Philadelphia Inquirer (US), February 19, 2006
Conference puts focus on teens and sexuality
A national forum in Phila. is taking a peer-based approach to discussing HIV
and AIDS with youths
Author: Mari A. Schaefer
Abstinence may be the message some politicians and parents agree they want teens to hear at schools.
But some teens will agree that it often isn't a message that works, and many don't want to hear about sex from their parents.
"No one wants to listen to their mom or dad preach about safer sex," said Samantha Martinez, 21, of Philadelphia.
Martinez, a coordinator for Reaching Adolescents Via Education, sat with friends and talked about their peer-based approach as the best way to talk about sexual health and the issues that surround HIV and AIDS.
She was one of about 500 young adults who attended the 13th annual Ryan White National Youth Conference on HIV & AIDS at the Loews Hotel in Center City yesterday. The conference, sponsored by the National Association of People with AIDS, is aimed at teaching youths about the prevention, treatment, networking and advocacy in the fight against AIDS through a variety of workshops and events. The three-day conference ends tomorrow.
White, an Indiana teen with hemophilia, became infected with HIV from a blood product. He was diagnosed with AIDS in 1984. He became an international activist for those living with HIV and AIDS. White died in 1990 at the age of 18.
"The most effective way is youth on youth," Martinez said of talking about sex with teens.
"It becomes a reality when you hear it from someone your own age," said Vinte Clemons, 18, of Philadelphia and a student at Cheyney University, who was sitting with Martinez. Clemons said that using poetry, hip-hop, rap, and role-playing instead of just talking as a way to get the message across is more interesting to young adults.
Ari Strutton, 15, said that at her public high school in Pass Christian, Miss., even though "most everyone is sexually active," her school is not "open to talking about sex." She is hoping to learn how to change that attitude and is involved in a group doing outreach to teach teens about HIV and AIDS.
"We have health [class], and when we get to the topic, the teachers don't hit on [sexually transmitted diseases], only abstinence," Strutton said. "Obviously it is not working, and they have been doing it the same way forever."
In Pennsylvania, schools are not required to teach sex education but they are required to teach about about STDs and must stress abstinence as the "the only completely reliable means of preventing sexual transmission," according to the National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education's Web site. Parents can have their children "opt-out" if it conflicts with their beliefs.
Judy Gawlinski, a high school family and consumer science teacher from Union City, Pa., said she had the support of her school, the parents, the children, and the community when it comes to teaching sex education in her class.
In 2003, 23 of the 100 graduating seniors at Union City High School were pregnant when they received their diplomas, she said. But, only a few of those students who had taken Gawlinski's class were pregnant. Parents and students made a push to have her class become mandatory for ninth graders.
This year, none of the students is pregnant and Gawlinski is turning her efforts to teaching more about STDs, HIV and AIDS. She feels lucky to have a supportive school administration and knows some teachers who are afraid of making waves have stepped back from the subject. "When I see kids having kids and getting STDs, you have to take a chance."
Contact Mari A. Schaefer at 610-892-9134 or mschaefer@phillynews.com.
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