Patrick Just Says No to Abstinence-only Sex Ed

posted by The Unicow
posted 9/9/2007 5:32:25 PM

I missed this in the Sentinel when it was reported a couple of days ago, but it appears that the Patrick administration has rejected $700,000 in federal money for abstinence-only sex education. That's the sex education technique preferred by people who still refer to menstruation as "The Curse", for those of you not in the know.

The article (presumably lifted from the Lowell Sun) only sort of relates to Fitchburg, because:

Healthy Futures, a group with pro-life roots, which administers the grant funding in Massachusetts, doesn't offer programs in Worcester County or Western Massachusetts, but was looking to expand statewide.

"That's been part of our plan, to expand into Worcester County and Western Massachusetts," said Rebecca Ray, executive director of Healthy Futures.
So while it wasn't here yet, they had plans on coming here. Why is it a good thing that they're been stopped in their tracks? Allow me to explain.

Abstinence-only sex ed doesn't work. Oddly, this fact (and yes, it's a fact) wasn't mentioned anywhere in the Sentinel/Sun article. Shocking!

Why, just last month there was a study in the British Medical Joural of US abstinence-only programs, which as reported in the New York Times found that:
None of the programs made any significant difference in preventing pregnancy, reducing unprotected sex, or delaying sexual initiation.
So yeah, they don't work! But surely there's an upside to these abstinence-only programs?

Well, perhaps.
Although teenagers who take "virginity pledges" begin engaging in vaginal intercourse later than teens who have not committed to remain abstinent until marriage, they also are more likely to engage in oral or anal sex than nonpledging virgin teens and less likely to use condoms once they become sexually active.
So if your prefer oral or anal sex and you hate condoms, just go find someone who's taken a "virginity pledge"! Thanks, abstinence-only sex education!

There's a ton of information available online about abstinence-only programs like this and the equally-ineffective D.A.R.E program, yet they somehow keep getting funded. It's as if all you have to do is say "my program is designed to stop [bad thing]!" and people will give you money whether or not the program actually does anything.

Anyway, way to go Deval! Having a governor with a brain is sort of nice!

Tags: sexy federal funding, abstinence, deval patrick
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