Last night I had the honor of attending a reception at the White House for HIV/AIDS Activists. It was in celebration of the release of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, a document that has been promised since the start of the Obama Administration, but needed for over thirty years.

To speak directly to the strategy, it’s not bad. Much needed benchmarks have been established and communities hardest hit by the HIV epidemic are both recognized and prioritized in the strategy. The Office of National AIDS Policy is talking about the needs of those most at risk: gay and bisexual men, African Americans, Latinos, injection drug users and those who identify as a combination of the categories mentioned above.

Young people were highlighted as the age group that represents 25% of new infections and the administration echoed the need for age appropriate prevention education for all Americans. To speak specifically to the needs of young people, the strategy said:

“Finally, educating young people about HIV before they begin engaging in behaviors that place them at risk for HIV infection should be a priority. Appropriately, it is a parent’s job to instill values and to provide the moral and ethical foundation for their children, but schools have an important role in providing access to current and accurate information about the biological and scientific aspects of health educa­tion. It is important to provide access to a baseline of health education information that is grounded in the benefits of abstinence and delaying or limiting sexual activity, while ensuring that youth who make the decision to be sexually active have the information they need to take steps to protect themselves.”

There is also language that specifically address stigma and discrimination faced by those in regards to age, race, sexuality and yes, even gender identity.

It was good. But as an activist who works directly with young people and those who are HIV positive, I want great.

I want the strategy to describe the “information” youth need when they decide to become sexually active. It’s too easy for abstinence-only folks to try to spin this into telling sexually active youth to reclaim their abstinence, which is fine, but not as a stand alone message.

I want the administration to realize how ridiculous and dangerous it was for Dems to include the reauthorization of Title V abstinence-only funding in the health care bill and promise to get rid of that harmful funding.

I want the administration to note the importance of healthy relationships and negotiation skills. I want my students in Texas to know that just because you’ve been in a relationship for a year doesn’t mean you have to have sex. I want them to know it’s okay to be monogamous. I want my questioning youth to know it’s okay to demand a condom during oral and anal sex when they are exploring their sexuality. I want them to know that going and getting tested together is what you do once you’ve reached second base.

I want the Department of Education to be at the table. Because just as obesity and nutrition impact the lives of our nations’ students, so does risky behavior via sex or drug use that leads to HIV infection.

I want to hear that aside from an education it is imperative that young people have services that are both youth friendly and accessible so they can make good decisions about their sexual health. Youth should have access to school based health clinics and/or teen clinics that guarantee them confidential sexual health services.

It was great for the President to say at the reception:

“When we fail to offer a child a proper education, when we fail to provide him with accurate medical information and instill within him a sense of responsibility, then how can we expect him to take the precautions necessary to protect himself and others?”

But I want the President to say the word “condom.”  I want him to pull one out of his pocket and talk about the importance using a condom during every sexual act. Hell, I even want the President to use my condom demonstrator and show the audience how to put one on. I want the President to acknowledge that sexuality is normal and healthy and okay.

This was not my first time invited to the White House. And I truly understand what a privilege it is to have a job that affords me the opportunities to be invited to events such as this or meet with members of the Office of Public Engagement. I know that some of my friends from home will never make it to a meeting with the administration, let alone have the funds to come to DC for a tour of the White House, which is why I stated from the very beginning what an honor it was to be invited to the reception. I also know the ability for my non-profit self to have such access to the White House and executive level staff is a huge shift from previous administrations. However, I cannot help but remind myself that we cannot let this access cloud our fight for the rights of young people domestically and internationally. We cannot let the h’orderves and wine make us forget that during that reception two young people somewhere in the United States and six hundred around the world were infected with HIV. 

Young people are one of the hardest hit groups in the HIV pandemic. We must be treated as partners which means if you invite us in, LISTEN. Use our knowledge about our generation to impact your work.

As the same time, our generation elected the President. As such, we expect him to take a leadership role on issues that are important to us. I remember when the President and First Lady were publically tested for HIV in Kenya. It was a great moment for not only the domestic, but international community. When will the President do something as bold and visible here in the United States? The youth of America need to see it.