ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH

77 National and State Organizations Urge President Bush to Withdraw Support for Unproven Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs

WASHINGTON, DC (February 8, 2002)—In a letter to President Bush, spearheaded by Advocates for Youth, 77 organizations opposed continued funding of ineffective abstinence-only-until-marriage programs—programs that censor information about contraception from young people.

The letter urged the President to instead fund science-based sexuality education that includes age-appropriate, medically accurate information about both abstinence and contraception.

"It is time for this Administration to put political ideology aside, stop censoring critical health information, and provide young people with the tools for responsible decision-making about sex," said James Wagoner, President of Advocates for Youth. "Young people's health and lives are being put at risk while politicians push simplistic solutions—like abstinence-only-until marriage—to complex problems."

The letter, sent to the White House today, states "Continued increases to these unproven abstinence-only-until-marriage programs fly in the face of both scientific evidence and the desires of parents….We urge you to follow the science, protect the health of America's teens, and reconsider your funding request."

Click here to view the full text of the letter to President Bush, the full list of national and state organizations signed-on, or to learn more about sexuality education.

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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.

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