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48 °F 5 Day Forecast Friday, November 28, 2003 --> Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend October 25, 2003 Love Life Convention will dispute condom ads By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Southern Oregon television ads promoting condom use among teenagers send a dangerous message to parents and young people alike. That’s the view of a national critic of the ads who will be a key speaker today at a Right-to-Life convention in Grants Pass. "The condom ads are not there to reduce teen pregnancy. They’re there as part of a move to convince the community that sex between teens is natural and normal," said Jim Sedlak. Sedlak, 59, is the executive director of STOPP International, a Virginia-based project aimed at shutting down Planned Parenthood nationwide. Advertisement He’ll be one of several speakers at the Love Life Convention that begins at 8 a.m. at the Josephine County Fairgrounds in Grants Pass. Nearly 150 people are expected to attend the first-ever event, organizer Myrna Shaneyfelt said. Sedlak has targeted local ads airing this month on commercial and cable television stations throughout Southern Oregon. The ads, paid for with $10,000 in state family planning funds, are co-sponsored by the Jackson County Health and Human Services Department and the local Planned Parenthood affiliate. Sedlak said the ads are part of a long-term effort by Planned Parenthood to encourage rampant sexuality among youth. "They want to change societal norms to make it expected that young people will have sex," said Sedlak, who also is vice president of the American Life League. "Their programs treat teens like animals." Instead, Sedlak said, parents, the media and community members should encourage young people to remain chaste until marriage and faithful afterwards. "We believe that we ought to be giving our young people the message that sex should be a union within marriage between a man and a woman and for procreation," he said. "That is the intent of the sexual act." Sedlak and Shaneyfelt suggested that Planned Parenthood officials’ goals include encouraging sex among young children and bestiality. "There’s sex with animals," said Shaneyfelt. "They won’t say it up front, it’s not blatant, but it’s there." A regional Planned Parenthood official flatly dismissed such claims as ridiculous. "I hope that gets into print," said Mary Gossart, director of education and training for Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon. "A lot of times, these folks refute their own credibility." Gossart said Planned Parenthood’s primary goal is to offer accurate, comprehensive information so that teens and others can make informed choices about sexuality. The condom ads, in particular, are aimed at increasing communication between parents and young people. One 30-second spot features a parental letter that says, "We care about you. Protect yourself. Love, Mom and Dad." "These ads are a wonderful way to spur conversations in which parents can communicate their personal values," she said. "We’re encouraging parents and faith communities to share those values." The ads are based on a European-style, public-health approach to sexuality education. Proponents cite statistics that show European teens have lower rates of pregnancy, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases than American youth. Sedlak disputed those figures as manufactured or manipulated. He also said that advocating condom use doesn’t account for the failure rate of the device. "It gives teens a false sense of security," he said. Gossart said Planned Parenthood does not claim that condoms are fail-safe. "But for young people who choose to have sex, condoms certainly are far more effective than not using protection," she said. Despite scattered protests against the ads, they will continue to air on local television stations, Jackson County Commissioner Sue Kupillas said Friday. "We knew there would be some vocal people," she said. "But out of 180,000 people, it’s just a vocal few." Bill Maentz, director of the advertising agency that created the ads, said they’re scheduled to conclude on Nov. 1. There’s no word yet on whether the ads will be renewed, he said. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] If you go WHAT: The Love Life Convention sponsored by Josephine County Right-to-Life. WHEN: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. WHERE: Josephine County Fairgrounds, Grants Pass. FEATURED SPEAKERS: Jim Sedlak, executive director of STOPP International, a program of the American Life League. Dr. Steven Zielinski, an internist and attorney who is considered an expert on fetal pain. Gayle Atterbury, executive director of Oregon Right to Life. The Rev. Walter J. Quinn of Priests for Life. State Reps. Dennis Richardson, R-Central Point, Jason Atkinson, R-Jacksonville, and Gordon Anderson, R-Grants Pass. COST: $20. CONTACT: Myrna Shaneyfelt, 541-479-9827, or visit the Web site www.jcprolife.org Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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