State law makes Dirty Bingo less dirty

An N.C. State University event promoting safe sex is putting away its sex toys due to a technicality in state law.

Dirty Bingo, the student-run event at N.C. State that advocates for safe sex practices, will not provide edible underwear and other sex toys as prizes for the game because of a state law about gambling events.

According to the N.C. Department of Public Safety, organizations must have a state-issued license to host commercialized gambling for prizes worth more than $10.

Lauryn Collier, president of NCSU’s Union Activities Board, said in an email that the event, which will be held today, sparked a backlash among parents after they learned that their children could win sex toys.

But she said the board is not withholding the sex toys as prizes because some considered them offensive.

The state’s Department of Public Safety recently notified the board that operating the bingo event without a license could result in a misdemeanor.

Collier said new prizes less than $10 will be given away at the bingo, including T-shirts, koozies and Target gift cards.

“I can see how any parent would be startled based on headlines like, ‘Program gives out sex toys,’ and not the goals and true nature of the event and prizes that were being given away,” Collier said.

Nicky Vaught, a NCSU sophomore, plans to attend the Dirty Bingo event.

He said he thinks the law requiring a permit for bingo is ridiculous.

“Technically, it is a form of gambling, but it really isn’t,” Vaught said. “(The law is) just a waste of time.”

Other universities also host events to raise awareness about safe sex practices — including the Sex After Dark event at UNC-CH.

John Geraghty, a freshman at UNC-CH, said he supports University initiatives — including those with sex toy giveaways — that educate students about safe sex practices.

“Students need to learn about the risks of unsafe sex and the options for safe sex,” he said.

Contact the desk editor at state@dailytarheel.com.