September 30, 2024
This is an email I hope will reach Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark.
As of this morning, Miller’s “genital warts” tweet had 96.5K views. Not only does that contribute to the stigma, but if statistics are correct, of that 96.5K people, 86.5K have HPV. It is really prudent to shame 90% of your audience?
It’s incredibly NOT COOL to joke about STIs.
Please support me by sending an email to Sarah at info@longwellpartners.com.
To: Info@longwellpartners.com RE: Making jokes about STIs
I cannot begin to tell you what benefit The Bulwark writers and podcasters have brought into my life. I admire you all so much and I so admire the work you are doing. You make a difference.
There has been a trend in the last couple of weeks where JVL has made jokes about herpes and Tim has made jokes about genital warts. These jokes are not funny. Not at all.
I don’t need to educate you but apparently, I need to educate you.
Up to 90% of people will have HPV, the virus that causes genital warts, during their lifetime. That means anybody who had any fun at all in their 20s probably had or has HPV.
And then there’s this: One in six. One in six. One in six people has genital herpes. Look around your office. Count six people. One of them has genital herpes.
STIs aren’t funny.
But what’s devastating is the stigma associated with STIs.
It just isn’t funny.
Can you please let your folks know to quit making jokes about STIs? So many of us suffer because of the carelessness, thoughtlessness, and heartlessness of people who do that. I know your folks don’t want to be part of the problem.
I wrote a post about JVL. And then my friend, who has herpes and HPV, just like I do, read my post and sent me a screenshot of Tim Miller’s Twitter. And then I cried. And I cried for quite a while.
I respect you folks I really do; this is so hurtful to hear from people who I admire and respect. I expect you to know better. I expect more of you.
Coco Densmore