So this is a continuation of a previous blog called “Tradition”, check it out if you haven’t already. As you already know I traveled to Washington, DC for the Urban Retreat where we lobbied for an end to funding abstinence only programs. Being from the South, there are many conservative values as well as conservative representation! However, I found it very interesting when talking to different staff members of our congressmen, they never stated how they viewed the subject. They always said “well the senator believes this” or “the congressmen stand for this.” Which was upsetting because I could tell they understood exactly what we were saying, their personal view agreed with our view, but yet they still hid behind what the senator or representatives believed. Now I would think that a staff member is suppose to keep the elected official informed about what is going on in the community or what the people are having issues with. It is their jobs to bring the issue to the elected officials’ attention and to stress the importance of it. Now if you worked for one of these congressmen and you knew they were against something, but you knew that their point of view was not based on facts but opinion, wouldn’t you try everything in you power to get them to see your point of view? Also, why would you work for someone who does not have the same beliefs as you? I know that everybody does not agree with their favorite Politian 100% of the time, but when the disagreement is about issues that are this important I think there needs to be some revelation going on.

I personally believe that staff members need to stand up and voice their opinion. The majority of the time staff members determine what the elected official will focus on for the political season; so why not get them to stand for something you, the staff member believes in. Have a voice, have a backbone, stand up to your boss and tell them your opinion…but in a respectful manner of course. Don’t go hide behind their beliefs and allow them to use you as a puppet.

So I have come up with a new theory called the Brown Bag Theory. What is it? Well let me give you an example; when you leave your local heath care provider after receiving contraception what do they put it in? A BROWN BAG!!!!! Thus THE BROWN BAG THEORY!!!!

I have always wondered why they give people that brown bag. Therefore being as nosey as I am lol, I asked different health care professionals what was so special about the brown bag. One individual told me it was to prevent others from knowing what was inside of the bag. I STRONGLY disagree with that statement, because when you see someone with that little brown bag you automatically know what’s inside of it. Another individual said that the brown bag has been used for years and there is no need to change now. I really don’t have an argument to this individual’s statement because they didn’t really didn’t answer my question. But with me being a STRONG liberal, I questioned the fact that there was no need for change. The next individual told me that it was their policy that you should carry out contraception in the brown bag. Now this I did not agree with. What difference does it make if the contraception leaves in a brown bag or in my pocket? As long as I get what I need to protect myself and use it appropriately then what is the big deal? At least give the client the option of refusing the bag. The final individual said that they didn’t know why the brown bad was used. Now when this individual told me this, all I could do was laugh because I could see I made her question the issue herself.

So what are you saying Terrance? I guess what I’m trying to say is can we use a blue bag? Can I refuse to take the brown bag and just the contraception? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE BROWN BAG? To me it serves no purpose! The bag doesn’t hide anything, because everyone knows what is inside of those bags. LOL, I guess I don’t really have a problem with them, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY THE LITTLE BROWN BAG.

First let me write a quick disclaimer: THE VIEW AND OPINIONS OF THIS BLOG BELONG TERRANCE THOMPSON AND TERRANCE THOMPSON ONLY. IF YOU ARE OFFENDED I AM NOT SORRY BECAUSE THIS IS HOW I FEEL! Now that we have that out of the way, LOL, let me tell you what’s on my mind. Recently I had the opportunity to lobby on Capitol Hill to end funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage program. Now if you don’t know I am from the great CONSERVATIVE, OLD SCHOOL, and TRADITIONAL state of South Carolina. So ending funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage program is not high on the list of priorities for my state. Why? Two words: CONSERVATIVE and TRADITIONAL! In certain areas of South Carolina if you mention the word sex people look at you like you are speaking a different language, even though sex is a normal human function. So you can imagine how people would react to end funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage program. They would probably think you were the devil! Lol!

