Thaindian News

By Meena Kar
Nov 6, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Teen trick-or-treaters who visited Daniel and Kathleen Harris’ house in Oregon were in for a really big surprise as instead of candies they were handed condoms and also given a lecture on safe sex by the couple. Though the couple wanted to spread awareness about safe sexual practices not all the teenagers’ parents were impressed by the generosity of the couple.

Kathleen and Daniel Harris said that they usually asked the trick or treaters whether they were above the age of 16 before giving them condoms but accidentally they also handed it to a 14-year-old girl. Daniel Cote, the father of the teenager found the gesture inappropriate and said that he was offended by the act. He said that it was hard for him to imagine that someone would give his child condoms without the parents’ consent. He also said that it was a matter that he would have preferred dealing in his own house in his own way. Kathleen Harris admitted that it was a mistake to hand the condoms to the 14-year-old and said that it was part of the package that included candies and toothbrushes.

The Harris couple also said that they handed out condoms at the height of the AIDS epidemic and handing out on Halloween was done with the best intentions. Kathleen Harris defended her and her husband’s action by saying that it was a service to the community. She also added in her statement to a local daily that it was a sort of harm reduction as kids would get into it anyway. She said that the condoms and the lectures would at least make them think about the matter.