As part of our Citizen Spotlight series, we’re introducing you to Philadelphians behind the issues affecting our city everyday. One controversial topic out there is whether Philadelphia public schools should hand out condoms. To get the conversation started, we’re shining the spotlight on Sam Sitrin. She’s campaigning with ACT UP to increase school condom distribution through a program known as Policy 123, which currently operates in 14 of the city’s 60 high schools. Read up on the issue and take our poll below.

IT’S OUR CITY: What’s the goal behind Policy 123?

SAM SITRIN: The goal is to lower the rate of HIV infection in Philadelphia. Since half of all new infections are in youth under 25, condom access in all Philly public high schools is crucial to reducing our youth’s exposure to HIV. A key aspect of the campaign is to fight for equal condom access for all Philadelphia high school students. Currently, only a small percentage of our youth has access to HIV prevention tools through school. Whatever moral judgment there is on sexual activity in youth, STD and pregnancy rates speak to the fact that large percentages of youth are engaging in sexual activity. It is unjust to then deny these students access to condoms. ACT UP Philly took up this campaign because 1 out of every 4 teenage girls in the USA has a STD, and because teen pregnancy and poor health are linked to lower attendance and dropping out of school.

SAM SITRIN: Condoms are distributed by health professionals who staff Health Resource Centers at each of the schools.

IT’S OUR CITY: What are the pros of the program? At the same time, what have been the challenges?

SAM SITRIN: As the program currently operates, the pros are that there is a health professional to speak with and educate youth while they, the students, obtain condoms. This also provides protection to the school system from criticism that condoms are being distributed without being monitored.

The challenges of distributing condoms this way is that staffed distribution sites take longer to set up and fund- as we have seen from the many years this policy has existed, and the few schools it actually reaches. Another downside that we have heard from high school students is that it can be intimidating to have to ask an adult for condoms, which can act as a barrier to access. We hope to evolve the policy so that condom access not only happens through a staffed Health Resource Center, but also through public bowls of condoms as well as peer educators.

IT’S OUR CITY: Explain if the campaign has critics, and what they say?

SAM SITRIN: Early in the campaign, we were informed by detractors that the sight of condoms caused/condoned sexual activity in adolescents. We responded by citing the numerous studies of adolescent sexuality, stating that condom access increases condom use, not sexual activity. The clincher in our argument, honestly, is the large number of parents who have signed on to support this campaign, as well as numerous students and organizations who come out to our rallies. The bottom line that we point out to critics is that condom access is a public health issue and an issue of safety, not a question of morality.

IT’S OUR CITY: What’s been the response from the Mayor’s Office on the program?

SAM SITRIN: Mayor Nutter, Deputy Mayor Dr. Schwartz and their staff have been receptive to this campaign, and have stressed their support. Throughout the many meetings ACT UP has had with the Mayor’s Office, they have continued to state their commitment to funding Health Resource Centers and pursuing a course for making condoms available in all Philadelphia public schools.

IT’S OUR CITY: How did you get involved in this line of work?

SAM SITRIN: A friend of mine living with HIV laid out for me how AIDS is a virus that devastates populations who have been systematically denied access to resources- through racism, homophobia and economic structures that perpetuate cycles of poverty. Seeing AIDS in a broader context illustrated to me that there is more that we need to demand of our politicians and of ourselves than a few policy changes. We need to look at power, and change who has access to it. I am in ACT UP because I have this group challenge the balance of power, and win pivotal campaigns around HIV treatment and prevention.

IT’S OUR CITY: What keeps you motivated to do your job?

SAM SITRIN: I believe that we have answers to ending the AIDS crisis. In my years of doing this work, I have seen huge amounts of knowledge, passion and caring in the AIDS activist community. We know how to prevent HIV, we know how to treat HIV, and we know what is at stake because we watched loved ones pass away. We know what is possible because we have come so far.

Take our poll below, and let us know what you think about this issue.