Savage Love: The fundies want genital warts to kill our daughters.

[Fridays Child]

"...a vaccine for two of strains of HPV, the virus that causes genital warts, is currently moving through the federal approval process. HPV can also cause cervical cancer in women, killing 4,000 American women every year. Who could possibly be against the introduction of a vaccine—one that has proven 100 percent effective in clinical tests!—that will save thousands of women's lives? Those "culture of life" assfucks, that's who.

"A new vaccine that protects against cervical cancer has set up a clash between health advocates social conservatives who say immunizing teenagers could encourage sexual activity," the Washington Post reported last week. Doctors want teenage girls to receive the vaccine as a matter of routine, something the religious right opposes. Because the vaccine protects against a sexually transmitted virus, many conservatives oppose making it mandatory, citing fears that it could send a subtle message condoning sexual activity before marriage... 'I've talked to some who have said, "This is going to sabotage our abstinence message,"' said Gene Rudd, associate executive director of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations." (To his credit, Rudd said he would want his daughters vaccinated.)

The right's abstinence message has bigger problems than this vaccine. Studies have shown that young people are still having premarital sex—no shit—despite the billions of dollars the Bush administration has poured into abstinence education. A study conducted at Texas A&M University found that kids subjected to abstinence-only sex education have more sex than kids who aren't. So what the right is saying is this: We're willing to kill American women in order to avoid "sabotaging" our ineffectual abstinence-only message. Nice.

Who ultimately gets to determine the government's position on the HPV vaccine? Thanks to George W. Bush, the Christian fundies do. From the Washington Post: "The jockeying reflects the growing influence social conservatives, who had long felt overlooked by Washington, have gained on a broad spectrum of policy issues under the Bush administration. In this case, a former member of the conservative group Focus on the Family serves on the federal panel that is playing a pivotal role in deciding how the vaccine is used." W stands for women—that's what he told us when he ran for president. But, hey, it wasn't a lie. George W. Bush never said anything about standing for live women.

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove

[waiting for hope]

1. But what if were their daughter.....

HPV infection is extremely common.
- It is estimated that at any given time 20-40 million Americans are infected.
- Over a typical college career approximately 60% of sexually active women will become infected. While it is assumed that a similar number of men are also infected, there are no good statistics as it is harder to test for HPV in men than women.
- Cancer of the cervix is almost always caused by HPV infection (high risk strains).
- Since HPV is transmitted by close genital contact, condoms provide some, but little, protection against infection.
- There is no test that can guarantee that anyone (particularly men) are not infected with HPV.
- HPV infection is particularly serious in those with an immune disorder (e.g. HIV/AIDS)

Just like AIDS, it just takes one encounter to get infected. Pap smears do not always catch the mutated cells and there are a lot of women who had died that have led decent, productive lives. Those assholes! Another example of trying legislate morality on their terms.
x(
BTW: the way the twins act up, it wouldn't be a stretch to think they may have it....

[Fridays Child]

2. Would the fundies view this differently if cervical cancer...

...killed men, too? Men can get genital warts but not cervical cancer, obviously. And this pervasive Christian Fundamentalist influence over what kind of health care Americans are entitled to isn't just about religious zealotry; it's about sexism, too. It's about men's sexual needs trumping women's health needs--both physical and psychological.

[waiting for hope]

3. Male Dominance!

That's what Fundamentalism is all about......are the women in this group of freaks passive, stupid Stepferd Wives?

[wiley]

4. It's also quite possible that the vaccine

would prevent all kinds of morbidity and mortality in the elderly, people with disabilities, and the unfortunate "abstinent" guy or gal who just happened to have this particular strain of HPV. The other thing this vaccine may do is prevent rectal cancer in men and women. Too bad people are typically too up tight to even talk about those deaths. Ever have a high school class called "Rectal Health"? Scientifi committees in this country have been taken over by the radical religious right and they nothing about science, just imposing their own conception of ethical views on the rest of society.

[upi402]

5. Dan Savage absolutely rocks

ROCKS!
:headbang: :yourock:

[CoffeeCat]

6. These religious zealots do not have the RIGHT to ban a drug!

Why do these wackos have to BAN drugs for EVERYONE because of their own personal views?

Fine, you wacko freaks. If you don't want to get the vaccine, don't get it. If you don't want your daughter protected against cervical cancer or STDs--then don't give her the vaccine.

Just step away from the vaccine and allow those who DO want it to GET it!

Now. Was that so difficult?

Since when do we allow a small sect of opinionated religious zealots dictate medical and pharmaceutical matters? They can have their opinions, but they should not be determining what is or isn't on the market.

What if these same people come out against the chicken-pox vaccine or the polio vaccine on religious grounds? Should my child have to get polio or the chicken pox because a group of religious wackos opposed the vaccine?

These people have a choice. They can CHOOSE to not get the vaccine. Why do they insist on making all of the choices for everyone? Why can't they just make their choices and leave the rest of us alone?

I'm so sick of these misguided freaks believing that they can dictate what EVERY American does!

Go away!! The founding fathers paddled their asses over here to escape freaks like you!

[emdee]

7. That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard....

getting the vaccine will send a message to have sex? Who are these people who make up these stupid little rules? What kind of life have they lived?
emdee

[kestrel91316]

8. What they REALLY want is for anyone who has sex out of wedlock

to get cervical cancer AND DIE. It's easier than stoning them to death, and they can deny culpability.

[wiley]

9. Except for same sex couples,obviously

[upi402]

10. FEAR mongering control freak brand Christians -no surprises

:boring: wake me when this country belches this fundamentalism from its innards.

[UndergroundRadical]

11. Ignore them.....

if we actually allowed people to marry at a younger age and allowed them to be human, we wouldn't have a lot of these problems. Look at all these 3rd world nations - they let humans be humans and have early marriages. A combination of contraceptive and sex ed and early marriage will lead to a highly educated young generation that is not only experienced in sex, but can make responsible decisions without having to act crazy to try and prove their manhood.