering system that grants New York City-based non-profits and businesses easier access to NYC Condoms and safer sex products, and enables partners to place recurring orders, streamline communication with the NYCAP team, and access important public health toolkits. For more information, visit the NYC Safer Sex Portal.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Patrick Gallahue / Michael Lanza, (347) 396-4177
PressOffice@health.nyc.gov