"Sometimes In Advertising..."

Usually "Sometimes In Advertising" posts are fun and encouraging discoveries I've made, but this one left me a little unnerved...

The promoted website on first glance appears to be a government sponsored HIV awareness site, but further investigation reveals that it's actually sponsored by Gilead Sciences, Inc. Gilead is a major producer of HIV medications including their "One pill, once a day" therapy.

So by promoting testing, is Gilead perhaps hoping to increase sales by identifying new patients for it's HIV medications.  Also, there's the issue that the website seems to be marketing almost exclusively to African-Americans. (Although interestingly, on sites like Queerty and Towleroad, they're likely to miss their targeted audience.)

After thinking about it, I guess I'm okay with this for the most part... after all black gay men are the most under-diagnosed and under-educated at-risk group in the U.S., 

But then on the website, along with what appear to be generally acceptable guidelines for safer sex, there is this provocative admonition:

And here is where I took exception...

Is the message above promoting promiscuity and thus increasing the likelihood that you'll eventually contract HIV and become a customer?  I can't say for sure, but I do know that there's big money to be made in HIV medications as they are a long-term income stream for big pharma, after all you stay on them for the rest of your life.

Food for thought... What do you think?

"Fear Eats the Soul"