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Sex-Ed Advertisement In AARP Bulletin Draws Fire

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The ad promotes videos described as "a visual encyclopedia of stimulating sexual fun" to educate couples about sexual skills and positions.

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI

cdolinski@tampatrib.com

Published: January 20, 2009

Updated: 01/20/2009 11:22 pm

TALLAHASSEE - "Sex. It's never too late to learn something new."

That's the headline on an advertisement for Better Sex videos in the January-February issue of the AARP Bulletin. Tuesday, the conservative Florida Family Association called on AARP to renounce the ads publicly.

"It is truly a sad day for America's moral environment when AARP lowers its standards to promote a company that sells hardcore explicit materials," David Caton, president of the Florida Family Association, wrote in an e-mail alert he sent to about 35,000 subscribers.

The ad, from the Sinclair Institute, promotes videos described as "a visual encyclopedia of stimulating sexual fun" to educate couples about sexual skills and positions.

"Nothing is left to the imagination!" the ad states.

AARP researches all its advertisers, AARP Florida spokesman David Bruns says in a written statement. The ad, he said, promotes educational videos for adults "who want to improve the quality of intimacy in their relationships." The Sinclair Institute, he said, works with health care professionals to create its materials.

"AARP does not feel the ad was objectionable and it was not our intent to offend anyone," Bruns said. "We take complaints from our members seriously and do and will investigate all complaints and respond accordingly."

He noted that the Sinclair Institute also advertises its products in such publications as the Wall Street Journal and Good Housekeeping.

The institute did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Caton said his primary concern is AARP's promotion of the Sinclair Institute and, by extension, its parent company, PHE, which Caton described as "one of the largest distributors of hardcore pornography in the country."

PHE also owns Adam and Eve, self-described on its Web site as "the nation's largest and oldest sex products company."

Caton said he wants AARP to acknowledge publicly that the materials advertised are sexually explicit and pledge not to promote the Sinclair Institute or its products. Absent that, Caton said, his group will keep the heat on with Web site and e-mail communications.

Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382 or cdolinski@tampatrib.com.

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