Update: PA Liquor Control Board Removes Victim-Blaming Ad

In a development that is surely a victory for feminists and social justice activists everywhere, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board decided to remove their victim-blaming ad, featured on Feministing yesterday.

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports that the PLCB received “thousands” of complaints about the ad, which featured a girl’s legs with her underwear around her ankles. The text read, “She didn’t want to do it, but she couldn’t say no.”

Joe Conti, CEO of the PA Liquor Control Board, is quoted in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review as saying, “It’s that fine line. Listen, in some respects the discussion that’s going on in the blogs and the interest that you’re saying, bravo. We’re creating a dialogue. We’re clearly making an impact.”

Sure, Joe, in some respect it’s great that you’re creating a dialogue. But we’d rather not have to deal with messages that contribute to rape culture in the first place.

To everyone who sent emails, made phone calls or alerted their friends to the awful campaign–thank you! You are proof that often people will listen, and the fight for social justice is not futile.

Disclaimer: This post was written by a Feministing Community user and does not necessarily reflect the views of any Feministing columnist, editor, or executive director.

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