To the editor:

I am writing in response to Mr. Murray’s letter criticizing the Douglas County AIDS Project’s involvement in a student-organized rally Oct. 21 at Kansas University. As a DCAP volunteer, I personally represented DCAP at that event and would like to clarify my involvement on behalf of that organization.

For the portion of the rally concerning Ms. Miers’ Supreme Court nomination, I simply stood on the sidewalk in front of the rally passing out free condoms and information regarding services offered by DCAP – hardly a political action and certainly not outside of the scope of AIDS prevention.

The second portion of the rally – in which I participated more actively – consisted of soliciting signatures for a petition opposing the state school board’s proposal to make sex education “opt-in.” While this action may be construed as “partisan,” it is in keeping with the mission of DCAP to “serve as a community resource in the areas of HIV and AIDS education and prevention” as stated on the front page of our Web site. DCAP firmly believes that the best defense against the spread of HIV infection is education, including mandatory (rather than optional), comprehensive sex education in the public schools.

Hopefully this clarifies any questions and/or concerns regarding DCAP’s mission and outreach programs as well as our commitment to focus on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention in the community.

Elizabeth Stephens,

Lawrence