Two anonymous merchants within the industry confirmed to Fast Company that other producers have indeed been affected.

While the FDA declined to comment on potential criminal investigations, the impact is already being felt. Pac-West Distributing (PWD), a producer of the well-known Rush brand, has replaced its website with a single image and disconnected its phone line. Nitro-Solv, an online retailer that advertised on PWD’s site, has also vanished.

AFAB Industrial, another Rush producer, which previously engaged with the media, has now gone silent, shutting down email and refusing comment.

A History Rooted in LGBTQ+ Culture

Originally prescribed for chest pain, poppers gained popularity within the LGBTQ+ community in the 1960s and have since become a significant part of our social and sexual landscape. While regulations exist, enforcement has historically been minimal.

Over the years, as certain nitrite forms were banned, manufacturers adapted, leading to the current situation where products are often disguised for commercial purposes. The FDA’s sporadic warnings and social media campaigns in the past did little to disrupt the established market dominated by brands like Rush, Double Scorpio, and Jungle Juice.

RFK Jr.’s Troubling Influence

The current crackdown takes on a more sinister tone considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership at HHS. His long history of spreading misinformation about LGBTQ+ individuals, including bizarre claims about chemicals affecting children’s sexuality, raises serious concerns about the motivations behind this sudden enforcement.

His 2021 book, The Real Anthony Fauci, cited AIDS denialist Peter Duesberg, who falsely linked popper use to the AIDS epidemic in gay men. This long-discredited theory ignores the overwhelming scientific consensus that HIV causes AIDS, a discovery that earned Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier a Nobel Prize in 2008.

Beyond Poppers: What Other Businesses Could Be Targeted?

This FDA action against poppers raises concerns about potential future targeting of other sex and gay-oriented businesses. Given the current political climate and historical prejudices, several types of companies could potentially face increased scrutiny or enforcement:

  • Adult Toy Stores and Online Retailers: These businesses often carry a wide range of products that could be subject to interpretation under various regulations.
  • Lubricant Manufacturers: Similar to poppers, lubricants are often used in sexual activity and could be targeted based on perceived health risks or moral objections.
  • Sex Positive and LGBTQ+-Affirming Health and Wellness Providers: Businesses offering services or products related to sexual health and well-being within the LGBTQ+ community could face increased scrutiny.
  • Online Platforms and Apps Catering to the LGBTQ+ Community: Dating apps or social platforms that facilitate connections and potentially sexual encounters within the LGBTQ+ community could become targets for those seeking to regulate or control LGBTQ+ spaces.

It is crucial for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies to remain vigilant and vocal against any actions that appear to be rooted in prejudice rather than legitimate health concerns. The targeting of poppers, especially given RFK Jr.’s history, serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need to fight for our rights and spaces.

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