ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH

Editorials/Op-Ed

• Sex education approaches aren't mutually exclusive (August 8, 2007)
  I am extremely disappointed with the commentary on abstinence programs by Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association ("Abstinence works," Opposing view, Sex education debate, July 30). MORE >>
• Congress must get the message: Abstinence-only doesn’t work (April 17, 2007)
  In 1996, Congress voted to spend money to promote abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. A year later, Congress mandated a long-term scientific study of these programs to see if they worked. On Friday, April 13 — 10 years and more than $1.5 billion later — the report was finally released. The conclusion is as devastating as it is simple: The programs don’t work. MORE >>
• International Women's Day
  (March 8, 2007)
  March 8, 2007 - to many, this date has no real significance. But for those of us who care about international issues – March 8th is International Women's Day. And for 2007 International Women’s Day, I’d like to dedicate this post to the United National Population Fund (UNFPA). Why is UNFPA significant and how does it relate to women? MORE >>
• A shot in the arm against cancer? (July 27, 2006)
  When I opened the Post on Saturday and saw the op-ed by Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council ["Pro-Family, Pro-Vaccine -- But Keep It Voluntary," July 15], I thought, "At last, common ground on a sexual issue." I remembered the president of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, was quoted in Fortune magazine last year as saying he would not allow his own daughter to be inoculated because it would send the "wrong message" by encouraging sex outside of marriage. MORE >>
• Bringing substance to the AIDS issue (December 7, 2006)
  I went into the Ludacris YouthAIDS event last week enthusiastic about hearing a fellow AIDS activist speak about the global pandemic. I hoped he would get across a message I fight hard for every day through the Student Global AIDS Campaign and my job at a local advocacy organization. Sadly, this was far from what occurred. MORE >>
• Comprehensive sex-ed policy vital (December 1, 2006)
  With yet another year gone, I cannot help but wonder what progress has been made in something as basic as sexual education. A good comprehensive sex education policy is vital if we are to achieve any progress in HIV/AIDS prevention both in the U.S. and worldwide. MORE >>
• El desarrollo de una vacuna contra el VIH
  Las comunidades afroamericana y latina están desempeñando un papel muy importante en la disminución de la propagación del VIH y del SIDA. Además de prestar servicio como médicos, investigadores y educadores, muchos miembros de estas comunidades han ayudado como voluntarios en estudios clínicos cuyo objetivo es desarrollar una vacuna que prevenga la enfermedad. MÁS >>
• Developing an HIV Vaccine
  African-American and Latino communities are playing an important role in slowing the spread of HIV and AIDS. In addition to serving as doctors, researchers, and educators, many in these communities have helped by volunteering for clinical trials geared toward developing a preventative vaccine for the disease. MORE >>
• Does Politics Trump Science In Washington?
  Many scientists believe that science-based public health programs are under attack in our nation's capital. First, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) censored public health information on condoms on its Web site, then the President appointed abstinence-only advocates with little or no background in HIV prevention to his Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA). Recently, conservative members of Congress questioned the National Institutes of Health's funding of scientists who received
  grants to study HIV/AIDS, sexuality, and risk-taking behaviors. MORE >>