CDC To Investigate San Francisco Stop AIDS Project for Alleged Violations of Federal Law
A team of CDC representatives next week plans to investigate allegations that the San Francisco Stop AIDS Project violated federal law by "promoting sexual activity" with federal funds, the Washington Times reports. The Stop AIDS Project, which received $700,000 in federal funds in 2000, advertised one workshop on sex without condoms and a second workshop to "help homosexuals improve their 'cruising skills' and 'share pick-up strategies,'" according to the Times. Under regulations revised in 1992, groups cannot use CDC funds to support "education or information designed to promote or encourage, directly, homosexual or heterosexual sexual activity or intravenous substance abuse." CDC Director Julie Gerberding on Friday said in a letter to Darlene Weise, executive director of the Stop AIDS Project, that she would send a CDC team to "assess whether these programs are not only scientifically sound but also consistent with (federal program guidelines)," the Times reports (McCain, Washington Times, 8/7). Last November, HHS Inspector General Janet Rehnquist cited the group in a report for misuse of CDC funds by offering HIV prevention workshops that encouraged sexual activity and met the legal definition of obscene material (California Healthline, 11/20/01).
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