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Read the press release here.

Trojan Gives Away Thousands of Vibrators at Do-Division Fest

By Alisa Hauser | June 2, 2013 5:50pm
 Organizers of a giveaway at Do-Division Fest estimated that they gave away two-thirds of their stock of 8,000 vibrators Saturday.
Trojan Vibrations at Do-Division Fest
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WICKER PARK —  Gray skies, downpours and intermittent drizzles did not keep pleasure seekers away from the Do-Division Street Fest Saturday.

Wearing ponchos and holding umbrellas, at least 25 people were standing in a line to receive a free vibrator around 8 p.m. Saturday, just minutes after a rainstorm had driven many revelers to seek cover.

Sandra and Mary, both in their 30s, were among those who'd waited to receive a Tri-Phoria Intimate Massager and Pulse Intimate Massage from Trojan Vibrations "brand ambassadors," clad in purple polo shirts.

"People are so weird [about vibrators]. It's the safest form of sex," said Sandra, who like others interviewed by DNAinfo.com Chicago declined to give her last name. 

Mary added: "And you don't need a condom."

Sandra, who works at a Division Street business, had heard about the promotion through a customer a few days ago and "stored it in the back of my head." 

"I told [Mary] we should go check it out," Sandra said.

Angie, 26, said she had not heard about the free vibrator giveaway until she saw the line — and joined it.

The booth was "shocking," according to the teacher, who said, "as long as people are adults it's not a big deal, though. I wonder if they'll be doing this at other fests?"

Esther Walsh, a public relations spokeswoman for Trojan Vibrations said late Saturday that they're  "still looking into details on next stops but fans can track the tour on Facebook."

The tour came to Chicago with 8,000 vibrators and "about one-third, if not more" were given away Saturday, with final numbers not expected to be tallied until Monday, Walsh said.

Walsh described the people who'd come for the vibrators as "couples, men and women, all ages over 18" and said "it's clear Chicagoans understand the importance of sex and pleasure and are incorporating vibrators into their relationships for some added fun and intimacy."

Before receiving a vibrator, those in line were required to fill out a form with their name and email address and had to show ID for proof of age.

Citing facts from a Center for Sexual Health promotion, Walsh said that 53 percent of American women and 45 percent of American men have used a vibrator in their lifetime.

"There's a stigma of vibrators being for single women with cats, that's not true. About 80 percent of women who've used vibrators have done so with their partner," Walsh said.

According to a press release, more than 40,000 vibrators have been given away since the "Trojan Vibrations" tour launched last fall in New York, Miami, Seattle and Boston.

But not every city has welcomed the promotion.

In Boston, the mayor tried to block the manufacturer from giving away vibrators in a city plaza, and in New York City last August, the cart was shut down for not having proper permits.

Walsh said no one had complained to her about the giveaway.