Sexuality Education for Life - Minnesota Coalition
April 2007 E-Newsletter
Sexuality Education for Life - Minnesota is a coalition of educational, religious, health, social service and advocacy organizations, as well as concerned individuals that promotes lifelong healthy sexuality by advocating for policies on comprehensive sexuality education and access to confidential health care services.
Welcome New Coalition Members
We are pleased to welcome the newest organizational member of the Coalition, Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA)! MNCASA joined the coalition as an agency partner in March 2007.
To join the coalition as an agency partner or individual member, visit http://www.sexedforlife.org/join.htm.
2007 Legislative Update
Minnesota Update
Responsible Family Life and Sexuality Education - Update and Action Alert
Responsible Sex Ed (HF 615) has been included, for the first time, in the House Education Omnibus bill and continues to move forward in committee. The K-6 language has been removed from the bill. Removing the K-6 language does not detract from the intent of the bill and does not in any way preclude school districts from offering K-6 curriculum. SF 588 has not been included in the Senate Education Omnibus bill. For more information on what’s happening at the Capitol, contact Lorie Alveshere, MOAPPP Policy Director at lorie@moappp.org or Amy Brugh, MN AIDS Project Public Policy Director at amy.brugh@mnaidsproject.org.
Sex Ed for Life Youth Lobby Day
On Wednesday March 28, over 70 youth advocates from SEFL member organizations met at the Capitol to support comprehensive sex education. It was a great day! Youth from across the state visited with more than 20 legislators asking them to show support for responsible, medically accurate sex education.
What can you do to support Comprehensive Sexuality Education?
§ Talk to your legislators! As we move forward through session, legislators need to hear a consistent message that you support responsible sex ed in public schools and want to see action on the issue this session. Urge your legislators to continue to support responsible sex education. Find your legislator at district finder.
§ Ask Legislative Leadership to support this issue! Call the legislative leadership offices and ask them to support passing responsible sex education legislation this year (SF588 and HF006). Leadership contact information can be found at the links below.
Speaker Kelliher
House Majority Leader Sertich
Senate Majority Leader Pogemiller
Senate Assistant Majority Leader Clark
§ Stay Tuned! Watch for action alerts and issue updates on the Education Omnibus Bill HF 006 (includes HF 615) and SF 588. Sign up for MyBill, a free service that allows you to track bills as they progress through the legislature.
In the News
HHS Assistant Secretary for Children, Families Horn To Step Down
Wade Horn, assistant secretary for HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, who oversees abstinence education programs for the Bush administration, announced Monday that he will resign from his position. As assistant secretary, Horn oversaw a $46 billion budget for 65 programs.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=44008
Recent Legislation in New York and Washington Advances Sexuality Education; Missouri Legislation Moves to Tighten Sexuality Education
So far in the 2007 state legislative session, several attempts have been made both to advance and restrict sexuality education. New York and Washington have brought forth bills to strengthen access to sexuality education, while Missouri has tried to deny young people access to full, accurate information.
http://www.siecus.org/policy/PUpdates/pdate0310.html
Montgomery County School Board Approves New Sexuality Education Curriculum
From March to May of 2005, Montgomery County, Maryland garnered national attention as a few fringe groups, many from outside the area, let loose an all-out campaign against a new sexuality education curriculum for the county’s public schools. However, a recent victory in this same community – just outside of Washington, D.C. – shows that extreme opposition to common sense sexuality education can be overcome.
http://www.siecus.org/policy/PUpdates/pdate0309.html
Wisconsin Governor Rejects Federal Abstinence Education Funds
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has directed the state Department of Health and Family Services to notify federal officials that Wisconsin is refusing $600,000 in Title V federal abstinence education funds for fiscal year 2007. To receive Title V funds, states must adhere to strict requirements, including barring teachers from discussing contraception and requiring them to say that sex within marriage is "the expected standard of sexual activity."
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=43365
Ohio Gov. Strickland Proposed Budget Would Eliminate Abstinence-Only Education Programs
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland's proposed $53 billion budget would eliminate the state's federally funded abstinence-only sex education programs. California, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have also rejected Title V funds (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/6).
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=43818
Resources
Guttmacher Institute State Policies in Brief from March 2007:
An Overview of Minors’ Consent Law
http://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_OMCL.pdf
Sex and STI/HIV Education
http://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_SE.pdf
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Sexuality Education for Life-Minnesota is a coalition of educational, religious, health, social service and advocacy organizations, as well as concerned individuals that promotes lifelong healthy sexuality by advocating for policies on comprehensive sexuality education and access to confidential health care services. Sexuality Education for Life-Minnesota is coordinated by Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting and Minnesota AIDS Project.
The SEFL Coalition is supported by the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation, and the Public Welfare Foundation.
For more information on the SEFL Coalition, go to Sex Ed for Life. Please forward this information on to others interested in supporting the health of Minnesota youth and encourage them to sign up at Sex Ed for Life.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, e-mail Lorie Alveshere, subject line: unsubscribe Sex Ed for Life.