This One is for All the Playas
It’s here — the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the release of the American Sexpress Card (term coined by the Daily News). The card is proof, certification that the cardholder is STD-free.
This STDFree Certification was developed by a Manhattan-based company. It is, indeed, a credit card that conveniently fits in your wallet. The idea is that every cardholder has a member number, and anyone can call and “check up” on another member.
More than 15,000 people nationwide have signed up for the STFree service, launched in 2004 by Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, native Eli Dancy. Dancy, a former club promoter, said he saw “a lot of irresponsibility” in his neighborhood and created the STFree card to help raise awareness.
Remember that scene in Gattaca? Uma Thurman’s character does a little “background check” on Ethan Hawke. She’s given a computer-generated document of his personal information — health risks, intelligence level…Looks as though Gattaca is not too far away.
NYMag’s Daily Intel came up with a hilarious set of segues to the card:
• “Isn’t the view from my rooftop lovely? Here’s my STDFree card. Why are you still wearing your top?”
• Subtly, in the elevator to the apartment: “Let me just get my keys. Oh, look what fell out of my pocket! It’s my STDFree card! Anyway, aren’t you so excited to see Christopher Walken on SNL?”
10 responses so far
i can’t figure out the purpose for desiring one of these.. i meannn i understand the value of being STD free but would that be an extra reason for a guy to like me if i was going to pay for drinks and slipped my std free card out by accident? I think it would more of a slutcard if you needed it?
It’s kind of sad that people have resorted to this. It’s just reaffirming the fact that to many people have STDs. We now need a card to prove that we’re clean! It’s just sad.
Im sure people will be bootleggin this card soon.
Margot — Slutcard indeed. That was exactly my thought on the matter.
Lauren — It is sad! The website for the card has an ever-growing number of “People in the US who are infected with HIV.” It’s interesting because the site is so upbeat looking, but the matter of discussion is far from upbeat.
Matt — Bootleggin’ and forgin’!
I agree about the slutcard. If someone whipped one out at me, I would run away. I don’t know why but I would think it’s more reason NOT to trust they are clean. lol
Interesting…
That’s crazy– I mean it’s a cool idea but 1) it’s sad that that’s even necessary and 2) you’d have no way of verifying that it’s the real thing. So weird though.
Sad that the concept is not so far fetched in this day and age.
Personally I’d rather walk the person to the lab, see the blood drawn and be hand delivered those results.
It’s by far more foolish to think those you are with don’t need it or at least something similar.
It’s always those you least expect - or so I’m told.
This card is basically useless, unless it tells you who your partner slept with last night…
Jenzai — So damn true!