Confronting Censorship of Condom Education with Nationwide Contest
Advocates for Youth and Sex, Etc. Confront Censorship of Condom Education with Nationwide Contest
WASHINGTON, DC (February 14, 2006) Marking both Valentine's Day and Condom Awareness Week, Advocates for Youth and Sex, Etc. announced the winners of the first Respect Yourself.
contest -- a youth-driven, nationwide campaign promoting open, honest discussion about the vital role condom education should play in this country's fight against unwanted pregnancy and STDs, including HIV.
The contest, based on a highly successful campaign in Germany, asked youth to use an online 'tool' to create and submit design concepts, using the image of a condom as the primary visual for materials that promote responsible prevention.
The winning entries can be found at http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/condom/.
"We were very impressed by the creativity and number of entries we received for this contest," said Danene Sorace, Director of the Network for Family Life Education and Sex, Etc. "The creativity and enthusiasm showed once again young people's willingness to encourage their peers to stay safe."
contest comes at a critical time as conservatives in Congress and the administration promote a sexual health agenda based far more on ideology than on public health science.
Pushed the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for condom labeling that would emphasize condom 'failure' instead of condom effectiveness.
"Research indicates that young people who are educated about the health benefits of condoms are more likely than other young people to use condoms when they first have sex," concluded Wagoner.
Advocates for Youth is a national, nonprofit organization that creates programs and supports policies that help young people make safe, responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
