Report Issues Sobering Statistics On Teens, Aids

Teenagers are contracting the AIDS virus at an average of more than one an hour, and the White House again urged the nation Tuesday to teach them how to protect themselves.

But to some disappointed young people, the report and its media fanfare were just more government talk and no action.

“This report isn’t really doing something for youth,” said Lam Duckim, 24, of Washington, who has the HIV virus.

Between 40,000 and 80,000 Americans become infected with the AIDS virus each year, and one in four is a teenager. Based on those sobering statistics, President Clinton asked the White House Office of AIDS Policy to talk to young people to find solutions.

The office’s report echoes what many scientists and AIDS activists have said for years: Strong AIDS education is a must for children, so that if they later have sex or experiment with drugs, they know how to protect themselves.

“Kids are dying because adults are arguing about what to tell them about AIDS,” said Miguel Bustos, 25, of San Francisco. He was asked to help write the report because as a teen, he organized student AIDS education.

“Teach the children. That’s our message,” he said.

Most American school systems provide some AIDS education. But many systems’ policies prohibit discussion of sexual intercourse, homosexuality, bisexuality and condom use, the report said.

Conservative groups have criticized AIDS awareness campaigns. They contend advising teens that condoms can prevent HIV infection condones teenage sexual activity.

Similarly, they charge that some education programs promote homosexuality by and condone drug use by discussing AIDS prevention techniques.

But while the White House report mentioned homosexuality, it never recommended how to reach gay teens, criticized the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center. The center said 63 percent of AIDS cases among men under 25 are due to unsafe sex with other men.

“However well intended, the report’s recommendations … turn a blind eye to gay and bisexual youth,” said center director Lorri Jean.

And young people in the audience when the report was issued had some tough questions: Will the White House ensure that states follow the report’s recommendations? Will it force school systems to provide condom education and discuss homosexuality? Or provide money for student-run peereducation programs?

To that end, a private group promised Tuesday to fund peer-education groups nationwide. The Until There’s a Cure Foundation, which gave the White House $100,000 to do the report, raised the money by selling more than 100,000 gold and silver AIDS commemoration bracelets.