HIV Spreading in a Minnesota School

Arming Our Children

In a school of 1,000 students 12 students have tested positive for the HIV virus.

With staggering clarity we are discovering that one of the highest risk groups to acquire HIV is sexually-active, heterosexual teenagers.

It was estimated, in April 1990, that an estimated 20,000 Minnesotans were already infected with the virus; not being sexual in orientation, infecting heterosexuals, homosexuals and bisexuals ... however, the most common mode of transmission for HIV is sexual contact.

Of the people diagnosed with AIDS in Minnesota 21 % were between the ages of 20 - 29 at the time of the diagnosis. Many were infected as teenagers. It is a fact, there is an increase of HIV infection reported for individuals 19 years of age or younger.

Minnesota adolescents are sexually active. The average age for fIrst intercourse for those who are sexually active is 13.9 years of age for males, and 14.6 for females. Of male and female 12th graders, 64% have had sexual intercourse.

Armed with this alarming data, our response is to hand the kids a "cigarette filter to prevent cancer" solution that using a condom will protect them from AIDS. The only sure way to avoid lung cancer from cigarette smoking is not to smoke...abstinence. Society accepts this solution as the answer. Why doesn't it accept abstinence from sex outside of marriage as the way to avoid AIDS?

According to Dr. Gary Noble, Surgeon General's Task Force, condoms are only 70 - 90% effective. Condoms are no guarantee against unwanted pregnancy let alone a deadly disease; if condoms are not effective in preventing pregnancy, how can they prevent a virus, HIV, 450 times smaller than sperm?

In a study conducted by a southeastern state, 30% of the heterosexual couples studied caught HIV from their spouses even though they conscientiously used condoms.
Only 20% of college girls were said to use condoms 100% of the time, as reported by Newsweek.