PFOX’s Regina Griggs is not a liar but her detractors are false accusers

Regina Griggs, President of Parents and Friend of Ex-Gays (PFOX), has been accused of lying to the public. The latest supposed bold-faced lie is a quote mentioned in an OneNewsNow article titled “PFOX: Children incapable of self-identifying sexually” published on July 26, 2008. The following is what she is quoted as saying:

“Why are we allowing people to tell them, ‘Try it — you might like it?’ Over 70 percent of young kids 13- to 24-years-old, men having sex with men, are now HIV-positive,”

Although Griggs didn’t respond to my inquiry, the editor of OneNewsNow did identify a 2007 CDC source. I looked up that source. Here is what the June 28, 2007 CDC report states,

“MSM made up more than two thirds (68%) of all men living with HIV in 2005, even though only about 5% to 7% of men in the United States reported having sex with other men.”

The CDC report goes on to state:

“HIV/AIDS continues to take a high toll on the MSM population. For example, the number of new HIV/AIDS cases among MSM in 2005 was 11% more than the number of cases in 2001. It is unclear whether this increase is due to more testing, which results in more diagnoses, or to an increase in the number of HIV infections. Whatever the reasons, in 2005, MSM still accounted for about 53% of all new HIV/AIDS cases and 71% of cases in male adults and adolescents.”

The quote above could be interpreted in at least one of two ways: (1) it could mean all 13-24 yr. old males are homosexuals and have HIV, which is how Grigg’s accusers seem to interpret it. (2) Of all homosexual males 13-24, 71% have HIV, which is the more likely meaning.

A review by Gregory Rogers of the 1979 book The Gay Report, which was written by members of the gay community, corroborates the CDC report. According to Rogers, about 50% of AIDS cases in the States (formerly 70%) are gay men. It may be assumed that 70% was the finding of The Gay Report researchers.

Whether Griggs was using old or new data, the facts demonstrate her detractors are false accusers.

CDC study illustrates need for abstinence education

By Jim Borwn, OneNewsNow

Valerie Huber, a leading national proponent of abstinence education, says poor public health messaging has fueled the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases among American teenage girls.

A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study indicates that more than three-million teen girls aged 14- to 19-years have an STD — the human papillomavirus (HPV) being the most common infection. The highest prevalence rate was among black girls –nearly half the blacks studied had at least one STD, compared with 20 percent of white and Mexican-American teens. And among sexually active teens, the rate was 40 percent.

Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association, says she has seen similar STD prevalence rates in the past, yet finds the recently reported figures “very distressing.”

“And it certainly shows that [the risk-avoidance message of] abstinence education should be a top public health priority in slowing down these numbers,” adds Huber. “… Teens [need to be taught] that having sex, and having any other kinds of high-risk sexual activity, can put them at risk for acquiring one of these STDs.”

Historically, says the abstinence advocate, sex education has focused more on pregnancy prevention. “So success was measured by how many teen pregnancies were prevented rather than looking at something much deeper,” she laments, “and that is the dangers involving sexual activity — both emotionally and other physical ramifications, STDs being one of the most primary ones.”

In a press release, the NAEA official states her case for an abstinence focus over the more prevalent approach being promoted in America’s public schools. “When we learn that one in four teen girls is infected with [an STD], it becomes clear that the contraception-based approach taught in 75 percent of U.S. schools is failing young people,” she argues. “Teens deserve to know that condoms do not provide complete protection from STDs.

Instead, according to Huber, public health messaging has “lowered the bar,” so “something less than optimal health” has been presented to the most at-risk teens. Huber calls that “soft bigotry at best and tragic at worst.”