Gutless Demo's Increase Funding of Abstinence Only Ed.

[Dardedar]

House Democrats Vote To Increase Funding Of Failed "Abstinence-Only" Program

By Bruce Wilson Fri Jun 08, 2007

DFLA's "Trojan Donkey" effort, to advance the Christian right's reproductive rights agenda within the Democratic Party seems to be well en route to success, judging by this latest abdication, by House Democrats, of responsibility for the health of young Americans. As James Waggoner, President of Advocates For Youth writes at RH Reality Check:

Today, the House Democrats will waltz into the mark-up of the Labor HHS Subcommittee and proudly present a bill that puts their stamp of approval on domestic abstinence-only-until-marriage programs--an ideological boondoggle that threatens the health and well-being of America's youth.
The most appalling aspect of this sell-out is that that the Democrats will not only fully fund the worst of the failed abstinence-only-until-marriage programs--they'll give them a $27 million increase--the first in three years!.... note: for more details, see this SIECUS press release

The "Community Based Abstinence Education" program in question was initiated, under President Clinton, as a bipartisan effort although, in reality, most of the federal money dispersed under the program, now proven ineffective, actually funds activists on the Christian right. I have to wonder about who was advising the Democratic Party on this, but in light of what certain campaign consultants favored by some Democratic Party insiders have recently stated, the HHS Subcommittee's behavior seems less suprising. On November 16, 2006 at a Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life roundtable event, co-founder of the hot new political consultancy "Common Good Strategies" Eric Sapp declared that "I'm pretty sure the pro-life Democrat package also had significant funding for abstinence [education] - which we all know is the most effective way to reduce unwanted pregnancies."

In response to Sapp's declaration, Charmaine Yoest, Vice President for Communications of Family Research Council, then asked Sapp "Could we have it on the record that Eric said "we all know abstinence is the most effective way?" " to which Sapp replied "Definitely".

This raises the question ; how prevalent is such endorsement of failed public health policies, based on junk science, among those Washington DC political consultants advising the Democratic Party ? During over a decade of "abstinence-only" sex ed in Texas, that state has performed close to the worst, as compared to all other US states, at lowering rates of teen pregnancy and in reducing STD rates.

SNIP

In one inglorious motion, the Democrats have sold the health and well-being of young people down the proverbial drain, delivered a public slap in the face to evidence-based public health, and made a mockery of their "prevention first" message.

The Rest

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

I don't even have a rep to call on this. Boozman, of course, votes for this kind of crap - I'm assuming from honest conviction - but that the Dems passed it is very demoralizing, as well as seriously immoral when you consider the effects of telling kids "just don't do it" without telling them what they aren't supposed to just not do.

[Dardedar]

DAR
Time to act on this one!

***
Public Policy Update: Abstinence-only Sex Ed Federal Legislation

July 17, 2007

LAST CHANCE TO ACT! Abstinence-only sex ed OK'd by Appropriations Committee; entire House to vote this week.

Last month the Secular Coalition of America (SCA) alerted IHS to an upcoming vote by the House Appropriations Committee on government funding for abstinence-only sexuality education. And we are disappointed to learn last week that the Committee had not only continued but actually increased funding for these public school programs, which have been proven ineffective as well as medically inaccurate and/or theologically-based.

A vote is expected on abstinence-only sex ed to reach the House floor this week: Wed. 7/18 or Thu. 7/19. Please use this last opportunity to influence your Representative's views! Read more and take action on SCA's Web site now.

http://www.secular.org/index.html

New Yorkers should be unwilling to accept the White House mandates that the money be used for classes focused almost exclusively on teaching chastity. These programs have been shown to be ineffective and often deceptive.

Currently, New York State has one of the highest incidences of sexually-transmitted diseases (STD's) and unwanted pregnancies in the nation. Comprehensive sex education has repeatedly been shown to be the most effective way to reduce STD's and unwanted pregnancies.

The SCA Action Alert system provides you a direct method of sending an e-mail to your Congressional Representative right from SCA's Web site. Once you've expressed your views, you can invite your friends to do the same.

The Secular Coalition for America and the Institute for Humanist Studies opposes government funding of abstinence-only sexuality education.