Magazine ranks Tacoma [WA] 'most sexually healthy' city

King 5 News ^ | 10:09 AM PST on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 | AP

[Sopater]

TACOMA, Wash. - Self magazine lists Tacoma as the "most sexually healthy" city in its rankings of America's healthiest places.

The magazine's Sara Austin says it considered STD rates, HIV tests, sex education and access to birth control and abortion.

The Tacoma-Pierce County health director Dr. Federico Cruz-Uribe was surprised by the ranking. He says Tacoma has done well in the fight to control some diseases such as AIDS but is higher than normal in levels of chlamydia and gonorrhea.

[Sopater]

I guess having easy access to abortions is a plus in this study.

Peirce County (Tacoma, WA) ranked #1 in the state for "induced abortion rates" per 100k residents in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Later data not included in report.

source: WA State DOH

---

Also, high instances of violent crimes, such as rape, don't count against you.

2004 statistics    total    per 100k  national per 100k
Tacoma Rapes        175       87.9          32.2

source: Area Connect- Tacoma Crime Statistics

[BenLurkin]

How could killing babies be considered "healthy"?

"Healthy" for who exactly?

[bigfootbob]

This guy ran for the 2004 Republican primary gubernatorial nomination...pathetically.

[The SISU kid]

WA ping.....

[billybudd]

How should rape factor into sexual health? It's my impression rape is a violent crime, not a legitimate form of sex. Perhaps you are one of those people who thinks rape is a woman's fault for dressing sluttily.

[Rameumptom]

Sexually healthy = Sexually immoral.

Having lived in Seattle for a stint I highly doubt this study. Seattle/Tacoma is a modern day Sodom and Gomorra. More liberal propaganda trying to make promoscuity and buggering each other "healthy".

[sittnick]

How should rape factor into sexual health?

I think it goes without saying that rapists have an unhealthy attitude towards sex. More rapists . . . more VERY unhealthy people. (Even if you consider rape to be primarily a crime of violence, and I do, forcible sex is a component of that violence.

The question is, how does one define health? It looks like chlymydia (sp?) and gonorrhea are taken as givens by the study. Those rates were HIGHER than average despite the extra sex ed available. hmmmmm . . .

[AliVeritas]

Silly me, and I thought sexually healthy was abstaining until marriage and staying faithful.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***I guess having easy access to abortions is a plus in this study. ***

You simply replace these aborted ones with illegal aliens.

[billybudd]

That's got to be one of the stupidest arguments I've heard on this site. Rape is not sex you morons! Ergo, NOTHING to do with sexual health, which is a measure of how healthy people's sex lives are.

[GOP_1900AD]

Great place to be a hedonist, in other words. Dimocrap voting bloc for sure.

[jdm]

Silly me, and I thought sexually healthy was abstaining until marriage and staying faithful.

Oh, that's so 1950s. /sarc

[sittnick]

That's got to be one of the stupidest arguments I've heard on this site. Rape is not sex you morons! Ergo, NOTHING to do with sexual health, which is a measure of how healthy people's sex lives are.

Quit hyperventilating. What is your definition of sex? Legally, rape is a form of sex. Biologically, it is a form of sex. Under Websters, it is sex (reference here)

It certainly has a LOT more to do with sex than abortion does. Now, calm down, make reasoned arguments rather than assertions.

Nothing in the definition of sexual relations implies consensuality. Nothing in it precludes violence. It is an extremely unhealthy form, but by any rather definition, it has a sexual component to it, just as driving a car into a cliff on purpose is still driving.

[SJSAMPLE]

Hey, almost 50% of the people that go into these "health care" clinics come out alive.

That's gotta count for something.

[Sopater]

How should rape factor into sexual health?

I was simply trying to find an example of "unhealthy" sex, and rape came to mind, so I looked up the statistics. Rape, without question, is the fault of the perp. Women dressing "sluttily" and engaging in high-risk behavior, increases their risk of being raped.

Perhaps statistics on prostitution would be a better indication of "unhealthy" sex. However, I was unable to quickly find statistics.

[JmyBryan]

I live in Tacoma. It's funny how this survey of sexual health avoids incidence of sexual disease. Orwell anyone?

[Sopater]

Rape is not sex you morons!

As BJ Clinton would say, that depends on your definition of sex.

[gridlock]

Healthy" for who exactly?

Well, the survey is from SELF Magazine. The name should tell you all you need to know.

[Checkers]

bump

[BenLurkin]

Good point!