Blood Ties Four Directions Centre is responsible for condom distribution in bars in Whitehorse. Currently we provide nine varieties of condoms to several different bars to provide an inviting and exciting mix to patrons.
We were very concerned to read Stephanie Coulthard’s letter to the editor on Wednesday, Dec. 21, alleging some bar staff at some bars poke holes in condoms before placing them in the bathrooms.
Blood Ties has looked into these allegations and determined that the bar where the alleged tampering occurred is no longer in operation and had not received condoms since the summer of 2010.
Poking holes in condoms is a crime; it’s classified as sexual assault. Just a few weeks ago, a Nova Scotia man was sentenced to 18 months for poking holes in his girlfriend’s condoms.
If you know of anyone doing this, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
We believe that the condoms that are placed into bar washrooms directly from our outreach staff are safe. We distribute over 30,000 condoms a year to various clubs and bars and as far as we know there has never been a case of HIV transmission through condom tampering.
However, we encourage anyone who feels they might have been put at risk to get free confidential testing at Yukon Communicable Disease Control.
Patricia Bacon
Blood Ties Four Directions
Whitehorse