Don't have sex until you're 30, Your tax dollars at work
casey
Posts: 10
Abstinence message goes beyond teens
Updated 10/31/2006 8:32 AM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Reprints & Permissions | Subscribe to stories like this
By Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY
The federal government's "no sex without marriage" message isn't just for kids anymore.
Now the government is targeting unmarried adults up to age 29 as part of its abstinence-only programs, which include millions of dollars in federal money that will be available to the states under revised federal grant guidelines for 2007.
The government says the change is a clarification. But critics say it's a clear signal of a more directed policy targeting the sexual behavior of adults.
"They've stepped over the line of common sense," said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that supports sex education. "To be preaching abstinence when 90% of people are having sex is in essence to lose touch with reality. It's an ideological campaign. It has nothing to do with public health."
Abstinence education programs, which have focused on preteens and teens, teach that abstaining from sex is the only effective or acceptable method to prevent pregnancy or disease. They give no instruction on birth control or safe sex.
The National Center for Health Statistics says well over 90% of adults ages 20-29 have had sexual intercourse.
But Wade Horn, assistant secretary for children and families at the Department of Health and Human Services, said the revision is aimed at 19- to 29-year-olds because more unmarried women in that age group are having children.
Government data released last month show that 998,262 births in 2004 were to unmarried women 19-29, the ages with the most births to unmarried women.
"The message is 'It's better to wait until you're married to bear or father children,' " Horn said. "The only 100% effective way of getting there is abstinence."
The revised guidelines specify that states seeking grants are "to identify groups ... most likely to bear children out-of-wedlock, targeting adolescents and/or adults within the 12- through 29-year-old age range." Previous guidelines didn't mention targeting of an age group.
"We wanted to remind states they could use these funds not only to target adolescents," Horn said. "It's a reminder."
Last year, 46 states applied for the federal abstinence-education money, to fund programs in schools, neighborhood clubs and faith-based organizations.
Sarah Brown, director of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, says abstinence programs are among many messages that have helped reduce teen pregnancy rates. But "the notion that the federal government is supporting millions of dollars worth of messages to people who are grown adults about how to conduct their sex life is a very divisive policy," she says.
"We would oppose any program that stigmatizes unmarried people," adds Nicky Grist, executive director of the Alternatives to Marriage Project, a non-profit organization based in Brooklyn, N.Y., that advocates for the rights of unmarried people.
For last year's state grants, Congress appropriated $50 million. A similar amount is expected for 2007, but the money has not yet been allocated, according to the Administration for Children and Families.
"I think the program should talk about the problem with out-of- wedlock childbearing — not about your sex life," Brown says. "If you use contraception effectively and consistently, you will not be in the pool of out-of-wedlock births."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-30-abstinence-message_x.htm
Updated 10/31/2006 8:32 AM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Reprints & Permissions | Subscribe to stories like this
By Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY
The federal government's "no sex without marriage" message isn't just for kids anymore.
Now the government is targeting unmarried adults up to age 29 as part of its abstinence-only programs, which include millions of dollars in federal money that will be available to the states under revised federal grant guidelines for 2007.
The government says the change is a clarification. But critics say it's a clear signal of a more directed policy targeting the sexual behavior of adults.
"They've stepped over the line of common sense," said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that supports sex education. "To be preaching abstinence when 90% of people are having sex is in essence to lose touch with reality. It's an ideological campaign. It has nothing to do with public health."
Abstinence education programs, which have focused on preteens and teens, teach that abstaining from sex is the only effective or acceptable method to prevent pregnancy or disease. They give no instruction on birth control or safe sex.
The National Center for Health Statistics says well over 90% of adults ages 20-29 have had sexual intercourse.
But Wade Horn, assistant secretary for children and families at the Department of Health and Human Services, said the revision is aimed at 19- to 29-year-olds because more unmarried women in that age group are having children.
Government data released last month show that 998,262 births in 2004 were to unmarried women 19-29, the ages with the most births to unmarried women.
"The message is 'It's better to wait until you're married to bear or father children,' " Horn said. "The only 100% effective way of getting there is abstinence."