TRADITION? Sometimes I wish we could throw that word out of the dictionary! I believe that people in this state take that word a little too far. I understand that mama, papa, auntie, uncle, and Cousin June have been doing it this way since 1828, but just because they do it that way does that make it right? For example abstinence is a big thing in South Carolina and it is promoted to the max. People actually expect EVERYONE to practice abstinence until they are married. Now last time I looked at a calendar it was 2010 and not 1828. Now while some people do practice abstinence until married the majority of the population does not. So what good does abstinence-only-until-marriage programs do, if people are already practicing sex? Now in my mind I would think we need to end funding to these programs and focus on continual education, but others choose to ignore the issue and believe that by increasing access to abstinence education we will decrease the percentage of the population having sex before marriage. Now that I do not understand and probably will never understand.

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Editor's Note: Papajr89 is a South Carolina Youth Activist located in Spartanburg, SC.

Did you ever notice how colleges and universities are always bragging about how high their academic standards are, and that they are a very prestigious school? But when was the last time you heard of a university talk about how great their sexual education program is and all the wonderful work they are doing? Well the truth is you don’t. Universities tend to let the issue of sex education slip to the back burner. They view it as a negative issue and never address the issue head on. Often the task of sexual education is the responsibility of health services on your local campus, but when some students go there they feel as if they are being judged or have to answer a million questions to get what they need. Other schools might say that the division of student affairs is responsible for coming up with organizations that cover this topic, but these organizations are few and hard to find because of the lack of student support. I personally think that colleges and universities can do a better job of educating students about sexual issues. One way they could handle these issues is to hire someone who focuses on educating students on sexual issues. Now some schools might say we don’t have the money to hire someone to do that, but I think they do. If they can hire someone to inform students about alcohol issues then I believe they can hire someone to talk about sexual issues. Or maybe the university should team up with a nonprofit organization that handles these issues. But the one thing that the university must do is support the organization and provide everything necessary to make sure the goal of educating students about sex is achieved. I strongly believe that universities should take the necessary steps to educate their students about sexual health. The more universities look the other way and ignore the issue, the worst the issue will become.

Everybody has heard of the saying “don’t put your eggs in one basket”. But what exactly does that mean? What necessary are your eggs? Some people say that eggs are your hopes or dreams, but some people think of eggs as their sexual assets. “So does this mean that I am supposed to have sex with more than one person at a time?” Now some people may say no because that’s careless and unfavorable, but others may say yes because they want to experience all that they can. Now for the people who want to experience all they can and have “options” more power to you! Just make sure your “options” don’t leave you in a health clinic with bad news. Be selective in who you share your body with, remember that once you give them your body, that moment with them you can never get it back. One question for those of you who have “options”, if you have multiple “options” then how may “options’ do you think your “options” have? And then how may “options” do their “options” have? Then how many times did all those “options” have unprotected sex? Now you are about to have sex with your “option” who has gotten something from another “option”. I’m sorry but that doesn’t seem too appetizing to me. I know that everyone should protect themselves but why put you at a high risk when it is not necessary. So keep your eggs in one basket! Remember they are precious and once something happens to them they will never be the same.

Editor's Note: Papajr89 is a South Carolina Youth Activist located in Spartanburg, SC.

Think about this for a minute, do your clothes attract sex? Does your outfit scream I want sex now? This blog is more for the ladies than the guys. Ladies please watch what you wear in public, because your clothes send a STRONG image about your sex life. Just take minute and go look in your closet and see what is inside. Now if your closet is full of nothing but booty shorts, short skirts, and tube tops which you wear on a constant basis then we might have a problem. By wearing those clothes on an everyday basis you are screaming to guy, “hey look at me I want your attention and if I get your attention then just maybe I will give you something. “That is not the type of message you want to send at 2am in Wal-Mart. If you’re tired of guys coming up to you trying to play you as if you are an easy catch, take a look at yourself and make sure what you are presenting is not calling them to you.

