Death Before Sex

Katha Pollitt writes in The Nation about a new vaccine against the HPV virus. Apparently, the Christian Right is pushing to ban the vaccine which would reduce the occurrence of cervical cancer by 70%. Once again, the concern is that the vaccine against a virus which over time (say 50 years) can develop into cancer, would encourage more sex among adolescents. Pollitt rightly ridicules the idea that in the middle of groping, a teen will start to, say, unbuckle their trousers and think, "Hey, there's a slight chance that if I go any further, I may develop cancer in 50 years."

This is where we are. A nation that's close to chucking science completely out the window if we listen to these fools from so-called Family Councils. I was heartened, however, to know that 80% of Americans would approve of their young daughters receiving the vaccine. Only 20% of us prefer Death to Sex.

Death Before Sex