A ir
S trikes
E ndangered S pecies
Teen suicide and HTV rates
concern Measure 9 foes
n a recent report released by the O re
gon Department o f Human Services,
16 percent o f high school students
responding to a statewide survey in
1999 said they seriously had considered
suicide during the previous 12 months. About
6 percent said they had attempted suicide.
According to the survey, an estimated
39,000 Oregon youth report feeling a sadness
or hopelessness that interfered with
their daily activities for a period o f
at least two weeks. Opponents
o f Measure 9 say sexual minor
ity youth w ill he at even
greater risk for depression,
suicide attempts and suicide
should it pass.
A disturbing 29 percent of
students reported experiencing
one or more kinds o f harass
ment: sexual harassment, racial or
ethnic harassment and harassment for
perceived sexual orientation. O regon’s sui
cide rate among 10- to 24-year-olds is 30 per
cent higher than the national average.
Outraged opponents o f Measure 9 say
A ID S education would be one o f the first
things eliminated from public schools should
it pass. Th ey insist H IV prevention education
never has been more important: Recent
trends show young people and people o f color
are at particularly high risks for
infection.
Th e Oregon Citizens A l
liance, once clear that it wanted
to eliminate H IV education,
now says Measure 9 wouldn’t
affect the subject. Critics say the
organization is bluffing.
Here are some pertinent
facts:
• H IV is the
leading cause o f
death for A fri
can Americans
between
25
and 44 years
old.
•
Among
13- to 24-year-
olds males, nine
out 100 cases of H IV
transmission occurred
heterosexual ly.
• A m ong 13- to 24-year-old
Cleveland High School students express themselves during a
females, 47 o f 100 cases o f
N o On 9 rally Oct. 17
H IV transmission occurred
heterosexually.
• 62 of 100 cases of H IV cases in 13- to 19-
year-olds are females.
• 56 o f 100 cases of H IV cases in 13- to 19-
year-olds are young African Americans. j n
Oregon's
suicide rate among
10- to 24-year-olas
is 30 percent higher
than the national
average.
Parents share their
story in a powerful
television ad
arry Schwitters’ daughter, Dawn, lost
her life to AIDS. He and his wife,
Sally, volunteered to share their story
for a N o on 9 television commercial
about their tragic loss.
“This ad will let Oregon parents know the
risk that their children face if Measure 9 pass
es,” said Kathleen Sullivan, N o on 9 Cam
paign manager, in a press release. “W e are hon
ored that Larry and Sally have taken the time
to make this ad to help us defeat this danger
ous measure.”
Opponents insist Measure 9 would result
in the elimination o f crucial A ID S education
in public schools throughout the state. The
programs are o f particular importance, profes
sionals say, because o f the increasing danger
young people face.
More than one-half o f new H IV infections
in the country occur in men and women
younger than 25. Experts say many o f these
infections occur during the teen years.
The Oregon Citizens Alliance has commer
cials running on radio and cable television.
N o on 9 Campaign officials said they are
unaware o f any Yes on 9 ads airing on local net
work affiliates. ■ m
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