The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the U.S. government can deny grant funds to a nonprofit AIDS group that will not sign a pledge rejecting prostitution and sex trafficking. The group, DKT International Inc., provides family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention programs in foreign countries. This decision overturns the lower court ruling that the groups' free speech rights would be violated in linking the funding to a pledge upholding a government policy. The group works in an area where prostitution is a reality, and works to help stop the spread of AIDS by distributing condoms to prostitutes. The court disagreed with the argument that denying funds to this group violates their free speech rights, a penalty too harsh for not wanting to be publicly associated with a U.S. government policy. According to the court decision: The Act does not compel DKT to advocate the government's position on prostitution and sex trafficking; it requires only that if DKT wishes to receive funds it must communicate the message the government chooses to fund. This does not violate the First Amendment. The AP story can be read here.