More Distortions of Reality

Recently a vaccine that is effective against HPV made its way into the market. HPV is the virus that causes several varieties of both cervical and vaginal cancer.

Now, we find the religious right is getting its facts all mucked up on this issue too. According to this idiot, vaccinating young girls against HPV before they become sexually active is giving them a license to become sexually promiscuous. The makers of the vaccine have been quite clear that the vaccine is most effective if it is used prior to actual exposure to the virus itself. So, apparently, we are supposed to condemn women to dying a horrible death by cancer for possibly being sexual beings. Of course, I don't need to point out that even if the young lady is utterly abstinent before marriage, there's no guarantee that her spouse was - and thus she still may be exposed to this virus - whether or not he realizes he is carrying it.

Meanwhile, they are busy decrying condoms as not terribly effective at stopping HPV. (the quality of that study is another question, but I'll take it at face value for now)

So...using condoms is being condemned because they aren't 100% perfect, and apparently vaccinating women against a life-threatening STD is somehow giving them a license to be promiscuous? Bullfeathers. This is about one thing only - controlling people's sexuality - and specifically, it appears to be about punishing women for being sexual creatures. The message is clear - if you are a woman, and you dare have sexual relations, you deserve whatever happens to you.

I am disgusted and apalled.