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.
National Update – Federal Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding
What Happened?
Earlier this month, Congress passed a spending bill that included a $28 million dollar increase in funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, with total funding for these programs now at $204 million. The bill then went to the President’s desk, where it was vetoed. Later that week an attempt to override the veto failed by only 2 votes.
So now what?
Congress will start over and prepare a new spending bill.
Public health researchers are weighing in on the issue. In a recent letter to Congressional leadership, Dr. John Santelli and others asked congress to cut or eliminate abstinence-only-until-marriage funding as it withholds information that can keep youth safe and healthy. To read the letter, visit www.nationalpartnership.org.
National advocacy groups continue to push for an end to abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and for funding for proven programs. Sex Ed for Life is monitoring this issue and will keep you informed as the situation progresses.
To read a recent press release from Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), visit www.siecus.org.
In the News
Recent California Legislation Supports Sex Ed
The Sexual Health Education Accountability Act, which will become law on January 1, 2008, ensures that state funds for community-based sex education are directed to areas with high rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancy. The Act specifies that funding for community-based sex education is to be spent on programs that, in addition to being medically accurate and free of bias, do not promote or teach religious doctrine, are culturally and linguistically appropriate and include information about at least one FDA-approved method for preventing pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections. For more information, visit www.siecus.org.
Sex Ed Standards Drafted
The District of Columbia agency in charge of setting academic standards recently drafted proposals for all grades on world languages, physical education and health, which includes sex education. For more information, visit www.washingtonpost.com.
Resources
Reviews of Abstinence-Only Speakers
The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) recently released new reviews of abstinence-only-until-marriage speakers and programs, monthly controversy reports and information updates, to be incorporated into their Community Action Kit for sex education activists. For more information, visit www.communityactionkit.org.
Research
Emerging Answers 2007
According to a new report released by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, a growing number of sex education programs that support both abstinence and the use of contraception for sexually active teens have now shown positive effects in delaying first intercourse, improving contraceptive use and preventing pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases among teens. View the summary (PDF) or download the full report. (PDF) To view the Kaiser coverage of the new report, visit npwf.convio.net.