Healthy Youth Act Clears Hurdle on HIV Advocacy Day
4/8/2009 - The House Health Committee gave a favorable report yesterday to House Bill 88, the Health Youth Act, as dozens of advocates on HIV issues looked on. The bill would require schools to offer comprehensive sex education in addition to the existing abstinence only program, and let parents choose which one their child takes.
ENC staff and NCAAN leaders check participants in at HIV Advocacy Day
The Healthy Youth Act, sponsored by Rep. Bob England, Rep. Susan Fisher, Rep. Winkie Wilkins, and Rep. Alma Adams, was vetted by the committee on last Thursday and yesterday. Several amendments to weaken the bill were proposed and defeated. A positive amendment proposed by Rep. Rick Glazier to further clarify parents' options was incorporated into the bill. The bill will now go to the House floor for consideration in the coming days, unless it is sent to the Appropriations Committee to review its fiscal impact.
More than 90 people came from across North Carolina to advocate on HIV prevention and care as part of the NC AIDS Action Network's HIV Advocacy Day. In addition to filling the committee room to capacity as the bill was debated, they spoke with legislators about the Healthy Youth Act and the need to maintain current HIV prevention programs and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program in the state budget.
"Equality NC is proud to be a part of NCAAN and HIV Advocacy Day," said Ian Palmquist, Executive Director. "HIV/AIDS affects everyone and we need effective prevention programs in our schools and communities to save lives. It was great seeing so many people asking legislators to pass the Healthy Youth Act and give more young people access to life-saving information."
