MAP Advocate
April 11, 2007
Vol. 13. No. 13

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In This Issue:

1. Minnesota Update: Legislators Return From Legislative Recess
2. Minnesota Update: Minnesota Has Record High Number of STD Cases in 2006
3. Federal Update: Early Treatment of HIV Act (ETHA) Re-Introduced in the U.S. Senate
4. Federal Update: Two Recent Events Bring Attention to Harmful Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs
5. In The News: City Pages covers Comprehensive Sex Education
6. Announcement: Register for the Minnesota AIDS Walk

Minnesota Update: Legislators Return From Legislative Recess

The Minnesota Legislature took a brief legislative recess during the week of April 3- 9. No committee meetings or floor sessions were scheduled during this time. Legislators have now resumed their work schedule. Look for more updates on HIV related policy issues in future editions of the MAP Advocate.

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Minnesota Update: Minnesota Has Record High Number of STD Cases in 2006

The Star Tribune recently ran a story highlighting STD rates in Minnesota. The sexually transmitted disease infections rates hit a record high in 2006, specifically among Chlamydia infections. The new infection rates were primarily found in teenagers and young adults. The rate of Chlamydia has doubled in the last 10 years. The STD reporting does not include HIV infection rates for 2006. The 2006 HIV infection data will be released on April 16. Read more.

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Federal Update: Early Treatment of HIV Act (ETHA) Re-Introduced in the U.S. Senate

Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY), along with Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman, reintroduced the Early Treatment of HIV Act (ETHA). ETHA would provide states the option of amending their Medicaid eligibility to extend coverage to uninsured, low-income persons with HIV, before they progress to an AIDS diagnosis.

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Federal Update: Two Recent Events Bring Attention to Harmful Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs

Two recent Federal initiatives highlight the need to shift efforts away from Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage programs. The Minnesota AIDS Project supports medically-accurate, age-appropriate comprehensive sex education, which includes information about abstinence and contraception. MAP does not support an abstinence-only-until-marriage HIV prevention approach.

PATHWAY Act Re-Introduced in Congress
The Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act (PATHWAY Act) has been re-introduced in the House of Representatives. This bill, H.R. 1713, is critical to ensure that U.S. funding for international HIV prevention programs work for women and youth. It would remove the requirement that the U.S. spend one third of its international HIV prevention funding on abstinence-until-marriage programs (the "abstinence earmark") and it would require the President to develop a strategy to address the specific prevention needs of women and girls.

Institute of Medicine calls for Repeal of Restrictions on PEPFAR Prevention Funding
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has called for the repeal of the Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage prevention funding. They are recommending that PEPFAR move towards evidence-based programming. The IOM evaluation also included a recommendation that PEPFAR expand its focus on the vulnerability of women and girls in HIV prevention efforts. Read More.

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In The News: City Pages covers Comprehensive Sex Education

Unelected Sex
After squawking about sex ed for years, DFLers turned prude once they took power.
By Paul Demko

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Announcement: Register for the Minnesota AIDS Walk

Join the Fight to Stop HIV!

We are excited to invite you to join us for the 20th Minnesota AIDS Walk, presented by ING. Go online now to www.mnaidswalk.org to register.

On May 20, thousands of people will come together at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis, raising vital funds to stop HIV in Minnesota. Every dollar collected stays here to support community education, public advocacy, and basic services to support people living with HIV. Begin your experience as an individual walker, team member, junior walker or volunteer by registering now!

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Visit the MAP Advocate archive to see what you missed.

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For more information about what's of interest to you at the Minnesota State Capitol, visit the Web sites of our allies at OutFront Minnesota and Sex Ed for Life.

MAP Advocate is published by the Minnesota AIDS Project every two weeks while the Minnesota Legislature is in session, and monthly during the rest of the year. It isavailable through the MAP web site mnaidsproject.org and through email list service. If you wish to order the MAP Advocate, visit our Join the Public Policy Action Network page, or contact MAP Public Policy by phone or email.

MAP Public Policy
Minnesota AIDS Project
1400 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404

612-341-2060
800-373-2437

public.policy@mnaidsproject.org

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Last Updated: Wednesday, April 18, 2007
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Content Notice: This site contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Since HIV infection is spread primarily though sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics. If you are not seeking such information or materials, please exit this Web site.