|
July 21, 2000
Letters to the Editor
The Washington Post
1150 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20071
To the Editor:
At a time when 800,000 U.S. teens become pregnant each year, close to
four million teens contract a sexually transmitted disease, and nearly
half of all new HIV infections occur in people under the age of 25, Americans
cannot allow conservative interest groups to censor life-saving sexuality
information from teens.
The Pure Love Alliance, a radical abstinence-only-until-marriage advocacy
group connected to Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church (Friday,
July 21), does just that—prohibits information about contraception
for the prevention of pregnancy and disease.
On the other hand, comprehensive sexuality education provides information
on both abstinence and contraception.
Those who receive this realistic sexuality education are more likely
to begin having sex later in life and to use protection correctly and
consistently when they do become sexually active.
That is why the American Medical Association (AMA) has urged schools
to "implement comprehensive, developmentally appropriate sexuality
education programs." In fact, the AMA, the American Nurses Association,
the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as more than 50 other medical
and professional organizations support comprehensive sexuality
education as most effective for young people.
Advocates for Youth applauds the Chicago school system's refusal to
allow the politics of a conservative minority to be put before the health
and well-being of a generation of young people.
In the era of AIDS, we cannot afford, and should not be forced, to choose
between encouraging abstinence and providing accurate sexuality
information that could save our children's lives. It's not a case of either abstinence or contraception.
Young people need and deserve both.
Sincerely,
James Wagoner
President, Advocates for Youth
Note to Editors
and Producers: For more information or to set up an interview
with adolescent sexuality experts, please contact Bill Barker at
(202) 419-3420.
RETURN TO INDEX
OF PRESS RELEASES >>
|
Send this page to a friend