Anti-Aids Ads Fail With Health Panel Frustrated Officer Says She Won’t Risk Board Censorship By Running Any More Ads
The Spokane Regional Health District has decided not to run an AIDS-prevention advertisement in a local gay newspaper after several health board members objected.
At the board’s monthly meeting Thursday, three members said they were offended by the proposed ad.
Others worried that the board, which has 11 members, was micro-managing district officials.
No vote was taken, but the district’s frustrated health officer said she won’t risk board censorship by running any more controversial ads.
The district spends about $4,000 a year placing ads in Stonewall News that target the gay community, urging men to wear condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.
The health district’s name and phone number - 324-1542 - are printed on the ads if people have questions.
The flap started after a resident complained about an ad that ran in July in Stonewall News, a monthly newspaper with a circulation of about 4,000.
After a heated exchange last month, Health Officer Dr. Kim Thorburn decided to ask the board’s opinion before running another ad.
The ad pulled Thursday by Thorburn shows four monkeys. One covers its eyes, another its ears, another its mouth and a fourth covers its genitals. The ad urges readers to “spread no evil” and always use a condom when having sex.
Health board member Roberta Greene said she doesn’t mind an ad telling sexually active people to use condoms. But she didn’t want taxpayers to pay for an ad showcasing a monkey covering its genitals.
She said she’d shown the ad to five people, all of whom agreed with her.
“I know that I’m a conservative person,” said Greene, who also sits on the Spokane City Council. “I know that. These five were a pretty diverse group. … The nicest thing they said was it was ‘tacky.’ And it went downhill from there.”
Thorburn told the board her job is to tackle local health problems. She said the ads were designed by staff members at Stonewall News, and approved by other members of the gay community.
Thorburn feared less powerful AIDS-prevention ads would not be effective.
“I come at this with public-health eyes,” Thorburn said. “That’s what you hired me for. When I look at this ad, I know it is effective … for the population we’re targeting.”
Board member Lynn Schindler proposed placing ads in Stonewall News that tell people to abstain from sex to avoid AIDS. She pointed to a recently released health district survey on attitudes about sex which highlights abstinence.
“The people in Spokane are saying ‘abstinence,”’ she said. “This (ad) is not abstinence. In my mind, you’d be far better off preaching that.”
Schindler found the ad offensive to the general population. “Would you put this in The Spokesman-Review?” she asked.
“Of course not,” Thorburn replied. “I’m trying to reach the gay community.”
At last month’s meeting, several board members frowned on the July ad in Stonewall News. It urged readers to “pick a color and enjoy the fireworks,” next to pictures of condoms and fireworks.
The board members split 3-3 on whether that ad should be discontinued.
On Thursday, board member Kate McCaslin, a Spokane County commissioner, told Thorburn that a clear message had been sent last month. She wondered why the message hadn’t been received.
Afterward, Thorburn said she wanted to avoid being censored by the board. She said she wouldn’t run similar ads in the future.
“I frankly am very disappointed,” Thorburn said. “I’m committed to being effective in promoting the health of the entire community. I feel I’m being stifled somewhat in doing that for a certain segment.”
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