According to a report by the Washington Blade the newest statistics regarding the rates of infection for HIV and the number of new cases is almost double what had been recently reported by the Centers For Disease Control. The CDC is trying to decide the best time to release the numbers so that it will have the least impact on the Bush Administration. Once again they are playing politics with our lives.
While I am sure that the Bush Administration will have many excuses and fingers to shift the blame, the real reasons are obvious. The current emphasis on abstinence only interventions and giving money to "Faith Based" organizations isn't working. Indeed it is probably making the situation much worse.
It is time that we have a reality based policy of trying to stop the spread of AIDS in this country. "Just say no" didn't work for the drug problem and it certainly isn't working to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.
We need comprehensive sex education that not only includes abstinence but also gives the students the knowledge and understanding to make educated and reasoned choices about their own bodies and sexual activities. They need to know about safe sex. Ignorance is not bliss. It is deadly when it come to our sexual being.
I work with young people every day. Many of the old social barriers do not exist for these kids especially in small town rural America. I see them "hanging out" together, black, white, native, straight, gay, rich, poor and everything in between. And, yes, they are having sex. The only thing that has prevented a huge epidemic of HIV and AIDS in this area is the low prevalence of HIV in this area.
As I have been saying to anyone who would listen, the only thing it would take for a huge outbreak would be the introduction of one or two infected individuals in the area who aware or unaware of their status and are having unprotected sex with multiple partners. Well, it has happened. I hope everyone is ready for what is coming.
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