Posted on 12/01/2004 7:21:55 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) The Blagojevich administration Wednesday defended its decision to stop distributing flavored and colored condoms that health activists consider helpful in fighting AIDS, even as dozens of people rallied at the Capitol to remember victims of the disease.
At the Capitol and other state buildings, lights were dimmed to mark World AIDS Day. Blagojevich called it ``a time to reaffirm our commitment to promoting HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention.''
But some health workers said they were disappointed that Blagojevich had ordered the Illinois Department of Public Health not to buy any more condoms in bright colors or flavors for distribution to clinics and local health agencies about a month ago.
``It catches the younger people's eye, and that's the generation we're trying to get because they're engaging in risky behavior,'' said Dante Bryant, an outreach specialist at Springfield's Sara Center.
He said the center gets flavored and colored condoms from the state and then distributes them at bars or areas frequented by drug users to promote safe sex.
The Public Health Department has given clinics and local health agencies about 360,000 flavored condoms and 910,000 colored condoms this year. That's in addition to the millions of ordinary condoms it provides every year. This year, the state has spent more than $117,000 in federal funds on condoms.
After learning about the special condoms, the Democratic governor ordered the department not to buy any in the future.
``He just felt it was inappropriate,'' said Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch. ``It's one thing to promote safe sex. It's another thing to encourage sexual activity.''
Louanner Peters, the governor's deputy chief of staff for human services, said the administration is spending more on AIDS education in minority areas and stepping up testing and education programs for prison inmates who are about to be released. Those efforts, combined with distribution of ordinary condoms, make a sound program for fighting the spread of AIDS, she said.
``We have to help people make better choices rather than, in some instances, almost encouraging people to be a little more lax in their choices,'' Peters said after speaking at a World AIDS Day ceremony at the Statehouse.
But others rejected the idea that bright colors or special flavors encourage sexual activity that otherwise would not take place.
``I haven't seen any indication of that,'' said Don Hunt, a supervisor at the Springfield Public Health Department.
``We're not encouraging sex. They're going to do it anyway,'' said Bryant, from the Sara Center. ``What we're promoting is safe sex.''
Damn, you just can't make this stuff up....
That'd be too much work for me!!!
A democrat trying, desparately, to drag his party to the values oriented middle. Good luck with that Blago!
Why don't they just give out filtered cigarettes instead? Filtered cigarettes are scientifically proven to be a safer method of smoking when compared to raw unfiltered tobacco.
And the kids are going to do it anyway.
better yet, candy flavored flouresent green glow in the dark filtered cigarettes.
"'We're not encouraging sex. They're going to do it anyway,' said Bryant, from the Sara Center. 'What we're promoting is safe sex.'"
The only safe sex is no sex.
Perfect analogy.
Trojan recall:
Subject: Defective Product
Do to the great taste of our flavored condoms; several males have been seriously injured. As a result the condoms must not be distributed in order to protect the male population.
Strawberry flavor has proven to be the most dangerous. BEWARE!
Watch out for girls with sharp teeth or braces.
;~)
Here's another, the best way not to get busted for drunk driving is not to drink and drive. "People are going to drink anyway" doesn't cut it.
In other news, the Democrats today announced condom-flavored cigars as a step toward a smokeless, cancerless 'smoke.' The Bluedress Tobacco company is the manufacturer....
That's a great one, too. I'll have to remember these.
Drinking and driving kills innocent people. People don't consent to having drunk drivers next to them on the roads.
Homo's are "tasteless" and "black-hearted"? What are they saying?
"The only safe sex is no sex."
For gays and straights, married and single alike.
As Lord Somebodyorother advised his son: The position is ridiculous, the pleasure is momentary, and the results are damnable.
What nonsense! Who cares what others do with condoms? I dont' think the state should purchase or distribute them to anyone. Those who delight is such activity need to purchase their own entertainment. As to preventing desease, this is a joke, and the other writers are correct in that government programs like this just promote promiscuity. If we don't spend the time in the home explaining sexual activity and the classrooms of our schools don't take the time to do it, we leave young people the only option, and that is experimentation and peer pressure. If you want your daughters to give their boyfriends oral sex, and try to say it is not sex, then don't take the time to explain the differences to them. Sex education is a total failure in this country, starting with the family unit, if it exists, and on to our 'education industry' that has failed or has been forbidden to teach.
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