The Rumor Mill is hearing that Scott Evertz, former AIDS Czar for the Bush Administration, was forced to cancel all pending media interviews as a result of interference and intimidation from government officials.  We understand government officials contacted his place of employment and urged that he stop speaking out. As we reported earlier this week, Mr. Evertz was speaking out against the current efforts by the U.S. delegation at the UN, stating the Bush administration has reached out to Islamic governments, including those it considers terrorist states, to promote a new declaration supporting abstinence and fidelity as important tools in preventing the spread of HIV. As we have reported all week, it appears the US has successfully used this alliance to block more inclusive language being promoted by Latin American nations and India, and public health advocates that were included in these meetings as Civil Society Organizations.

This suppression of free speech mirrors the administration's policies on abstinence-only education and outreach to sex workers. Participants at the UN meetings overwhelmingly suggest these policies through PEPFAR are interfering with efforts to have consistent messaging on HIV prevention through proven comprehensive sexuality education efforts, and on policies limiting how organizaitons receiving federal dollars can do outreach to sex workers.