You did it!

After months of constant activity by grassroots activists across the country asking President Obama to hold the line in the face of pressure from social conservatives, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today that it would not expand religious exemptions to no-copay birth control requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

Because of your work mobilizing on this issue, President Obama and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius decided to stand with young people and did not bow to political pressure. This decision is a victory for science, common sense, and young people in America — and it couldn't have happened without you.

Millions of young women at Catholic and religious affiliated colleges will no longer face barriers to accessing birth control through their student health plans. This decision is also a huge step forward for young people who receive insurance coverage through their parents' health care plans at religious affiliated hospitals and other businesses. The decision takes HHS one step closer to implementing the Institute of Medicine's nonpartisan recommendations that women's preventive services, including all FDA-approved methods of birth control, be covered in full.

For too long, young women's health has been treated as a political bartering chip in the halls of power. On days like today, it is incredibly refreshing when science and public health are able to survive the partisan politics of Washington.

All student health plans in the U.S. must begin offering cost-free birth control coverage in August 2012, and the young people across the country will be better off because of it.

Thank you for your letters, phone calls, and organizing efforts on this issue — and on so many others. I'm thrilled that 2012 is off to such a great start, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside you in the weeks and months ahead.

With gratitude,

Deb Hauser
President
Advocates for Youth

Like I said on my last post from last semester -- I am a Resident Asistant and I organize two to three programs in the semester regarding sex. This semester I did one called the Condom Olympics and another one called Sex in the Dark. In both of my programs residents had fun learning about STD's and HIV and how to protect themselves. Condoms were distributed and were highly appreciated by all of them. As expected condoms ran out in two weeks!!!! Such a big turn out. On every round I had to do after my programs I knocked on each of my resident's doors and offerend them very good, high quality condoms. They knew I was there for them if they needed protection.

I feel so honored to be a GACC SAFESITE for two semesters in a row!! WOOHOO GO LIMESTONE COLLEGE!!! Last year was such a success that I had soo many people inquire about safe sex and inquire about how to become an advocate.  I still don't understand why people feel embarrassed about purchasing condoms!
<SAFE>SEX is a natural, beautiful thing when it is shared between two responsible, consentual individuals. 

Hey Everyone!

Exciting news! Applications to become a Great American Condom Campaign Spring Semester SafeSite are now open!

The Great American Condom Campaign is a youth-led grassroots movement to reduce unintended pregnancies and the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections by normalizing condom use on college and university campuses. Students from across the country apply to become SafeSites, individual condom distribution points, and upon selection receive a box of 500 Trojan condoms to distribute to their peers. SafeSites are also tasked with educating their peers about safer sex and advocating on campus and within their community for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people.

During the fall of 2011, 1,000 SafeSites distributed more than 500,000 condoms to students on 782 campuses. SafeSites were established in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Condoms were distributed:

Sound like fun? Apply for the GACC NOW!

We receive more applications than we can accept, so make sure your application stands out! Be clear about how you will distribute condoms and why you want to be part of the GACC. To learn more about the GACC and the awesome work of previous SafeSites, visit the GACC Facebook Page.

Applications to be a Spring Semester SafeSite are open through January 6th, 2012. It only takes 10 minutes to fill out an application, so start now!

Do it for your country!

***If you were a SafeSite last semester (Fall 2011), don't forget to complete the Fall 2011 SafeSite survey that was emailed to you last week.

Just had a huge event with 2 other safesites here at The University of Texas-Pan American campus. We had a good turnout. Gave away alot of condoms but still had some left over for our valentines day event next semester. I'm so excited for the next one.

Condom delivery day is one of the best days of the semester.  My entire staff looks for that box to arrive and everyone wants to be there when I open it.  I think my residents get the most out of this though. 

When I finally fight the crowd back up to my floor, the real fun begins. It's time to make it rain, which is exactly what it sounds like. I run a lap of my floor, and any door I see open, I make it rain condoms. This ends up serving two purposes.  First, I get a jump start on my distribution process. Second, when the people in these rooms tell their friends what they missed out on by not being in their room, their friends all try to find me.

For the next five days I have guys from a bunch of floors trying to find me because they heard I have 500 free condoms and to top that, it's a variety!  So they come in little clumps, like when girls go to the bathroom together, and start picking through the box.  Most of them have never heard of or seen half of the options that were sent, so they leave with a plethora of colorful little packets because it's like Pokemon and they have to catch 'em all.

My residents and staff look forward to the delivery of that little mystery box.  They know they can afford to have safe sex and it prompts an open conversation about birth control.  I still have some condoms left, so it might be time to make it rain one more time.

I distributed all 500 condoms in 5 days. I would have done more such as Halloween or fall break, but the box did not last that long. I did attend on campus activities and hand out condoms. Many students are timid and won't admit that they need condoms. I know this so I had a male friend put a handful in the boys' bathrooms and I put some in the girls' bathrooms. I also left them on the tables in the lounges or in the game room. I tried to work out something with the student life director. We had made posters and posted them up around the school. i also put a poster on my book bag so people could tell I was the one handing the condoms out. I was going to set up a table in our community center but the box didn't last long enough to be able to do that. Every condom was handed out with a fact sheet.

Next semester, I hope to be picked again and continue being the SafeSite at Chesapeake College. We are talking about having a Condom Easter Egg Hunt next semster. I already found someone to dress as the Trojan man. He might even wear bunny ears!

In the spirit of being a safesite for the Great American Condom Campaign, I thought it would be interesting to see the comparison of sexual health among college campuses through out the United States. Trojan has recently released their annual Sexual Health Report Card for 2011 where you can see how your college stacks up against others. The universities are ranked by availability of sexual health resources and information to students on campus. Such factors include:

What are you going to be this Halloween? A vampire? A witch? An Angry Bird?

Regardless of the costume you choose, Advocates for Youth encourages you to be one thing this Halloween — safe.

Between now and October 31, we're giving away Advocates for Youth condom cases (with a free condom inside!) to donors who contribute $20 or more online.

Donate now and get yours at http://tinyurl.com/3b9e5z3

Donors get to choose from the condom cases below:

Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV.

If you're sexually active or thinking about becoming sexually active, it's important to respect yourself and protect yourself. Be prepared by carrying one of these fashionable and handy condom cases!

Again, you can get yours at http://tinyurl.com/3b9e5z3

Happy Halloween!