Associated Press - December 1, 2004
Christopher Wills

At the Capitol and other state buildings, lights were dimmed to mark World AIDS Day. Blagojevich called it "a time to reaffirm our commitment to promoting HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention."

But some health workers said they were disappointed that Blagojevich had ordered the Illinois Department of Public Health not to buy any more condoms in bright colors or flavors for distribution to clinics and local health agencies.

"It catches the younger people's eye, and that's the generation we're trying to get because they're engaging in risky behavior," said Dante Bryant, an outreach specialist at Springfield's Sara Center.

He said the center gets flavored and colored condoms from the state and then distributes them at bars or areas frequented by drug users to promote safe sex.

The Public Health Department has given clinics and local health agencies about 360,000 flavored condoms and 910,000 colored condoms this year. That's in addition to the millions of ordinary condoms it provides every year. This year, the state has spent more than $117,000 in federal funds on condoms.

After learning about the special condoms, the Democratic governor ordered the department not to buy any in the future.

"He just felt it was inappropriate," said Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch. "It's one thing to promote safe sex. It's another thing to encourage sexual activity."

Louanner Peters, the governor's deputy chief of staff for human services, said the administration is spending more on AIDS education in minority areas and stepping up testing and education programs for prison inmates who are about to be released. Those efforts, combined with distribution of ordinary condoms, make a sound program for fighting the spread of AIDS, she said.

"We have to help people make better choices rather than, in some instances, almost encouraging people to be a little more lax in their choices," Peters said after speaking at a World AIDS Day ceremony at the Statehouse.

But others rejected the idea that bright colors or special flavors encourage sexual activity that otherwise would not take place.

"I haven't seen any indication of that," said Don Hunt, a supervisor at the Springfield Public Health Department.

"We're not encouraging sex. They're going to do it anyway," said Bryant, from the Sara Center. "What we're promoting is safe sex."

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