Some Abstinence Programs Lie to Teens

Though its been talked about in many places, but i thought it was worth a mention here. Social Conservatives have long held the belief that frank talk about sexuality causes one to be sexually reckless. because of this, there is an utter devotion to abstenance only programs. Since these don't work very well, they seem to have upped the ante by just flat out lying to kids about sex. How anyone can think utter ignorance can lead to responsible decisions is beyond me. Sadly, these programs are most popular where they have the highest failure rates.

Here are a few gems in these programs as mentioned in the Washington Post article:

• A 43-day-old fetus is a "thinking person."

• HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be spread via sweat and tears.

• Condoms fail to prevent HIV transmission as often as 31 percent of the time in heterosexual intercourse. (its 3% fail rate for STDs and pregnancy).

• Abortion can lead to sterility and suicide.

• Half the gay male teenagers in the United States have tested positive for the AIDS virus (actually, 59% of boys 13-18 yrs old become infected through heterosexual sex).

• Touching a person’s genitals “can result in pregnancy”.

• HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be spread via sweat and tears.

The article continues:

Supporters of the abstinence approach, also called abstinence until marriage, counter that teaching young people about "safer sex" is an invitation to have sex.

Alma Golden, deputy assistant secretary for population affairs in the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement that Waxman's report is a political document that does a "disservice to our children." Speaking as a pediatrician, Golden said, she knows "abstaining from sex is the most effective means of preventing the sexual transmission of HIV, STDs and preventing pregnancy."

Nonpartisan researchers have been unable to document measurable benefits of the abstinence-only model. Columbia University researchers found that although teenagers who take "virginity pledges" may wait longer to initiate sexual activity, 88 percent eventually have premarital sex.

These programs often target the sexual issue agenda of the 'moral majority'. President Bush has enthusiastically pushed $270 Million into these programs.