Teaching Abstinence to Prevent AIDS

A friend of mine from high school just died of AIDS. He and his parents were fine, upstanding members of the community. His parents always taught him the correct behavior and what was right. They also taught him abstinence. Too bad it didn’t save him from suffering all summer long with his disease before he lost his courageous fight. Too bad his parents couldn’t admit or come to terms with who he was. Now he’s gone and they’ve lost their only son in more ways than one.

Teaching abstinence is irresponsible. Bigotry is irresponsible. Statistically speaking, seven out of 10 teen-agers are having sex, new AIDS cases among homosexuals are on the decrease while new cases of AIDS among women and minorities are on the upswing. AIDS is the 11th major cause of death in the United States today, it is the sixth major cause of death among women, and No. 1 cause of death among women in New York and New Jersey.

Communication is the key. Not teaching sex education in schools will not stop teen-agers from having sex, just as preaching abstinence will not stop the spread of AIDS.

Ideally, perhaps abstinence is the best defense against AIDS. However, none of us live in an ideal world except for those who have their heads buried in the sand. Their irresponsibility, in this “global village” of ours, is leading others to their deaths at an exponential rate.

The funeral is tomorrow.

WILLIAM R. GERMAIN, Hermosa Beach