Thread: President Obama ENDS abstinence-only funding

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President Obama ENDS abstinence-only funding. Urgent action needed!

Earlier today, President Obama released the first budget of his presidency - which included some tremendously exciting news! The proposed FY10 federal budget eliminates all funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.

Study after study has shown that these programs are ineffective at best - a total waste of the $1.5 billion the U.S. government has spent to date on these failed programs. Even worse, abstinence-only programs often contain false or misleading information about condoms and contraception!

Write to your representatives in Congress today! Ask them to stand with President Obama and support the elimination of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.

With this budget, President Obama fulfilled his campaign promises to return to science-based policies and to cut programs that simply don't work.

Now the ball is clearly in the court of the Democrats in Congress - most notably Speaker Pelosi and House Appropriations Chairman Obey (D-WI). The President has made it clear that he wants no more congressional funding for failed abstinence-only programs.

Will Congress have the courage to follow through on this vision? Tell your representatives it's time to end funding for abstinence-only programs and start funding comprehensive sex education!

As the budget process moves forward, we all have a role to play - working to ensure that there is no "back door" route for these programs to receive funding, and to build support for comprehensive sex education that takes a holistic approach to the many issues facing young people's sexual health.

We are standing on the brink of an enormous victory for young people in America. Together, we can turn this long-awaited vision into reality.



James Wagoner
President
Advocates for Youth

PS - Take a stand with President Obama! Tell Congress it's time to finally eliminate abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and fund comprehensive sex education.

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My opinion of this~~


I think it is totally stupid and irresponsible to discontinue the teaching of abstinence in our public schools. If my daughter can be taught about the pill and how to apply a condom, then she should be taught how to keep her legs closed also!!
This is outrageous!
I do agree with the teaching of sex ed. in our schools, it needs to be taught how to be an adult about safe sex, but there is in no way in the world wrong with teaching and trying to influence our youth to treat sex as something special and that it should be saved untill marriage~~what's so wrong with that? May not always happen that way~ but why not teach it!
Obviously they have failed at sex education also.

I think it is totally stupid and irresponsible to discontinue the teaching of abstinence in our public schools. If my daughter can be taught about the pill and how to apply a condom, then she should be taught how to keep her legs closed also!!
This is outrageous!
I do agree with the teaching of sex ed. in our schools, it needs to be taught how to be an adult about safe sex, but there is in no way in the world wrong with teaching and trying to influence our youth to treat sex as something special and that it should be saved untill marriage~~what's so wrong with that? May not always happen that way~ but why not teach it!
Obviously they have failed at sex education also.

I completely agree with you.

If we 'lower the standard', the 'standard' will get even lower......

If it was proved that it wasn't working, then why continue to fund it? Put the money to use elsewhere. Like daycares in highschools. Because obviously the teen pregancy rates aren't lower. You can have these kids signs promises and pledges all day long but a piece of paper is only a piece of paper in the heat of passion. Its our responsibilty as parents to teach our children abstence not the governments. Its time that parents step up to the plate and be parents.

Originally Posted by gmyers

I hope it doesn't backfire though or he may be paying a lot more out in welfare to teenage moms.

It didn't work, so how could it backfire? The teenage pregancy rate isn't down, so I can guess that teens recieving welfare hasn't gone down either.

Originally Posted by gmyers

It has helped some teens because I've heard them talking about it on tv. It doesn't work for all teens but I'm sure it does for some. Those are the ones I'm talking about.

I can appreciate what you are saying. I am not sure if you have children or not. But I know that telling a teen one thing, almost guarantees them to do another...lol. Its not up to the government to teach our children things that should be taught at home.

I know a teenage girl here who signed a pledge not to have sex until she was married. She ended up pregant 2 months after signing the pledge. It did not end well.

Originally Posted by gmyers

I hope it doesn't backfire though or he may be paying a lot more out in welfare to teenage moms.

I think cutting back on THAT program would do ALOT to curb teen pregnancy.

Originally Posted by YankeeMary

If it was proved that it wasn't working, then why continue to fund it? Put the money to use elsewhere. Like daycares in highschools. Because obviously the teen pregancy rates aren't lower. You can have these kids signs promises and pledges all day long but a piece of paper is only a piece of paper in the heat of passion. Its our responsibilty as parents to teach our children abstence not the governments. Its time that parents step up to the plate and be parents.

Absolutely not.......it is not acceptable. Sorry, now way do I want that message sent.

A teen's mind does not work the way an adult's mind does........that is just a reinforcement of something undesirable.( high school daycares)

Put the daycare a few blocks away, not in the same building/complex.

Sorry, I just feel strongly about that. Wrong message being sent.

I don't believe in the 'signing of pledges' but I do believe of reinforcing abstinence. That is the only way to guarantee unwanted children and diseases......

ETA: From personal experience, the FEAR of an unwanted pregnancy, disgrace and disease made me go above and beyond securing the ultimate in birth control 10x over. Did it 'stop' me? NO, but it sure as hell made me think and take every freakin' precaution known to man at the time.....short of abstinence, but had the bar been lowered and had it been considered 'acceptable' and 'doable'....who knows.....