Health Advocacy Coalition Announces Initiative to stop HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Washington, DC

Health Advocacy Coalition Members

The Health Advocacy Coalition held a press conference on July 16 at Whitman Walker Clinic Max Robinson Center. Dr. Jay Carrington Chunn, Director of the National Center for Health Behavioral Change that the actual rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Washington DC is 7%. A bill "To require the Mayor to develop a standardized HIV/AIDs behavioral prevention-intervention taxonomy system that will focus on and emphasize peer-based prevention-intervention programs for the District's neighborhoods and at risk population mixes" is being held up by Health committee chair David Catania.

ULTRA Teen Choice Executive Director Richard Urban pointed out that there is a "prevention disparity" in the District of Columbia. There is no District funding for programs that encourage and support youth, as well as adults, to remain sexually abstinent or to return to sexual abstinence in preparation for marriage. (See the letter to the Editor of the Washington Times below).

Update on same sex marriage issue in Washington, DC

The Washington, DC Board of Elections and Ethics denied the petition by Bishop Harry Jackson and the High Impact Leadership to place the law recognizing same sex "marriages" before Washington DC voters as a referendum. The DC Superior refused to overturn the Election Board's decision. Many believe that this is a prelude to introducing a bill legalizing same sex "marriage". ULTRA Teen Choice Executive Director Richard Urban testified before the Board of Elections and Ethics during the hearing held on June 10. Mr. Urban testified "Marriage is recognized by the state because the formation and raising of families benefits the larger society, and the state has an interest in protecting the health and welfare of its members. However, marriage is defined by natural law, not by the state; two men or two women by themselves can never procreate. The state only has a secondary interest in marriage; its is primarily a natural and also spiritual bond."

Letter to the Editor of the Washington Times featured as "Letter of the Day"

The article "AIDS myths persist" (Citizen Journalism, Web, Wednesday) provides misleading information about HIV/AIDS prevention. It implies that Angela Parker, the young lady who is abstaining from sex and also appears to have a faith conviction, is misinformed. The next young man quoted indicates that if he contracted HIV, he would return to sexual abstinence. ....

The article subsequently describes Metro TeenAIDS as an organization "promot[ing] responsible decision-making among teens." Metro TeenAIDS promotes secondary prevention (i.e., using condoms) almost exclusively. This approach comes in spite of the fact that the teens quoted in the article naturally tend to abstain from sex to protect their health. The organization also actively opposes groups that encourage sexual abstinence in preparation for marriage.

With twice as many high school teens in the District abstaining in 2007 (42 percent) as compared to 1994 (21 percent), according to the Youth Risk Behavior Risk Surveillance System, the District government and health organizations would do well to promote the primary behavior-change prevention method of sexual abstinence instead of only promoting condom use through campaigns such as the million condoms campaign. (Read the entire letter)

YOUth Awakening Revolution featured in the Washington Times

The Citizen Journalism article "Teens Take Stand for Sexual Purity" was featured in the Washington Times on June 12, 2009.

"God, what is my purpose? How can I make a difference in the world?" That's what Lynura Jones, who served as mistress of ceremonies, said she asked upon learning that blacks account for 55 percent of reported HIV infections among 13- to 24-year olds. "The Christian community, if no one else, needs to stand up, because we have been quiet for way too long."Read the whole article.