When the CDC Can't Be Trusted

How is it that the internet can collectively have a conversation about Taylor Swift’s new song, “Wood,” an entire song obviously devoted to Travis Kelce’s penis, yet we can’t even have a basic conversation about sexual health?

Let that sink in for a moment.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and intimate health are already challenging to navigate—from well-meaning influencers who spread misinformation, to those who missed sex ed entirely, to people still prioritizing stigma and discomfort over facts. But what we’re facing now goes deeper than the usual obstacles.

For years, I’ve backed up my claims and research with sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Foundations I could point to with confidence when someone questioned the facts and the realities of STIs.

Now I find myself asking, “Is this even accurate anymore?”

This week, the CDC released the latest iteration of the annual STI Surveillance Report. Even though I know the data comes from the pre-Trump era, I felt something I’ve never felt before when reading a CDC report: hesitation.

It’s hard to maintain trust in government organizations that have been compromised by misinformation and inaccuracies. I’m aware this isn’t a new feeling for everyone—many marginalized communities have never had the luxury of trusting these institutions. When the institutions we’ve relied on for decades become politically weaponized, where does that leave those of us committed to evidence-based education?

It’s not an easy time to be a truth-teller in America.

Actually, let me rephrase that. It’s easy for me to be a truth-teller.

What’s become exponentially harder is combating the fear, misinformation, and blatant lies coming from this administration while maintaining credibility when my own once go-to sources are now questionable.