eyes!
Finally! Finally the truth about condoms was coming out. In the newspaper. Everyone would finally hear the truth about condoms.
This meant I could get my life back. I could quit researching and writing about condoms and sex education. I could return to my garden and plant flowers instead.
For the past five years I had spent hours in the library and at the keyboard. On the telephone I interviewed sex educators from all parts of the country. Interviews were transcribed and information was organized into file folders. And I was on the plane now headed for a Miami conference on sex education.
Condoms were the culprit. At the time with HIV/AIDS taking hold in our culture we had very little knowledge about the disease. People were dying and we still didnt have the whole story about how they contracted HIV or when we might have a cure.
Condoms were our only ally. Condoms protect. Use a condom. Use a condom consistently and correctly…every time…everywhere…put a basket of condoms in the bathroom in the school office…everywhere! Now! Use a condom!
Condoms made us feel safe. We could still have all the sex we wanted…with whomever we wanted…as long as we used a condom…consistently and correctly. Our sex was safe. Protected. We were protected…and safe!
After all…the Centers for Disease Control CDC was looking after us.
Linking arms with Planned Parenthood SIECUS and state health departments the CDC gave its nod to wrapping the United States up in one giant condom campaign for SAFE SEX":
- 2000 Planned Parenthood Ohio held a condom giveaway a bright yellow coupon redeemable for free condoms and a MacDonalds gift certificate.
- 2000 Planned Parenthood Southern Arizona spent $100000 on Use Condom Sense" campaign that featured billboards on buses showing a 13-year-old girl holding up a condom. Included in the campaign 19 condom machines were placed in teen hang-outs including the Tucson Parks and Recreation Department.
- 2002 Planned Parenthood celebrated the introduction of The Planned Parenthood Condom with a coupon for a free condom or four free condoms if you paid for STD and/or HIV testing.
- 2006 Planned Parenthood sponsored a condom art contest.
- 2006 Planned Parenthood offered condoms packaged like lollipops and promoted condom key chains.
- 2006 Planned Parenthood Michigans teen program held condom art workshops. Make a beautiful creation out of condoms find out all the facts on using condoms correctly and get a free gift."
Nodding winking…and sleeping. 
Promoting condoms came at a price…paid by the US taxpayers…a staggering sum of dollars handed out through government grants. One report documented over $2000000 divided
between Planned Parenthood ($991109) and four other organizations. Grabbing every dollar possible the ACLU SIECUS and 32 groups held a press conference designed to stop funding of abstinence programs.
Promoting condoms finally a national pastime left little money or incentive for the government to deliver another message to teens…abstain from sex. In fact messages that encouraged sexual abstinence for teens were mocked. In extreme outbursts of hostility legislators even accused abstinence programs of killing teens."
The CDC? Nodding winking…and sleeping.
Ironically as king of the SAFE SEX condom campaign Planned Parenthood failed the condom tests performed by Consumer Reports Magazine. Of the 23 condoms tested the Planned Parenthood Federation of Americas Honeydew and Assorted Colors condoms scored the worst. Not taking this lying down Planned Parenthood submitted their condoms to independent testing." Anyone surprised that Planned Parenthood then proclaimed their condoms excellent"?
Condoms made us feel safe. Our sex was safe. Protected. We were protected…and safe!
At a college presentation on Valentines Day a young man stood at the front of the crowded auditorium raised his right hand and spoke for all Americans I pledge allegiance to the condom."
Now finally twenty years after HIV struck America…
Finally sitting on the plane bound for Miami I read the national story on condoms again and closed my eyes in gratitude. Finally" I told myself someone is paying attention to the truth
about condoms. The press is finally reporting on the medical truths about condoms."
The CDC? It blinked shook its head…and woke up. Finally.
*********************
NEXT WEEK: The CDC: Dereliction of Duty Part 3 The Truth about Condoms…Finally!