The Tacoma News Tribune reports today that Self Magazine has proclaimed Tacoma the "most sexually healthy" city for women among the U.S.'s 100 most populous. The TNT reports the ranking is based on low rates of sexually transmitted diseases, high rates of HIV testing, and broad availability in Tacoma and Washington state of birth control, sex education in schools, emergency contraception and abortion. Gee. Silly, silly me. Tina was right. Yet here I thought sexual health included not only freedom from disease, but low abortion rates; monogamy; enduring marriages; and also what might be termed private conjugal matters between partners.
The "most sexually healthy" moniker the TNT says Self bestows upon Tacoma must be spelled out in the news-stand version of the magazine's December issue. The online version of Self's "Healthiest Cities For Women" article makes no such declaration regarding Tacoma, and is focused on general health index measures for women including - but not limited to - sexual health. The Self article's Tacoma page does cite pluses for low STDs, abundant birth control and abortion opportunities, and lots of park space; but also notes high rates for rape, obesity and environmental toxicity. Chlamydia and gonorrhea rates are problematic as well, as county health nabob Federico Cruz-Uribe observes in the TNT piece.
A question for our Tacoma afficionados, as long as we're talking about L'Amour in Tacoma - as opposed to, say, abortion or condoms or middle school sex ed classes.
What's the most romantic spot in Tacoma?
C'mon now. There've got to be a few.
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at November 21, 2006 11:46 AM | Email This(And not to trash T-town too terribly, Old Town Tacoma and the Point Defiance neighborhoods are kind of nice)
Posted by: Reporterward on November 21, 2006 12:55 PMi wonder if these magazines were around in our parents' time. sure. think of yourself. screw the country, screw the community and your family. thus our 'progressive' society. "All About Me."
how about a challenge--Self editors actually go out and volunteer in a kid's hospital burn unit, disabled veterans hospital or sweep the streets or clean up graffitti. 'Self' my azz. more like 'Elf.' fictionial & small.
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on November 21, 2006 04:27 PMI'm rather fond of the Grand Cinema as well, but romance isn't really about location, it's about the company. The food court in the Tacoma Mall can be romantic if you're spending time with someone you care about.
Posted by: Nathan Azinger on November 21, 2006 05:43 PMHot tip: Economic insecurity is the single largest cause for abortion.
Why is it that the country with the most liberal abortion rights also has the lowest rate of abortion? We're talking the Netherlands here.
Answer: Because they treat the whole problem. When women believe they can provide for their children, they're less likely to abort.
We either work for a more equitable society and care for people or we have a high abortion rate. We can't have both.
Anyone wanting to discuss morality can explain the morality of our laissez faire society driving women to abortion.
I find most Seattlites have no idea of the changes that have been occurring in Tacoma over the past 10 years. Nothing like the King County liberal elite condescendingly putting down average people based on 15 year-old data (yes, I'm making fun here). There are even WalMarts in Pierce County (though none in Tacoma proper), as well as half-million dollar condos in Hilltop (which would be an absurd million in Seattle).