Dallas County holds the distinction of having the only public health agency in the state of Texas that has barred condoms in education and prevention programs. The sad punchline is that it now holds another distinction: the highest HIV rate in Texas. In fact, according to the Dallas Morning News, the number of Dallas County residents living with HIV and AIDS has steadily increased during the past five years. Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services reports that since 2006 African American women alone have experienced a 40 percent increase in HIV rates.

Members Kenneth Mayfield and Mike Cantrell of the Commissioners Court, the governing body for Dallas County, voted for the condom ban 13 years ago. They still serve on the Commissioners Court and have been mum on the subject since we've learned of the effects of the ban. But, hopefully, we'll soon find out if they're of the type to learn from a great mistake. The Commissioners Court is being asked by two other members, Jim Foster and John Wiley Price, to reconsider the condom ban policy in light of the terrible outcomes. Not knowing Mayfield and Cantrell's positions, it's not clear yet whether they'll have the votes to overturn the ban on the five-member court. For the fifth member and potential tie breaker, Maurine Dickey, having the state's highest HIV infection rate and seeing a surge in new infections within the last two years is not evidence enough that basic HIV prevention measures need to be taken. According to the Dallas Morning News, Dickey "wants to study the issue before forming an opinion." In the meantime, someone will need a "Genius at Work" sign for her office door.