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The CDC

and the current administration never cease to amaze me (ok.. well, frankly, i’m not surprised at all – but still)… Driving home from the south bay today I heard on NPR that the CDC is threatening to cut federal funding to the Stop AIDS Project. It seems that they don’t like the sexually explicit nature of the campaigns and panel discussions the organization hosts..

WHAT THE FUCK?

One of the primary ways that AIDS is transmitted is via sexual intercourse. How exactly does the CDC expect to educate people about the consequences of HIV/AIDS in a way that they will pay attention to without talking in a very frank way about sex. Having Marion the Librarian get up infront of a bunch of young gay men and lecture them about the science of HIV isn’t exactly going to work (assuming you get them in the room). You have to convince people they need to pay attention to and have frank discussions in a non judgemental forum in terms that people relate to… Its the ONLY WAY for this to sink in… The fact is – people will have sex.. deal with it… and if they are having sex they need to be educated… and to educate people in a way that will sink in takes creativity… and the Stop AIDS project is doing that…

One of the things I find most disturbing in recent years has been the cavalier people have begun to take about HIV and safe sex. I’ve seen LOTS more people being careless about safe sex and protecting themselves against HIV and it really upsets me.. I don’t know if its a youthful invincibility thing or if people think that living with HIV isn’t so bad or if they’ve just grown wary… but regardless its happening and the Stop AIDS project has done great work trying to stem that tide…

nuff ranting… just had to share…. This SFGate article gives more scoop…. Looks like at least the city will try to step up and help out with the funding …

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