A disturbing pamphlet released by a pro-abortion agency is telling young people it's okay to not tell their sexual partners if they are infected with HIV.
The "Healthy, Happy and Hot" brochure, released by International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a self-proclaimed "guide for young people living with HIV to help them understand their sexual rights, and live healthy, fun, happy and sexually fulfilling lives."
It advises: "Young people living with HIV have the right to decide if, when, and how to disclose their HIV status," and, "You know best if and when it is safe for you to disclose your status."
According to HIV.com, many states in the U.S. have partner-notification laws, meaning someone with HIV must tell their partner they tested positive or they could be charged with a crime. The website states that many health departments require healthcare providers to report the name of the infected individual regardless of whether the individual reports themselves or not.
However, according to IPPF, this law is a "violation of rights."
"Some countries have laws that say people living with HIV must tell their sexual partner(s) about their status before having sex, even if they use condoms or only engage in sexual activity with a low risk of giving HIV to someone else," the pamphlet says. "These laws violate the rights of people living with HIV by forcing them to disclose or face the possibility of criminal charges."
The brochure has received severe backlash, with many opponents calling it "irresponsible" and even "dangerous."
"Planned Parenthood is essentially encouraging the spread of HIV," says Miranda Gale of Helping Hands Crisis Pregnancy Center. She referenced an HIV-positive college student who was imprisoned last year after failing to inform one of his sexual partners of his disease.
Christ Rostenburg of life.com writes that this brochure is indicative of IPPF's lack of concern for today's young people.
"The only appropriate time to disclose one's HIV status is before having sex with your partner. That is the "right way." An organization that really cared about sexual health would not need me to explain this."
Christine Rouselle of Townhall.com agrees that the brochure's advice is unwise.
"While all human beings deserve to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their HIV status, it is absolutely absurd to suggest to people that informing their partner that they have a very serious disease is merely a personal choice," she writes.
"While the risk of transmission may be quite small if proper steps are taken," she continues, "it still isn't right to keep one's partner in the dark about any potential risks. Hurt feelings aren't a terminal condition-but HIV is."
Included in the IPPF is the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which is America's largest abortion provider and has performed at least 5.3 million of the procedures in the U.S.
