Safe sex supplies on a Catholic campus

Every college campus should have safe-sex supplies, even if it’s Catholic.

Safe-sex supplies, or the “Safer Sex Kit,” entails items that are used during sexual intercourse or activity to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), infections, illnesses, and other health complications. These items include male (insertive) condoms, female receptive condoms, dental dams, lubricant, and finger cots. Birth control, the most common reproductive prevention, is included in the “Safer Sex Kit” because it can decrease your chances of accidental pregnancy. Yes, you can have sex with the intentions of not pro-creating or reproduction. I am gay, so one can conclude I have no intentions of birthing a human.

One of the most fundamental practices in sex education is STD/HIV testing. The testing entails being tested for STDs, like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis, which are common on a college campus. According to the American Medical Association, the three most common STDs on college campuses are Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia, and HSV-2 Genital Herpes. Luckily, with the correct and inclusive health services, these are all treatable and curable. However, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is less likely to be cured or treatable; therefore, there is a necessity for testing. HIV leads to the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which continues to be an epidemic within the LGBTQ+ community and society. In fact, a study conducted by the Center for Disease Copntrol in 2012 concluded that 1 in 500 students in the U.S. is infected with HIV. To relate to CSB/SJU, there are approximately 3,500 Johnnies and Bennies, so that would estimate 7 Bennies and/or Johnnies currently living with HIV.

Now, the controversy. A popular argument against safe- sex supplies and sex education on a campus with a Catholic affiliation is that it contradicts the Catholic traditional values. According to a study published in the Washington Post, 98% of Catholic women practice safe sex with contraception and/or birth control. “Data shows that 98 percent of sexually experienced women of child-bearing age and who identify themselves as Catholic have used a method of contraception other than natural family planning at some point in their lives,” the article said. Who am I, or you, or anyone, to judge them for prioritizing their sexual health – it is fundamental. This statistic is shocking to people because these practices are not normalized in society, but they should be. Many more studies and statistics from sources like the American Medical Association, the Journal of Sex Research and The Education Council of the U.S. also show results of the Catholic community disagreeing with “shaming masturbation and pre- marital sex” because they are fundamental.

This debate of providing safe- sex supplies and sex education at CSB/SJU has been occurring for a significant length of time. In 2016, Mary M. Franz wrote an essay titled, “Sex, milk, and cookies; Tackling sexual health promotion on a Catholic college campus,” which dives into the implications of not promoting these subjects on a Catholic campus. Overall, Franz concluded by saying “Catholic college campuses should approach sexual health promotion in a positive manner aiming to increase knowledge, build communication skills, help clarify personal values, and dispel myths regarding sexuality and relationships. When students are
comfortable with their sexuality and can effectively communicate about and advocate for their needs, they are more prepared to make informed and healthier decisions.”

Many studies and data show that sexual intercourse and activity is going to happen anyways, and promoting abstinence and chastity is not going to eliminate student’s desires and attractions to other people. An LGBTQ+ resource center would provide these resources and education on this campus. This is definitely a plug to advocate for a resource center because it doesn’t just involve LGBTQ+ folks, but every sexually active person on this campus. If you disagree with anything in this opinion piece, okay, but you should evaluate the priority of beliefs or the health of this community.