Tennessee Youth Not Receiving HIV/AIDS Education

by Elizabeth Lombino · 2011-03-15 09:31:00 UTC
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Looks like the school system in Tennessee needs to be educated on the benefits of providing HIV/AIDS education to its students.

A petition started by the Tennessee Equality Project is urging Tennessee lawmakers to include HIV/AIDS education as part of all high school education programs. Currently, TN state law does not require HIV/AIDS education for any high school students. This form of education is considered "optional."

As the petition highlights, all adolescents in America are at a higher risk of contracting HIV, and they are even more at risk in Southern states like Tennessee. The petition is proposing a law that if passed would require each local board of education in TN to adopt an AIDS education program for its high school students. They further assert that enacting such a law would cost the state very little financially.

However, to ignore this issue further could potentially cost the health and future of countless Tennessee youth.

There continue to be many myths and stereotypes surrounding HIV/AIDS, especially among young people. Abstinence-only sex education programs have played a role in fueling these myths. Young people need comprehensive information and reality based education that accounts for these myths and works to provide sound facts and information. They also need strategies to help them take steps to protect themselves and prevent the further spread of HIV. For educators to continue to ignore the realities of HIV/AIDS is incredibly harmful to our young people.

Lack of HIV/AIDS education could also be a potential public health nightmare for the health care system in Tennessee. If more young people continue to be infected with HIV, treatment and health care costs will soar. In addition, many people do not know their HIV status and unknowingly spread the virus to their partners. Comprehensive HIV/AIDS education includes discussions on the value and necessity of HIV testing and knowing your status. Having HIV/AIDS education "optional" could lead to further spread of this virus.

In related news, a TN county middle school recently took steps to ban a memoir discussing HIV/AIDS from its school library. Tennessee desperately needs some comprehensive HIV/AIDS education and awareness. It starts from the top -- how can we expect our young people to adequately protect themselves if our leaders are painfully misinformed?

Tennessee needs to enter the modern era and ensure its youth are receiving comprehensive HIV/AIDS education.

Please join us in demanding Tennessee legislators and educators to provide HIV/AIDS education to all high school students!

Photo Credit: Wen-Yan King

Elizabeth Lombino is a Licensed Social Worker and freelance writer. She provides individual and group mental health services to HIV+ adults.

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Reduce the spread of HIV in Tennessee's youth with AIDS education in High School
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