February 26, 2009

Colo. Senator Calls HIV a Consequence of “Sexual Promiscuity”

Speaking out against a bill requiring pregnant women in Colorado to be tested for HIV, Sen. David Schultheis (R–Colorado Springs) said February 25 that such a law would wrongly protect women and their children against the consequences of “sexual promiscuity,” The Denver Post reports.

“We do things constantly to try to remove the negative consequences of poor behavior, unacceptable behavior, quite frankly,” he said. “Sexual promiscuity, we know, causes a lot of problems in our state, one of which, obviously, is the contraction of HIV.”

According to the article, Schultheis’s comments have since outraged state Democrats, who argue that early HIV testing and treatment is a lifesaving measure and that early detection in pregnant women can ensure that the virus is not transmitted to their children.

“I just think it’s shameful, the comments that have been made,” said Sen. Jennifer Veiga (D–Denver).

Two days before the debate over the testing measure, Sen. Scott Renfroe (R–Greeley) argued that homosexuality was an abomination and a sin comparable to murder; that was during a debate over a bill to extend health benefits to same-sex partners of state employees. The Denver Post reports that GOP members have been reluctant so far to condemn either colleague.

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