Group uses humor to discuss sex

Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa is inserting some humor into a topic that’s tough for many to talk about, with an art contest. This evening at a Des Moines nightclub, Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Kerry Koonce says entries will be on public display for the second annual “Stiff Competition” contest.There’s a series of four that one artist did, including a silhouette of Elvis, a regular person,a muscle-man, and someone in a karate stance with the caption “Wrap it Up.” The designs will be printed on small folding cardboard packets that each enclose one condom, distributed free to clients of Planned Parenthood clinics. Theirs is made large enough that they can also insert small brochures, on topics like safe sex and preventing pregnancy. Koonce says there’s definitely a role for humor in the discussion of sexual health and birth control. The role is to promote safe sex and also appeal to a younger audience — because when they’re out having fun they may be in the kind of situation that leads to sex, so using this approach helps get them the message. There’s a student winner who gets a 200-dollar prize, a professional winner who gets five-hundred and has their design actually used, and the new “People’s Choice” winner to be chosen tonight who’ll get a statue. The competition’s at a nightclub called The Garden, in downtown Des Moines. For more information see the Planned Parenthood website at www.ppgi.org