Make sex great again (Newsletter February 2025)

To Trump or not to Trump?

Condomerie presents its new, handpainted, limited edition Grumpy Trump novelty condom. Now, Trump lovers can show their affection for their president as they yell “drill baby drill”! And anti-Trumpers can use it as a way to avoid having sex: “If you put on that Trump condom… then you can sleep on the couch!”.

It might seem a bit frivolous, but this is how Condomerie is drawing attention to Trump’s recent presidential memorandum: reinstating the Global Gag Rule (GGR), a huge step backwards in women’s autonomy with regard to sexual and reproductive health and rights, both in the US and globally.

The GGR puts severe restrictions on international NGOs who receive US funding. They are no longer allowed to give any information about contraception, or refer anyone to legal – and therefore safe – abortion care, nor offer abortion services themselves or advocate for less restrictive abortion laws.

Last month, the major worldwide HIV programme PEPFAR (The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, launched by the Republican president George W. Bush in 2003) was frozen for 90 days: HIV clinics have since shut down, health workers have lost their jobs, and crucial stocks of HIV medicines are running out. To Advance or to TrumpVance, that is the question.

A ban on abortion, both globally and in 14 US states, means that women with low incomes, in particular, have no choice other than to have an – often life-threatening – illegal abortion.

See /populationmatters.org/news/2025/01/what-a-second-trump-term-means-for-reproductive-rights/>

The GGR policy was first implemented by the Reagan administration. Reinstating it is bringing back the old (patriarchal) message. ‘No sex before marriage’ seems to be the new motto, with all information and activities providing sex and relationships education, as well as HIV prevention, under threat. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico_City_policy.

Opposition to condoms and other methods of contraception among some sectors of society is leading to increasingly heated debate worldwide. Looking back at how pragmatically previous generations dealt with this can add new dimensions to that debate. Read more here: https://condomerie.com/en/condomology/church-and-condoms.

Hopefully, an ‘exit’ strategy will soon be mapped out – so that this healthcare can become less dependent on the whims of donor countries.

A Grumpy Trump condom is a great way to get to wind Donald Trump around your little finger! And for each Trump novelty condom sold, €1 will go to the Condomerie Foundation. Read about the foundation’s social objectives at https://condomerie.com/en/about-condomerie/condomerie-foundation The projects we support contribute to one of the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 3: sexual and reproductive health. Some examples of projects the Grumpy Trump euro are going to this year:

- A free workshop at the launch of the book ‘Sekspeditie’ in Pakhuis de Zwijger

- The dynamic performance ‘The Procreator Tales; the partner’s abortion experience’

- ‘Roll-down practice condoms’ for a number of secondary schools

Remember this:

The Trump condom is a novelty condom, just a fun object. For actual safer sex, always use a tested condom. The expiry date on this Trump condom is... 20 January 2029 – the inauguration of president Trump’s successor

VERHALEN VAN VERWEKKERS

(The Procreator Tales)

A Dutch PLAY at CONDOMERIE on 4 & 5 MARCH 2025

Cast: Ard Kok, Bob Donkers, Remijn Weijdema, director: Mystha Mandersloot, text: Mystha Mandersloot

When it comes to abortion, we usually talk about the person with the uterus. And we say that men – particularly men who make laws – shouldn’t interfere with an individual’s choice and autonomy. But without a procreator, the person with the uterus wouldn’t have an unplanned pregnancy. So how do you deal with it if you’re not the person who is pregnant? Imagine if one of you wants to keep the child and the other one doesn’t? What is the procreator’s role?

Verhalen van Verwekkers presents a study into the abortion experiences of partners and ex-partners, told by the people themselves. The result is a dynamic montage performance, including a bass guitar, a paternity test, disco dance moves, some deep fried snacks, miscommunication and lots and lots of condoms.

Condomerie sponsored the 2nd edition of the PFFA with condoms, advice, lubricants and goodie bags.

At the 2025 festival, held at five Amsterdam venues between 6 and 9 February, there were artistic erotic pornographic films covering different themes from different angles: vaginismus, politics, sex work, transition, sperm freezing and comedy. Not only films, but also workshops, talks and, of course, a party.