FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
CONTACT:
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Deni
Robey/Andrea Miller (212)
260-1520 |
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Monday,
June 17, 2002 |
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Bill Barker (202)
419-3420 |
Why Are
Politicians Rewriting Some of Life's Most Important Lessons?
Advocates
for Youth questions President Bush's
half a billion dollar request for
abstinence-only "mis-education" that
parents, teens, and medical experts
agree is a disservice to young people
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Click
on the image to view the ad appearing first
in today's edition of Roll Call.
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Washington,
DC (June 17, 2002) -- As the Senate
prepares to debate an omnibus welfare reform package, Advocates
for Youth has stepped up its efforts to counter a little-noted
provision of the bill, which would reauthorize $250 million in
federal funding over the next 5 years for abstinence-until-marriage
programs.
An
ad appearing first in today's edition
of Roll Call asks, "Why
are politicians rewriting some of life's
most important lessons?" The
ad likens funding abstinence-until-marriage
sex education to teaching students
that "Ignorance is the
best policy," "Knowledge
is bad," and to "never be
prepared." Criticizing proponents
of abstinence-only sex education for
ignoring scientific research and going
against parent's wishes, Advocates
for Youth urges policy makers to give
young people the facts: provide
information about abstinence and contraception.
Since 1996, roughly half a billion
in federal and state funds has been
directed toward programs that teach
young people that they should abstain
from sexual
activity until marriage -- and censor information about the health benefits
birth control, including condoms. President Bush's latest budget request
to Congress seeks an additional half billion in federal funds for these efforts,
including $137 million to be spent in the next year alone -- despite the fact
that there is still no evidence that such programs are effective at reducing
teen pregnancy and preventing STD transmission.
Advocates for Youth, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to creating programs
and promoting policies that help young people to make informed and responsible
decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
For copies of the advertisement or more
information on sex education policies and programs, contact Deni Robey
or Andrea Miller at (212) 260-1520 or Bill Barker at (202)
419-3420.
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