by James Wagoner, President, Advocates for Youth

After a decade of denial and ideological assault on science-based public health, the passage of the omnibus appropriations bill this past weekend represents a major win for youth advocates who support rights-based, evidence-based sexual and reproductive health programs. Not only did the legislation "flip the switch" on $114 million in federal spending from abstinence-only-until-marriage programs to comprehensive teen pregnancy prevention and sex education programs, it also established an office on adolescent health within the office of the Secretary at HHS.

While these victories are significant, advocates will need to maintain their vigilance given the timidity many Democrats and Administration officials have exhibited when it comes to sexual health issues. 

by James Wagoner, President, Advocates for Youth

This week, the Senate voted AGAINST using health care reform to restrict women’s access to abortion coverage.  By a vote of 54 to 45 – and after weeks of grassroots pressure from across the country – the Senate delivered a striking victory.

And it wouldn’t have happened without you.

We’ve sent an enormous number of email these past few weeks – so thank you for bearing with is, and for all you have done to help reach this point.

In the last few weeks, you have:

• Sent 5,395 letters to Congress
• Made thousands of phone calls to your Senators
• Organized events and helped raise awareness on over 100 college campuses

And on December 2, more than 1,200 activists came to DC to lobby their legislators in person. 

Momentum is on our side – call Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office today. 

by James Wagoner, President, Advocates for Youth

More than with any recent bill in Congress, this fight over health care reform is as much about legislative procedure as it is about the substance of the bill itself. 

The Senate is likely to pass its version of health care reform in the next few weeks – without new, unnecessary restrictions on abortion coverage, but with $50 million in restored funding for ineffective and ideologically driven abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. 

After that, the Senate bill must be merged with the health care reform bill passed by the House of Representatives last month…  And here’s where it gets tricky. 

by Emily Bridges, Director of Public Information Services

The school district of Alameda, California has been in the news because of its elementary school curriculum about bullying prevention.  

The problem with the curriculum:  its Lesson 9 teaches that some people have same-sex parents and that those students should not be bullied.

Without even the usual lip service to their caring for the sinner but not the sin, anti-gay activists have cried "Indoctrination!"  One activist said parents don't want their kids being "bombarded" with "pro-homosexual messages" at school.

Others say it's just too early to learn these lessons; when the lesson was introduced a conservative blogger called it  "The end of the innocence" - a particularly disturbing formulation as it implies that teaching kids not to taunt and bully others is the equivalent of teaching them The Joy Of Gay Sex.