Sex Miseducation

According to Nicholas Kristof, conservative groups have been running a dangerous disinformation campaign against condoms. Evangelical Christian groups have sent out e-mail missives stating that condoms don't prevent AIDS (they do, Kristof says), Texas radio spots say condoms don't work, and US administration officials at a Bangkok conference last month demanded the removal of references to "consistent condom use" in the fight against AIDS/HIV. At the same time, the administration has cut condom distributions--which cost just $3.50 per year of life saved compared to the $1050 antiretroviral therapy costs--from 800 million per year to 300 million.