Posted on 09/19/2003 4:03:13 PM PDT by truthandlife
A county health department in Pennsylvania is under fire for sponsoring a homosexual pride celebration. But the department is defending its decision to sponsor the event that many local citizens found offensive.
The Erie County Health Department was among several groups to sponsor last weekend's "Erie Pride 2003" event, which featured a Rainbow Pride underwear party and a "Dyke vs. Drag Queen" softball game. Conservative groups like the American Family Association of Pennsylvania objected to the celebration, arguing it glorified a sinful and deadly lifestyle. [See Earlier Article]
Bob Knight of the Culture and Family Institute says the health department should not be encouraging destructive behavior. "It sounds like the county health department is more interested in appeasing a very vocal group than it is in ensuring that sound health measures are taken and sound messages [are] sent," Knight says. "This is exactly the wrong message to send to young people, to take pride in behavior that's killing them."
But Patty Puline, who is the HIV/AIDS educator for the Erie County Health Department, says she does not feel uncomfortable supporting the homosexual lifestyle. "As a health educator, I have to say I've never felt uncomfortable -- I really haven't," she says. "They've accepted me, and I've accepted them. I feel no qualms [at all] promoting this."
Information available on the Department's website states that "the only way to prevent infection by the [HIV] virus is to avoid behaviors that put a person at risk of infection" -- one of those behaviors being anal sex. It is not known if Puline conveyed that information in the Department's role as a sponsor for the homosexual gala -- but she says she was honored to coordinate the event and would never urge homosexuals to leave their lifestyle.
"My goal as a health educator is not a guidance counselor position -- it's a health educator [position], and I have to stay within those parameters and just offer public health information," she explains.
"As far as seeking any psychological help or whether or not they'd like to change their behavior, that's not why they come to the Health Department -- and that's not why I'm invited," she adds.
Puline, who works through grants from the State of Pennsylvania, the Northwest Rural AIDS Alliance, and Erie County government, says when she addresses events such as Erie Pride 2003, she divorces her personal feelings from her professional life.
Other sponsors of the event included the local chapter of the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and a local adult entertainment store that features an adult movie arcade and "peep show booths."
If it weren't for homosexuals, Ms. Puline would have an office in the basement next to the water heater. Seems to me that Ms. Puline is just throwing a party to thank all the folks that have kept her budget (and wallet) fat all these years.
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