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April 2007 update on new publications, actions you can take, and more!
Advocates for Youth's e-News Update
News You Can Use
Getting REAL
The REAL Act is introduced in Congress
On March 22, 2007, Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act. The bill would create federal funding, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for comprehensive sexuality education that is age-appropriate, medically accurate, and stresses abstinence, while also educating young people about contraception.
"The REAL Act represents a return to common sense public health policy that focuses on the well-being of all young people," said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth. "We know that teenagers who receive comprehensive sex education that includes discussions on abstinence and contraception are more likely than those who receive abstinence-only messages to delay sexual initiation, to use contraception when they do become sexually active and to have fewer partners."
To read the full press release, please click here.
For more information:
April Is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is a month dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence and increasing the public's understanding about sexual violence in our society. It also provides opportunities for the community to be directly involved in supporting survivors, their families, and agencies that provide crisis intervention throughout the year.
Violence affects people of all racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Violence can take several forms, including domestic or intimate partner violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, dating violence, and elder abuse.
Dating violence and abuse can lead to negative sexual health outcomes: the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy are higher for young people who have a history of abuse. Those who have experienced dating violence are also more likely to suffer from mental illness and suicidal thoughts and to be involved in binge drinking, smoking, and/or fighting.
April 18th Is the National Day of Silence
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (GLBTQ) youth face tremendous difficulties growing up in a society where heterosexuality is often presented as the only acceptable orientation, and homosexuality is regarded as deviant. Research suggests that homophobia and heterosexism greatly contribute to higher rates of suicide, violence victimization, risk behavior for HIV infection, and substance abuse among GLBTQ youth compared to their heterosexual peers.
The National Day of Silence is an annual event held to commemorate and protest anti-GLBTQ bullying, harassment, and discrimination in schools. People nationwide will observe the day in silence to stress the silence that GLBTQ and ally students face every day.
May Is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (NTTPM)
The United States continues to have higher rates of teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion than other industrialized nations. Each year, approximately 750,000 to 850,000 teenage women in the United States experience pregnancy. Seventy-four to 95 percent of teen pregnancies are unintended.
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (NTPPM) is an educational campaign designed to help communities recognize that the effects of unintended teen pregnancy and early childbearing are far reaching. The campaign increases the public's awareness of and commitment to teen pregnancy prevention and mobilizes communities to help young people develop responsible, positive behaviors and attitudes regarding sexuality.
Please join Advocates for Youth in making NTPPM an effective year-round catalyst to highlight and promote sexual health information and services for teens.
Start planning your events now!
- For more information about National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, click here.
- To find evaluated, effective programs, click here.
- To read our publications on teen pregnancy prevention, click here.
Let's Talk About Sex
 SisterSong is proud to present its 2007 National Conference entitled "Let's Talk about Sex" on May 31-June 3, 3007, in Chicago, Illinois. African American Women Evolving will host the conference.
Join Advocates for Youth staff at this important conference.
For more information, please visit: http://www.sistersong.net/
News of the Absurd
Governor pulls funding for breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt pulled funding from two Planned Parenthood affiliates that provided free breast cancer and cervical cancer exams. Why?
"Patients should not have to go to an abortion clinic to access life-saving tests," Blunt said in a written statement.
However, the two Planned Parenthood affiliates from which he pulled the funding do not and have never provided abortion services.
Click here to read the full story.
Vagina, Monologue!
After an open mic session at John Jay High School in Westchester, NY, three students were suspended.
For what? Saying the word "vagina."
Click here to read the full story.
New At Advocates
HPV Vaccine: Not a Silver Bullet
Jalan currently serves on the Advocates for Youth Board of Directors and is a student at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
The following is an excerpt of a blog Jalan wrote about her concerns that young women might not get pap smears once the HPV vaccine is widespread.
"I recently saw one of Merck's"One Less" commercials that depict ethnically diverse, physically active, and attractive women discussing the importance of being vaccinated against cervical cancer. All of these women want to be "one less" woman with cervical cancer. They urge everyone to share information about this vaccine with loved ones so that they too can be "one less" woman with cervical cancer.
The new vaccine, Gardasil®, manufactured by Merck Pharmaceuticals, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for young women, ages 9-26. Clearly Merck is putting a lot of money behind promoting this vaccine to young women. But this captivating commercial can lull young women into a false sense of security about their reproductive health."
To read the full blog, please visit http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2007/03/26/hpv-vaccine-not-a-silver-bullet.
ACT UP Turns 20
Naina Dhingra is the Director of International Policy at Advocates for Youth
Twenty years ago this month, one of the most powerful activist movements was born--the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power--better known as ACT UP. ACT UP has accomplished many things in 20 years but perhaps the most powerful is the lessons that it has to offer the reproductive justice movement in the current political climate.
To read the full blog, please visit http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2007/03/29/act-up-turns-20
Take Action!
Support the PATHWAY Act!
Introducing a Bipartisan Bill to Remove Abstinence-Only from Overseas U.S. AIDS Prevention Programs
The Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2007 (PATHWAY) is a bill that calls for the development of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy that addresses the major factors contributing to gender disparities in HIV infection. Women and girls are at much higher risk for infection; the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) does little to address this group that is quickly becoming the face of the pandemic.
The bill would remove the abstinence-only-until-marriage funding earmark from PEPFAR.
Send a letter to your Representative today!
Please visit: http://capwiz.com/advofy/issues/alert/?alertid=9572351
Tell Congress to Get REAL!
Send a letter to your representatives and senators urging them to co-sponsor the REAL Act.
The Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act would provide federal money to support responsible sex education in schools. This education would include science-based, medically accurate, and age appropriate public health information about both abstinence and contraception.
Send a letter to your Representative today!
Please visit: http://capwiz.com/advofy/issues/alert/?alertid=9572551
Send a letter to your Senator today!
Please visit: http://capwiz.com/advofy/issues/alert/?alertid=9572711
Read All About It
New Publication at Advocates
The Facts--Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health in Jamaica
Youth ages 10 to 24 comprise nearly one-third of Jamaica's total population of more than 2.6 million. Early sexual activity - combined with a lack of relevant information, services, and skills to avoid risky situations - place Jamaican youth at risk of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, and other threats to their sexual and reproductive health.
You can help Advocates for Youth with a contribution today. To donate, visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/about/donatetoday.htm
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