NOW Cheers Investigation of Deceptive Federal Government Website

August 17, 2005

The site, 4Parents.gov, developed by the Department of Health and Human Services understates condom effectiveness, links condom use with increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, and underestimates the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs in prolonging the lives of HIV-positive individuals. "These and other outrageous claims indicate that the site development was driven by ideology and not a commitment of government officials to ensure that the posted information provides parents and teens with reliable information about sex," said NOW President Kim Gandy.

In response to this dangerous site, NOW joined with other organizations in calling on DHHS Secretary Leavitt to demand that the 4parents.gov website be immediately taken down and subjected to a formal review of its content and techniques for communication and behavioral learning.

Last week, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) inserted a provision into the Labor Health and Human Services '06 appropriations bill directing DHHS to review the site and to make changes based on scientific evidence. "This is an important development and we need to be vigilant," says Gandy.

NOW will continue to monitor the site and this issue that is so critical to the well-being of teens and their parents.

Read NOW's letter to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt on this issue.