The Washington Post reports that “Proponents of comprehensive sex education accused the Bush administration … of waging a widespread campaign of disinformation and intimidation that is hampering AIDS prevention work across the country. The activists said several government audits, aggressive promotion of abstinence-only programs and a retreat from earlier prevention efforts may put young people and minorities at increased risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.”
The Human Rights Campaign called on Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, who is among those calling for audits of agencies–including those accused of heckling him during the International AIDS Conference in Barcelona last summer, to fulfill a promise he made at a meeting in Barcelona with health advocates to promote a comprehensive and scientifically based HIV/AIDS prevention policy.
“We profoundly disagree with this administration in that we believe arming people with information saves lives, while they believe that ignorance is the answer,” said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg. “The administration is promoting a policy that ignores gay people across the board and is a threat to all Americans who need to know how to avoid contracting HIV. We urge Bush to change course, so that more young people do not become needlessly infected.”
The Bush administration has requested that Congress increase abstinence-only programs funding to $135 million dollars, while not providing adequate funding for traditional programs that offer a more comprehensive range of options, including condom usage. The problem with Bush’s plan is that by promoting abstinence until marriage as the only option, he is completely ignoring the health needs of gay and lesbian people who cannot legally marry. Bush’s policy also keeps crucial, life-saving information away from all Americans, HRC asserts.