Reject ban on condoms
It is difficult to understand how the Louisiana House of Representatives would eliminate, without discussion or debate, the state's cheapest activity to prevent a terminal and tragic but preventable disease.
But that's what happened when lawmakers adopted an amendment to the state budget offered by Rep. Gary Beard, R-Baton Rouge. It forbids the Office of Public Health from using federal dollars to buy and distribute condoms.
Perhaps Beard and other members have personal religious compunctions about the use of contraception. But we don't know of any responsible authority in the world of public health who does not favor the use of condoms to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
"The House believes that the state doesn't need to be in the condom distribution business," Beard said.
That is one of the most head-in-the-sand statements heard in the Legislature in a long time.
It is particularly sad that a Baton Rouge representative would offer this proposal. Baton Rouge's leaders, public and private, have worked hard to promote a wide-ranging campaign against HIV/AIDS. Our city is per capita first in the state and one of the highest in the nation in the rate of new infections. While part of that is caused by needles used by drug addicts, some of it is the result of unprotected sex, whether under the influence of drugs or not.
We encourage the Senate, which now has the budget bill, to remove Beard's amendment and authorize the Office of Public Health to exercise common sense and good judgment.
Condom distribution "is something that's saving lives," argued Eugene Collins, director of education and prevention at the Baton Rouge AIDS Society.
The Beard amendment should be rejected.
Source - 2TheAdvocate.com Baton Rouge, LA - June 6, 2005
But that's what happened when lawmakers adopted an amendment to the state budget offered by Rep. Gary Beard, R-Baton Rouge. It forbids the Office of Public Health from using federal dollars to buy and distribute condoms.
Perhaps Beard and other members have personal religious compunctions about the use of contraception. But we don't know of any responsible authority in the world of public health who does not favor the use of condoms to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
"The House believes that the state doesn't need to be in the condom distribution business," Beard said.
That is one of the most head-in-the-sand statements heard in the Legislature in a long time.
It is particularly sad that a Baton Rouge representative would offer this proposal. Baton Rouge's leaders, public and private, have worked hard to promote a wide-ranging campaign against HIV/AIDS. Our city is per capita first in the state and one of the highest in the nation in the rate of new infections. While part of that is caused by needles used by drug addicts, some of it is the result of unprotected sex, whether under the influence of drugs or not.
We encourage the Senate, which now has the budget bill, to remove Beard's amendment and authorize the Office of Public Health to exercise common sense and good judgment.
Condom distribution "is something that's saving lives," argued Eugene Collins, director of education and prevention at the Baton Rouge AIDS Society.
The Beard amendment should be rejected.
Source - 2TheAdvocate.com Baton Rouge, LA - June 6, 2005
posted by Condom Depot at
11:13 AM
1 Comments:
At a time when UN and every other nation is doing it's best to spread awareness about sex education and how to counter AIDS by using condom, the decision from Louisiana House of Representatives is a real shocker. What's also shocking is the arguments given by Beard. Hopefully the Board is listening and would review their decision.
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