The other day I was at home when my mom pulled out a permission slip for my sister to take a sexual education course when she returns to school in August. Now my sister is only eight years old and will be in the third grade next year, so I was shocked that the school was starting sexual education as early as the third grade. I remember that it was fifth grade when I took my first sexual education course! I questioned my mom’s decision bout enrolling my sister in the class, but when I saw my sister dance and sing songs like “Daddies Home” and she actually knew what the song was talking about I begged my mom to sign her up for that class. I had to remind my self that times have changed and children are exposed to so much via of the Internet, cell phones, and television. So early education IS necessary in order to prevent these kids from doing things they have no business doing. But still the third grade?????? What does that say about our society; that we have to start sexual education classes in the third grade! It is amazing for me to see how many musical artists promote sexual activity in their music but none of them are on the front lines fighting for sexual education. Now that issue it self is a whole another blog!

Editor's Note: Papajr89 is a South Carolina Youth Activist located in Spartanburg, SC.

Have you been to your local pharmacy and walked down the condom aisle lately? You might be surprise to find out that condoms and other sexual protective items are locked up in glass case! I received an email from my boss explaining how popular this issue was becoming with different pharmacies, so I decided to investigate. I found that one major pharmacy chain had all of their sexual protective items locked in glass cases in everyone of their store in the Spartanburg area. Now it amazed me that the commercials this pharmacy chain displays on television says that they are there to help all their consumers and that they care about providing quality consumer service, and they want to meet the needs of their consumers. Well I hate to tell them the bad news but locking up sexual protective items tell me that you want to restrict people from having access to items that may save their lives. Last time I checked it was not against the law for any person no matter their age to buy condoms. Instead of locking up condoms they need to be locking up items like Tylenol to prevent people from making ILLEGAL drugs with that stuff! When was the last time you heard of someone making ILLEGAL drugs with condoms? So what is the next step? What do we do to turn the situation around? Are there pharmacies like this in your area? Drop me a letter in my box or send me an email at Spartanburg.yan@gmail.com and let me know what is going on in your area! This pharmacy’s next commercial should read “we support the spread of STIs!”

Editor's Note: Papajr89 is a South Carolina Youth Activist located in Spartanburg, SC.

Last week I got my annual physical that I am required to get for my job. But this year I decided to take my physical to the next level and get check for any STIs. Now was I scared, HECK YEA, but it was something I need to do to make sure that I was 100% clean. Now some people might say “Terrance you don’t know if you’re clean or not?” And to those people I would ask them the same question in return. We all think that STI’s can’t affect us, but the truth is they can affect anyone. STI’s do not discriminate against age, color, or gender! STI’s are like the little mucous people on the Muconex commercials; they will infect anything they can! LOL! Anyway the tests were very simple. The doctor came in and took some blood and urine samples and told me he would have the results in three days. Now I can TOTALLY understand how waiting three days for result can drive someone crazy. Now at first I was fine, but by day three I was ready for some answers!  I was relieved when the doctor’s office called to tell me that they did not detect any STI’s. Now I can walk around knowing that I am 100% clean and I have the papers to prove it! LOL!

Editor's Note: Papajr89 is a South Carolina Youth Activist located in Spartanburg, SC.

"I can't feel you," are the words that this one dude said to one of my best friends. He was referring to the fact that he didn't want to use a condom while they were having sex. Now, I would have thought that being the smart and a strong young woman, she would have said no. But she said yes. Now if my friends and I would have been there to hear those words come out of her mouth, we would have beat her! Now there sexual relationship continued for some time with no protection. It wasn't until the end of their relationship that she finally told us what was going. The first thing I said was "where is the pregnancy test" and "does anybody know the number to the health department." I think she was caught off guard by all of our comments, especially mine, but it brought her to her senses. She realized that what she was doing was unsafe and just not cute! Lol! The situation was not made any better because the guy she was sleeping with was known to sleep with numerous girls around campus! Fortunately, she was not pregnant, nor did she have an STD; but she knows the outcome could have been completely different. So next time some dude says I can't feel you, tell him when you give me a ring and some benefits then you can feel me!