Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - (Page 4) ‘Yes We Can’ continued from page 1 “{Obama is} coming into office with two wars and an economy that is spiraling downwards. Everything else will be second-order business.” — Bill Albert several studies have shown abstinence programs aren’t as effective as comprehensive curricula, 28 states still accept federal funds to promote abstinence in public school classrooms. “We’re at a different place now than we were a few years ago,” says Smith of SIECUS. “It’s now abundantly clear that abstinence-only programs don’t work. Now that we know they don’t, why should we fund it?” In its November issue, Contemporary Sexuality reported on new research by Doug Kirby, PhD, which examined 56 studies measuring the impact of both abstinence-only and comprehensive sexuality programs. “Study results indicated that most abstinence programs did not delay initiation of sex and only 3 of the 9 had any positive effects on any sexual behavior,” Kirby wrote. Congress has funded abstinence programs through three bills: Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE), Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA), and Title V of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. Title V includes the “A-H definition” that abstinence programs must meet to receive funding, which includes teaching “that sexual activity outside the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects” and “that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and other associated health problems.” (The definition is here: www.advocatesforyouth.org/abstinenceonly/ abonlydefinition.htm.) Albert suggests expanding the definition of acceptable curricula so comprehensive programs could begin receiving funds. “It’s a no-cost alternative,” Albert says. Wa g o n e r rejects that approach, saying he “absolutely” believes now is the time to eliminate federal funding for abstinence programs. He points to the statements made by Pelosi at the 2008 Netroots Nation conference. “Abstinenceonly is not only a James Wagoner poor and bad George Bush and Barack Obama meet in the oval office shortly after Obama’s election victory. Photo courtesy of the White House policy, it is dangerous to the health of our young people,” Pelosi said. “It’s ideological. It’s political. It’s catering to a radical right-wing view and it should be stopped.” Asked by a conference attendee why it continues to survive, Pelosi replied that more prochoice Democrats needed to be elected to the House of Representatives. “I think 20 passes that test,” Wagoner says, referring to the new Democratic House victories in November. In previous years, some Democrats have supported abstinence programs, including Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin and Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, both chairs of key committees that fund abstinence-only programs. Wagoner believes those powerful committee chairs won’t be able to halt new efforts to eliminate abstinence programs. Eliminating abstinence programs is also important at SIECUS. Smith says it’s at the “top of the list” on his legislative agenda. One new strategy: Encouraging HIV/AIDS and reproductive rights organizations to emphasize the importance of zeroing out funding for CBAE, AFLA and Title V. “We’re trying to create a chorus of voices so [Obama] is hearing it from many different perspectives,” Smith says. As a senator, Obama co-sponsored the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, a bill that promises to teach “age-appropriate and medically accurate” comprehensive sexuality education. According to the Advocates for Youth website, the bill would stress “the value of abstinence while not ignoring young people who have had or are having sex.” An increase for Title X? Since its creation in 1970, Title X of the Public Health Service Act has funded access to birth control and family planning services for the www.aasect.org | January 2009 Vol. 43, No. 1 4 Contemporary Sexuality http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/abstinenceonly/abonlydefinition.htm http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/abstinenceonly/abonlydefinition.htm http://www.aasect.org
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 Contents Member Profile Quick Hits: Sex in the News News of Members News from AASECT's Board of Directors Educational Opportunities Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Contents (Page 1) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Contents (Page 2) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Member Profile (Page 3) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Member Profile (Page 4) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Member Profile (Page 5) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Member Profile (Page 6) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Quick Hits: Sex in the News (Page 7) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Quick Hits: Sex in the News (Page 8) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - News of Members (Page 9) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - News from AASECT's Board of Directors (Page 10) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Educational Opportunities (Page 11) Contemporary Sexuality - January 2009 - Educational Opportunities (Page 12)
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.