Editor's note: The following is submitted by a group of student leaders who play a role in campus events. Newsmaker columns appear periodically in The Pitt News.
When the officers of the Rainbow Alliance sat down to consider the events that we would conduct during World AIDS Week this year, one of the suggestions was a presentation on the safe use of sex toys. We thought this was important because many people don’t understand the ease with which diseases are spread when using sex toys. The Rainbow Alliance firmly believes that the only way to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STDs is through education.
Unfortunately, the coverage in The Pitt News article “Students learn sex toy safety,” which appeared in the Nov. 29 edition, misrepresented the focus of the workshop by virtually ignoring the disease prevention aspects of the workshop. For instance, the workshop discussed the pros and cons of the materials that sex toys are made of. There was in-depth discussion about the dangers of the more porous materials such as PVC rubber and jelly. Toys made of these materials can not only transmit diseases between partners, but also can house infection-causing bacteria. Many people are not aware that even when only used by one person, if not used safely, sex toys can result in infection.
This workshop was not a sex toy show-and-tell. The presenters came prepared with statistics, useful facts and instructions on proper cleaning and care. It was this type of information that the presentation was meant to convey.
The Rainbow Alliance stands by its right to hold this event. We believe that there was a need for this event, even if it didn’t appeal to everyone. We try to hold events that will cater to a wide range of students on campus. This presentation was part of a whole week of events educating students about HIV/AIDS prevention. We do not limit our events to the GLBT — gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender — community.
Instead we build a bridge between the GLBT and straight communities with a focus on education and safety. We have held a variety of events including National Day of Silence in support of civil rights for GLBT individuals, the lecture from Daphne Scholinski, a transgender speaker and artist, educational panel presentations and movie nights.
It must be remembered that this event was not funded by tuition money or tax dollars from the state, but by private Rainbow Alliance funds.
Even if this money had come from the University, it would have come entirely from the student activity fee. The U.S. Supreme Court case Southworth v. Board of Regents (2000) states that such fees must be distributed in a viewpoint-neutral fashion by a body democratically elected by the students. The viewpoint neutrality principle defends the First Amendment rights of students, ensuring that the University does not put the needs of some student groups above others. The University administration would not have been in a position to approve or deny funds for this event.
The Rainbow Alliance therefore suggests that any comments regarding this event be directed to us — not to the University administration, The Pitt News or anyone else.
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