Advocates Lobby To End Federal Funding For Abstinence-Only Sex Education

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 22 Jan 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Opponents of abstinence-only sex education plan to make an "aggressive push" to lobby Congress and President Obama to halt federal funding for abstinence-based programs and instead promote comprehensive sex education, the AP/Google.com reports. Obama is considered a supporter of comprehensive sex education programs, which include information about contraception, but Obama spokesperson Tommy Vietor declined to describe the president's specific budget plans for sex education programs. Former President Bush was a strong proponent of abstinence-only sex education, and federal funding for the programs currently totals about $176 million per year, according to the AP/Google.com. Critics of abstinence-only programs note that several major studies, including a federal review, have found no evidence that the programs deter teens from having sex. In addition, critics say that the programs fail to provide teens with important information about avoiding pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections and, in some cases, include false information. Supporters maintain that abstinence-only programs promote the only method that offers 100% protection against unintended pregnancy and STIs.

The Prevention First Act -- introduced this month in the House and Senate -- proposes several initiatives that are aimed at reducing unintended pregnancies, including a provision that calls for "medically accurate" comprehensive sex education. According to Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), lead sponsor of the bill, the 2008 elections increased the number of senators and representatives who share her belief that money allocated for abstinence-based programs "would be so much better used on things to prevent unwanted pregnancies." She added that Congress will have "enough votes" to pass legislation promoting comprehensive sex education. Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said that federally funded abstinence-only programs are an "utter failure that [have] wasted more than $1.5 billion" over the past 10 years. She added, "Talking with Obama, he totally understands the need for young people to have comprehensive sex education -- they need information that protects their health."

Meanwhile, supporters of abstinence-only programs are lobbying Congress and the new administration to preserve some of the funding, and some states plan to keep their own abstinence-only programs, even in the absence of federal support. Jen Bennecke, executive director of Georgia's Governor's Office for Children and Families, said that abstinence-based sex education "will remain a strategy" for Georgia's youth development initiative, "regardless of what happens at the federal level." Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association, said that Congress should "allow true choice" by providing funding for both comprehensive sex education and abstinence-based programs, adding, "Now is not the time to remove even one of the tools that can help teens" prevent pregnancy and STIs. Slaughter said she would oppose efforts to include both approaches, adding, "We can't have both, because abstinence-only doesn't work." Sarah Brown, CEO of the National Campaign To Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, said, "In a highly constrained fiscal environment, it's critical to focus precious dollars on programs that have evidence of good effects." She added, "When you look at the best science, the abstinence-only programs come up short" (Crary, AP/Google.com, 1/18).

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