BOSTON GLOBE, February 13, 1998

Activists hit [Acting Governor] Cellucci condom comments

By Dolores Kong, Globe Staff

Saying that making condoms available in schools reduces the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS activists - including three mothers of adolescents - yesterday criticized Acting Governor Paul Cellucci for apparently opposing such a policy.

In a news conference called by the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, the activists responded to comments Cellucci made earlier this week supporting the teaching of abstinence in schools but not condom availability.

''His statement in some way implied that condoms do not work well and are not necessary, that STDs and the HIV epidemic are over,'' said Larry Kessler, executive director of the AIDS Action Committee. ''The epidemic is not over.''

Three mothers, Kelly Kivior of North Quincy, Connie Eagen of Jamaica Plain, and Connie Amaral of Randolph, and Melrose teenager Kurt Brown, joined in criticizing the remarks Cellucci made after a state Board of Education meeting on Tuesday - an apparent reversal from statements he made in 1996 in favor of condom availability at schools.

''I think to say using condoms causes sex is like saying using a seat belt in a car will cause a driver to crash,'' said Eagen, who has three sons, two teenagers and the other a preteen.

''Having condoms available in schools is really important,'' said Brown, 16. ''It sends a positive message: `This is how you can help yourself.' I know teens want to have the means to help themselves.''

A Cellucci spokesman said yesterday that the acting governor has not changed his thinking on the issue. ''It's not a reversal,'' said Jose Juves. Cellucci has always favored the teaching of abstinence, and believed the decision about condom availability should be made by local schools and parents, Juves said.

So far, 23 school districts, including Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Falmouth, and Newton, have voted to make condoms available, while 43 have voted against it.

Kessler cited several studies and surveys supporting condom availability in schools. For instance, a September 1997 study in Chicago and New York found that making condoms available in schools did not increase rates of sexual intercourse, but did increase the likelihood of sexually active adolescents using condoms.

While the AIDS activists yesterday said they support making condoms available in schools, they added that they favor the teaching of abstinence as well. For instance, a new AIDS Action and Boston Public Health Commission campaign, just starting to appear on the T, features a message about abstinence and one about using condoms.

The poster with the abstinence message - ''I like him, but when he wanted to go all the way, I said `Hello! I may be young, but I'm not stupid''' - includes a youth-only AIDS line, 800-788-1234, for more information.

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