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March 2007 update on new publications, actions you can take, and more!
Advocates for Youth's e-News Update
News You Can Use
March 10th is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
The proportion of HIV and AIDS cases in the United States in women has been increasing since the beginning of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. According to the CDC's 2004 Surveillance Report of Cases of HIV and AIDS in the United States, 27 percent of new AIDS cases were in women, and 82 percent of these cases were in African-American and Latina Women.
Women and girls can take action in the fight against HIV/AIDS in a variety of ways, including getting tested for HIV, practicing safe methods to prevent HIV, deciding not to engage in high risk behaviors, talking about HIV prevention with family, friends and colleagues, empowering themselves, and providing support to those living with HIV/AIDS.
For more information about this Awareness day, please visit the Office of Minority Health.
March 21st is the FIRST National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
This year marks the first annual National Native (American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian) HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
The theme is "A Celebration of Life...Protecting Our Future, Protecting Our People!"
This day is an opportunity to increase awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS on American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
HIV/AIDS continues to increase among Native people. Per population, American Indians/Alaska Natives have the third highest rates of HIV/AIDS behind Blacks and Hispanics. Native people are more likely to live in rural areas where there are limited HIV testing services. Stigma about HIV and fear of seeing people they know from their close communities at local health care facilities also act as barriers in preventing people from getting tested.*
National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an opportunity for Native people and others to create greater awareness about the risks of HIV/AIDS to their communities; to remember those who have died from AIDS; to acknowledge those who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS; to call for increased resources for testing; and to seek support for increasing treatment and care options.
Native communities selected March 21st to commemorate National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day because it marks the start of spring, a time of beginnings and change. In Native cultures, seasons define the cycle and celebration of life. Ceremonies are usually held at the start and end of each season.
* Office of Minority Health. "HIV/AIDS and American Indians/Alaska Natives." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
News of the Absurd
Shhhh. Scrotum is a banned word.
This year's winner of the Newbery Award for Children's Literature, The Higher Power of Lucky, by Susan Patron, has caused quite a stir. The media has turned the spotlight on a few conservative librarians fighting to ban the book and keep from classrooms and public libraries. Why? Because the word scrotum is used once in the book.
- Read the New York Times article here.
- Read the American Library Association's position statement on the controversy here.
Homeless Shelter Forces GLBTQ Youth to Wear Orange Jumpsuits
A shelter in Michigan forced youth who were suspected of being GLBTQ to wear orange jumpsuits, so shelter staff and residents would know their orientation. Experts believe that hundreds of thousands of GLBTQ youth may be homeless, and at risk for mental health disorders, drug abuse, risky sexual behaviors, and other dangerous situations. When these young people seek the help of the shelter system, they often face isolation, discrimination, harassment, and even violence.
New At Advocates
Apply for the Homophobia Project Seed Grant!
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) youth of color are at disproportionate risk for negative sexual health outcomes. African American/black and Latino/Hispanic young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are more likely than other YMSM to be infected with HIV. Many young lesbians of color are at heightened risk for HIV infection and pregnancy due, in part, to the strong values placed on childbearing in their racial/ethnic community. Unfortunately, GLBTQ youth of color also face discrimination within their own communities that places them at risk for unsafe sex, violence, and substance abuse. To better meet the needs of GLBTQ youth of color, we must integrate awareness of racism and the understanding of how culture shapes sexual attitudes, values, and beliefs. We must also be willing to redress homophobia within communities of color and create safe spaces for GLBTQ youth of color. This year, Advocates launched its Homophobia Project to help to build the capacity of organizations interested in and committed to improving the sexual health of all young people, including GLBTQ youth of color.
Through Advocates' Homophobia Project, your organization can receive culturally relevant publications and materials on HIV/STI and teen pregnancy prevention programming for GLBTQ youth; strategic technical assistance and training; and a seed grant in the amount of $7,000 to create safe spaces for GLBTQ youth of color 13-24 years old and redress homophobia within the local community, including schools and agencies.
Take P.A.R.T.!
Take Positive Action for Responsible Television (Take P.A.R.T.) to support accurate sexual health information and positive images on television.
This month, we recognize the hit series, Friday Night Lights on NBC. The episode dealt honestly and sensitively with a young couple's decision-making about whether or not to have sex. The episode included accurate information about condoms; modeled good, honest parent-child communication; and responsibly and respectfully portrayed the issues faced by this young couple as they thought about becoming sexually active.
To send a letter in support of Friday Night Lights to the FCC, visit our Take Action Center.
Responsible television means depicting storylines that can raise public awareness of important and difficult issues. This storyline encourages parent-child communication, and accurate information about condoms. Send a letter in support of Friday Night Lights.
Read All About It
New Publications at Advocates
- The Facts: HIV and Young American Indian/Alaska Native Women
Social, economic, and cultural barriers limit the ability of many American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) young women to receive accurate and adequate information on preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI)s.
- The Facts: Dating Violence and Adolescents
Dating violence and abuse can lead to negative sexual health outcomes: the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy are higher for young people who have a history of abuse.
You can help Advocates for Youth with a contribution today. To donate, visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/about/donatetoday.htm
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