When the Ladies Auxiliary for Cultural Enrichment made their world premiere on Halloween, 2003, the public reaction was overwhelmingly favorable. People of all ages seemed captivated by these wild and whacky grannies.
Edna, Maud, Pearl and Agnes were so engaging that a media relations expert asked them to help launch an emergency awareness campaign directed at what was then suspected to be a particularly variant strain of the AIDS virus.
Newly designated “Safe Sex Suffragettes,” the LACE grannies were adorned with vintage-styled suffragette sashes which were custom made for this new campaign.
The LACE scooters were equipped with revolving lights and sirens along with “Stop Supervirus” posters, mounted in front and emblazoned with the message: “PLAY SUPERSAFELY!”
Although the LACE grannies continued to amuse and delight the public, they now had a solemn purpose beneath their gray wigs and face powder--to inform those at high risk that “Supervirus requires Supersafety.”
In the following weeks, LACE grannies dedicated their free time to alerting local communities to this new and potentially deadly HIV/AIDS strain.
Edna, Maud, Pearl and Agnes distributed thousands of safe sex brochures and symbolic cameos urging party patrons to protect themselves and their partners by strictly adhering to safe sex guidelines.
When the Supervirus threat was officially deemed a false alarm, the LACE grannies were no less commended for their diligent efforts which resulted in greater awareness of AIDS/HI risks and dangers--particularly among teens and college age young people.
