ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH

Advocates for Youth Commends New Surgeon General's Support for Comprehensive Sex Education

Dr. Richard Carmona Says Programs Should Include Discussion of Condoms

WASHINGTON, DC (May 14, 2003) Advocates for Youth President James Wagoner today praised Surgeon General Richard Carmona for his recent remarks supporting comprehensive sex education for young people, but questioned the Bush Administration's support for exporting abstinence-only programs under the global AIDS legislation being considered in the Senate this week.

"The Surgeon General realizes that comprehensive sex education—education that covers abstinence and contraception—is critical in protecting the health and lives of America's youth in the era of AIDS," said Wagoner. "It is stunning that the administration is exporting an unproven approach that has failed to gain the support of the nation's leading public health official."

According to a recent Associated Press article detailing the Surgeon General's position, Dr. Carmona stated that sex education programs should include discussion of condoms and other forms of birth control. The AP quoted Dr. Carmona as saying "As part of comprehensive education, we should be talking about all of the issues."

Wagoner noted that Dr. Carmona has added his voice to a long list of former Surgeons General from as far back as President Reagan's administration who support a comprehensive approach to sex education:

• Dr. C. Everett Koop stated, "There is no doubt that we need sex education in public schools and that it [should] include information on heterosexual and homosexual relationships… [starting] at the lowest grade possible."
• Stressing the need for "scientific, dependable information about HIV and AIDS," Dr. Antonia Novella wrote in the Surgeon General's Report to the American Public on HIV Infection and AIDS about the need for information on using latex condoms correctly to prevent the spread of disease.
• Dr. Joycelyn Elders, in a 1993 editorial for the Journal of the American Medical Association, stated, "Comprehensive health education should be taught to all children, starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school."
• Dr. David Satcher, in his Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health, stated the need to "assure awareness of optimal protection from sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy."

Leading scientific agencies such as the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Institute of Medicine, the Society for Adolescent Medicine, and more than 100 other medical and professional organizations are also all on record supporting a more realistic approach to sex education—education that includes information about abstinence and condoms.

Even high-ranking members of the President's own administration support condom use and question the wisdom of promoting unproven programs. Appearing on MTV, Secretary of State Colin Powell called on the international community to "forget about conservative ideas" on the issue of condoms, stating, "condoms are a way to prevent infection. Therefore, I not only support their use, I encourage their use among young people who are sexually active."

Yet, the Bush Administration continues to support programs that censor information about condoms for the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, including recent attempts to export these programs as part of a global HIV/AIDS prevention package. Since 1996, more than $700 million in federal and state funds have been directed to these unproven and ineffective programs. Soon, Congress will vote on whether to approve more financial support for these "abstinence-only-until-marriage" programs as part of omnibus welfare reform reauthorization and the annual appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services.

"The time is now for this Administration to pull its collective head out of the sand and fund programs that work. They must put political ideology aside, listen to the recommendations from the nation's top doctors and medical institutions, and provide young people with the tools of responsible decision-making about sex," concluded Wagoner.

Advocates for Youth is an international, nonprofit organization that creates programs and advocates for policies that help young people make safe, responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

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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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