DAVID Satcher lived his first three years as surgeon general in relative anonymity. He wrote reports on mental health, suicide and smoking, none of which were received as controversial. Two weeks ago, however, Satcher joined the ranks of former surgeon generals who dared to report on controversial subjects, such as syphilis in 1934, smoking and cancer in 1964 and AIDS in 1988. The report released two weeks ago, entitled "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Behavior," is the result of two years of research and discussion with sexual health experts across the political spectrum. The report is reasonable, rational and, of course, soundly renounced by the Bush White House and its conservative cohorts.
According to the Associated Press, the report advocates such things as opening a "national dialogue that is honest, mature and respectful" and relying "on science...when dealing with sexual health issues." These goals are meant to foster open discussion about sexual health, a topic whose discussion is often shrouded by caution and embarrassment. Satcher's report represents an effort to de-politicize sexual education in order to make sure that everyone has access to honest and factually based information.
The report hardly is radical. It promotes abstinence as the only sure way to avoid unwanted pregnancy and disease and recognizes that condoms do not prevent the transmission of all sexually transmitted diseases, specifically human papillomavirus. However, Satcher also notes that there is no evidence that abstinence-only education is effective. "Abstinence-plus" education, informing students of birth control options while stressing abstinence, has been proven not to increase sexual activity. Instead it increases condom use among those that are sexually active, according to a review by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy released earlier this year.
Despite confirmation that teaching about birth control does not increase sexual activity, the preferred teaching method among conservatives remains abstinence-only education. Bush ostensibly has affirmed this as his choice as well by encouraging funding for these programs. Such insistence on abstinence-only education simply confirms how out of touch Bush's administration and other conservatives are with the rest of the country.
The reality is that a large number of people between the ages of 13 and 24 - people these programs seek to educate - are having sex. If this weren't the case, this age group wouldn't be contracting HIV at a rate of one every half hour, as a June 29 PRNewswire report stated. But this is the reality, and preaching abstinence without alternatives does not solve this problem for the current generation, nor is there any indication it will improve the situation for the next generation. What can stop the spread of HIV, and what Satcher correctly advocated, is the consistent, steadfast use of condoms.
Along with alienating conservatives by advocating birth control education, Satcher enraged many of them by not insisting that marriage is the only environment for responsible sexual activity. Satcher does not advocate promiscuity, but stresses that it is best for young people to practice abstinence until they are engaged in "a committed, enduring and mutually monogamous relationship." This statement, apparently not worded strongly enough for conservatives, addresses several realities for young adults.
First is the fact that a statistical majority of Americans do not wait until they are married to have sex. This descriptive fact does not mean that abstinence until marriage should not be held as a universal ideal. That is the decision of a particular family, religion or community. Still, encouraging monogamy and higher levels of commitment is admirable.
The expression "committed, enduring and mutually monogamous" can also serve as a description for marriage for those who legally cannot claim that status: homosexuals. This, naturally, does not please conservatives either. Satcher's report also advocates a greater understanding of gays and lesbians and it de-stigmatizes sexual orientation. This is outrageous to some conservative groups, such as the American Family Association, which claims that by "ignoring the growing evidence that people can overcome homosexuality," Satcher "offers only hopelessness." This statement represents the worst of politics overtaking science, which is precisely what Satcher is trying to avoid in his recommendations.
Satcher's report offers slightly progressive suggestions for improving sexual education. He stresses the role of parents and religious institutions as well as schools in sexual education. He hardly is suggesting a radical departure from the way sexual educationn already is taught in some areas. Still, Bush and the conservative groups he seeks to validate are enraged. Satcher himself sums up why there is such a radical departure between the two when he says "I have to deal with reality."
(Megan Moyer is a Cavalier Daily columnist. She can be reached at mmoyer@cavalierdaily.com.)
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