Letter: ACLU’s stance thwarts useful health warnings

Friday, Sept. 19, 2003 | 4:30 a.m.

Sexually active 9-to-14-year-old girls are three times as likely to commit suicide, be left "feeling dirty" or contract a fatal sexually transmitted disease. Although this could be the raving of a right-winger trying to stop girls from having fun, the Nevada Health Division presented these facts in a recent radio public service announcement.

The factual PSA will not air anymore. Why? The Health Division decided to pull the ads, urged on by the Nevada American Civil Liberties Union. According to Gary Peck, executive director of Nevada ACLU, these messages tear down teenagers' self-esteem. The Nevada ACLU is apparently more concerned about teenage self-esteem than teenage lives.

I thought we were talking about girls committing suicide and dying of STDs, but I guess that's OK as long as they feel good about themselves.

MONA PETERSON

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