020993 Planned Parenthood wants folks to have a safe Valentine's, Day

Barbara Hornick, a secretary at  PlannedParenthood of Westchester Rockland in Greenburgh, sits by the Valentine's Day Condom give-a-way packages yesterday,

The folks at Planned Parenthood of Westchester-Rockland think Valentine's Day should be more than sweet. It should also be safe.

With that in mind, "Condom Valentines" - which include two condoms and instructions for use, two candies and the telephone number for Planned Parenthood's confidential information line - are being distributed this week at Planned Parenthood's family planning centers.

About 1,000 valentines - encased in red plastic hearts with the words "Love Carefully" printed on the outside - will be given to clients to encourage safe sex, said Susan Chamlin,  Planned Parenthood's director of education and training.

"In our culture, sex is hard to talk about. When you link it to disease, it becomes an even more negative message," Chamlin said.

Isn't this rather interesting. Chamlin claims sex is hard to talk about in our society. Obviously she has been living in a mine shaft for her entire life. Pick up any paper, mag. turn on any TV program and of course surf the net for the biggest portion of pornography. Every time I buy a pack of gum I see a wide assortment of condoms on the counter....Who is she kidding ???

 We want to plant the idea of making condom use part of a safe, normal relationship.")

Garnetta Johnson of Mount Kisco, a client at the Greenburgh clinic yesterday, said the "Condom Valentine" will make a difficult topic easier to approach.

"With this, you can just put it on your dresser, and it's right there when you need it," she said. Although National Condom Week begins Sunday, Planned Parenthood started the promotion a week early to prepare clients for Valentine's Day, spokeswoman Susan Tapper said.

The valentines are available at Planned Parenthood centers in Port Chester, Mount Kisco, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Greenburgh, Yonkers, Haverstraw and West Nyack.