Taylor Maxwell

Debate Sex education: abstinence-only or comprehensive? VS

Legal requirements (2) For purposes of this section, the term "abstinence education" means an educational or motivational program which— (A) has as its exclusive purpose, teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity; (B) teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected standard for all school age children; (C) teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of- wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems; (D) teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity; (E) teaches that sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects; (F) teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child’s parents, and society; (G) teaches young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability to sexual advances; and (H) teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity.

What Abstinence-Only Does NOT Cover Contraception Condoms, oral contraceptives, diaphragms, etc Masturbation Abortion Sexual orientation Positive messages of sexuality

Background 1981: Congress passes the “Chastity Act” (Adolescent Family Life Act)—funds abstinence-only education 1983: ACLU filed suit claiming AFLA violated separation of church and state 1996: Welfare reform results in $50 million in funding for abstinence-only education 2000: Community-Based Abstinence Education Program grants millions of dollars to groups working toward abstinence-only sex education Beneficiaries include: Life Network, Wedgewood Christian Services, Several Sources Foundation, Mid-South Christian Ministries, Catholic Charities of Buffalo, Women for Life, Stand Up Again Outreach

“Abstinence-only edicts are the spoils of a culture war for teens’ hearts, minds, and libidos; but the casualties in this war are the teens, too” John Stryker, Nation, 6/16/1997

“ After years of high teen- pregnancy rates…a publicly funded group has mounted a controversial community- wide crackdown on teen sex known as "abstinence-only education." Its proponents argue that giving kids an unambiguous abstinence message--rather than telling them to wait but distributing condoms for when they don't--will curb teen pregnancies, decrease the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and make for "sexually healthier" adults. Jodie Morse/Waco, Time, 10/10/1999

Response to Defunding “US Campaign to Promote Abstinence Begins— Proponents of sex education programs that focus on encouraging abstinence are launching a nationwide campaign aimed at enlisting 1 million parents to support the controversial approach… ‘There are powerful special interest groups who can far outspend what parents can in terms of promoting their agenda. But we recognize that parents more than make up for that by their determination and motivation to protect their own children,’ said Valerie Huber, the group's executive director.” Rob Stein, 6/1/2008

Entertainment Media

Current Policies As of April 2013: 22 states and the District of Columbia require public schools to teach sex education (including HIV education). 33 states and the District of Columbia require students receive instruction about HIV/AIDS. 18 states require sex education curricula to be medically accurate and/or age appropriate. State policies vary in determination of “medically accurate;

Current Policies As of April 2013: 11 states mandate covering contraception in sex education, if sex education is taught (mandatorily or by choice) 25 states mandate stressing abstinence over contraception, if sex education is taught (mandatorily or by choice)

Headlines

Dr. Keith Ablow, 3/18/2013

Headlines Dr. Keith Ablow, 3/18/2013

Headlines Kelli Kennedy, 10/1/2010

References (2013, April 8). State Policies on Sex Education in Schools. National Conference of State Legislature. Retrieved from on-sex-education-in-schools.aspx (2012, June 1). State Sex and HIV Education Policy. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved from Bassett, L. (1 April, 2013). Sex Education Programs for Teens Targeted by GOP Lawmakers. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from gop_n_ html Kennedy, K. (1 October, 2010). New sex ed funding ends decade of abstinence-only. The Washington Post. Retrieved from dyn/content/article/2010/10/01/AR html Ablow, Dr. K. (18 March, 2013). When sex education is disinformation, and sexual equality is a lie. Fox News. Retrieved from and-sexual-equality-is-lie/ Stryker J. Abstinence or else!. Nation [serial online]. June 16, 1997;264(23): Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed April 16, 2013.