Contemporary Sexuality - December 2008 - (Page 13)

olds the names of body parts and then become increasingly nuanced as children get older. “We are not talking about five-year-old kids being taught sex,” says Jim Knight, the country’s schools minister. “What we’re talking about for key stage 1 is children knowing about themselves, their difference, their friendships and how to manage their feelings.” Britain leads Europe in teen birthrates (30.8 per 1,000 in 1998) and also has a high abortion rate for girls aged 15 to 19 (21.3 per 1,000 in 1996). U.S. has higher numbers in both categories — 52.1 teen births per 1,000 in 1998 and 30.2 teen abortions per 1,000 in 1996. FPA, formerly known as the Family Planning Association, supports the curriculum change. “Research shows that sex and relationships education helps young people delay the time they have first sex and promotes responsible and healthy choices when they do become sexually active,” says Julie Bentley, the group’s chief executive. (Guardian, Oct. 23 and Pittsburgh PostGazette, Oct. 24) States vote on gay marriage and reproductive rights California voters put a stop to same-sex weddings, dashing gay rights advocates’ hopes that the most populous state – traditionally a bellwether for liberal social change – would lead the nation toward wider acceptance of single-sex marriages. Arizona and Florida also voted Nov. 4 to ban gay marriage, bringing to 30 the number of states with prohibitions in their constitutions to block same-sex unions. But California’s vote packs bigger repercussions, both for its impact on samesex couples and on the gay rights movement. The vote marks the first time marriage rights have been granted and then rescinded, and it calls into question more than 18,000 California marriage licenses – many to out-of-state gay couples – that were issued in the six months since a state high court legalized gay weddings. California Attorney General Jerry Brown (D) has said approval of the ban would not invalidate the licenses, but gay rights activists expect his opinion to be challenged in court. The gay rights movement gained ground this year when courts in California and Connecticut followed Massachusetts’ 2003 precedent and ruled that same-sex couples have a right to marry under their state constitutions. The reversal in California dealt the movement a major emotional and political setback. Equally critical, California’s rejection of gay marriage is considered an indicator of voter attitudes in the rest of the country. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, the ban passed 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent. The issue quickly moved into the courts. Advocates for gay marriage filed three separate lawsuits with the California Supreme Court on Wednesday (Nov. 5), claiming the ballot process cannot be used to make such a sweeping revision to the state constitution. Nationwide, gay marriage bans have been approved by voters every time they’ve been put on the ballot – except for two years ago in Arizona. Meanwhile, voters in Colorado and South Dakota rejected sweeping bans on abortion that could have tested Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that provided women seeking abortions with legal protections. A third abortion measure — requiring doctors to notify parents of minors before performing the procedure — failed in California. (Stateline.org, Nov. 5. Reprinted with permission.) “Criminalization [of prostitution] encourages pimping because when you’re underground you’re more likely to be vulnerable to exploitation and need protection.” — Rachel West S.F. rejects legalization of prostitution San Francisco voters rejected a measure aimed a legalizing prostitution. Under Proposition K, the city’s police force would have been barred from investigating sex workers, pimps or johns. The proposed ordinance created a stir. Those in favor of the measure believed legalizing prostitution protects women and men who get paid to have sex with others. Those opposed to legalization believe most sex workers are victims. They see prostitution as human trafficking. “I think it’s completely ridiculous, just in case there’s an ambiguity about my position,” says Kamala D. Harris, the city’s district attorney. “It would put a welcome mat out for pimps and prostitutes to come on into San Francisco.” Rachel West of Yes on Prop K argues that “criminalization encourages pimping because when you’re underground you’re more likely to be vulnerable to exploitation and need protection.” In 2007, San Francisco police arrested 835 prostitutes and 888 johns. About 1 percent of the department’s resources are dedicated to fighting prostitution. (San Jose Mercury News, Oct. 31 and New York Times, Nov. 1) December 2008 Vol. 42, No. 12 | www.aasect.org Contemporary Sexuality 13 http://www.Stateline.org http://www.aasect.org

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Contemporary Sexuality - December 2008 Contents Member Profile Book Reviews News of Members Quck Hits: Sex in the News Educational Opportunities

Contemporary Sexuality - December 2008

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