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Kelly Clarkson - INTERVIEW!

Staying Alive sat down with chart topper - and American Idol- Kelly Clarkson and had a chat about, yep, you guessed it, sex.

Q. What advice would you give to young people to protect themselves against HIV and other STIs?

A. The biggest key is to, without sounding like a mom/dad, but abstinence or safe sex. Sex is fun but there’s a responsibility with it too; pregnancy, STIs. I was taught in school.. and it scared me! I didn’t wanna have sex again…ever! Make sure you’re in a relationship you want to be in, you know your partner, you know their history. It kills me that something that can be prevented, isn’t and millions are affected by it.

Q. How would you encourage people to get tested, there are so many people who just don’t want to know, how would you change that?

A.That’s absurd! Having sex and not getting tested! Nowadays, more and more people are promiscuous, no ways am I hatin’ that - but take responsibility and get tested, make sure you’re healthy, you’re not spreading something around. My friend got it through someone cheating on her. You have to be careful, even in a relationship, it’s not fair. You need to look out for everyone, not just yourself.

Q. Do you think the media can do more?

A. Artists, music, everyone wants to help but you need to educate yourself, tell people. Stats show there are millions in Africa with AIDS and HIV, don’t just give them condoms, tell them, teach them, things like if you take a virgin you can’t get it, it’s absurd. Education doesn’t cost, not that much anyway, we need to tell people.

Q. Women with low self esteem find it hard to say ‘you have to use a condom’, what would you tell them?

A. Ok, first, if you’re being sexually active and your partner’s not, that means they’ve not been safe with anyone else they’ve been with, so now you’re getting that, which is just stupid, they don’t love you, and maybe I’m just old fashioned but why sleep with someone you don’t see yourself being with or who you want to spend the rest of your life with? And even if you are that way…be smart! Don’t be an idiot! In Africa they have less education, in America, its everywhere, MTV, news, campaigns everywhere, there’s no excuse, no reason not to be safe. I’d gladly punch someone who says they’re not! I know I sound like a mom, but I’m 25, I’m young, I’m just saying, be responsible.

Q. What advice would you give to someone who's self destructive and doesn’t care about their body?

A. A lot is down to confidence and insecurities… to grow up in a stable environment, not everyone’s that lucky. But you know what feels good and what feels bad inside. If you’re that insecure, you’re not gonna find yourself through sex, it’s designed to have children! For breeding!! So you’re not gonna find yourself there. You need friends and family around you, people tell me it’s cheesy but it’s never cheesy to build someone’s confidence or morale because that’s where too young a people fall prey to being sexually active. I sound so old saying this but there are kids having sex, I wasn’t even kissing boys when i was a kid! They’re too young to handle the emotional stress.

Q. What advice would you give to a teen thinking of having sex? ‘Older sister’ type advice?

A. First I’d say think again, think about it. It’s a highly emotional thing, the most intimate you can be with someone…someone’s going to get hurt. And for a youngster, they just want to experience it, they’ve seen what it’s all about in the magazines and the movies…but there’s a lot of responsibility with it, especially for women with pregnancy and STIs. For men and women, you need someone you love and trust - you have because no idea where everyone’s been, because you don’t want it! People throw around the word love and sexuality, we’ve cheapened it. So, I’d probably give them a lecture! It’s so emotionally taxing won’t know til you’re there, so you’ll might as well learn from others’ mistakes. It’s a sad thing.

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