The revised guidelines specify that states seeking grants are "to identify groups ... most likely to bear children out-of-wedlock, targeting adolescents and/or adults within the 12- through 29-year-old age range." Previous guidelines didn't mention targeting of an age group.
"We wanted to remind states they could use these funds not only to target adolescents," Horn said. "It's a reminder."
Last year, 46 states applied for the federal abstinence-education money, to fund programs in schools, neighborhood clubs and faith-based organizations.
Sarah Brown, director of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, says abstinence programs are among many messages that have helped reduce teen pregnancy rates. But "the notion that the federal government is supporting millions of dollars worth of messages to people who are grown adults about how to conduct their sex life is a very divisive policy," she says.
"We would oppose any program that stigmatizes unmarried people," adds Nicky Grist, executive director of the Alternatives to Marriage Project, a non-profit organization based in Brooklyn, N.Y., that advocates for the rights of unmarried people.
For last year's state grants, Congress appropriated $50 million. A similar amount is expected for 2007, but the money has not yet been allocated, according to the Administration for Children and Families.
"I think the program should talk about the problem with out-of- wedlock childbearing — not about your sex life," Brown says. "If you use contraception effectively and consistently, you will not be in the pool of out-of-wedlock births."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-30-abstinence-message_x.htm
5/12/2006 Albany, NY
4/29/2003 Albany, NY
8/24/2000 Jones Beach, NY
9/13/1998 Hartford, CT
10/2/1996 Hartford, CT
4/29/2003 Albany, NY
8/24/2000 Jones Beach, NY
9/13/1998 Hartford, CT
10/2/1996 Hartford, CT
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Comments
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
I know how you feel. I think about 90% (or maybe more) of my money is being wasted on rubbish.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
I understand the premise whereby you feel tax money is wasted on this, but is it really wrong to be abstinent?
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
this is just a plain rediculous waste of $
angels share laughter
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
My comment was directed to the "truth and justice will ultimately prevail" comment. It wasn't an attempt to discuss the validity of the program.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
seriously....WTF?!
what an absolute waste. b/c sure, the abstinence only program has been SUCH a success with the younger ages :rolleyes:...makes perfect sense to throw $$$ at an even older agegroup where it is more than likely to have even LESS positive effect.
morons. honestly, who thinks of this utter shite? why not use these funds where they might actually help the problems? like....education and access to birth control? nah, far too sensible....
ridiculous.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
www.myspace.com/jensvad
don't you mean...a lot?
sorry, i couldn't resist due to the content of your post.
well, if such funds were spent to educate rather than regulate...perhaps we'd be far better off in that area as well. an educated fuck, far better.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
Camden 5-28-06
Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
im all for sterilizing people below certain iq levels, people who prove incapable of meeting even the pathetically mediocre standards of an american public school, anyone who believes the book of genesis belongs beside evolution in a textbook, people who think saddam hussein had something to do with 9/11, people who believe the US government planned 9/11, and many many others.
sex is a good thing...not a bad thing...if two consenting adults want to have......so fkn what. okay, was that like a pun or something...(-;
kills me when someone imposes their morals on someone else...please.
thats not what you posted in response to my comments.
I'm not disagreeing with you about sex or imposing anything. I'm asking if people are taking the opposite stand - that abstinence is a bad thing?
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
So are you saying that it's wrong to be abstinent? That's my question.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
sorry...my bad. No I think abstinence is a good thing if thats what you want...and I very much respect it.
Yep, you're soooo much better than any of them.
How about arrogant assholes?
sorry if I offended..really..was just going with his post as I thought it was really funny.......my closest freinds and family drive big SUV's....but I can have fun with them...as I thought I could here...but guess not.
I don;t drive a SUV. Funny this post reminds me of 'but, some of my best friends are black'
No bigge, don't take anything I say too personally.
How about the government just put a big tax on unsafe sex....people seem to think it will work for the environment.
good....I was worried there for a sec....I know you and I have different views on things......but was really disheartened when I got your response.....course we do both care...and want to express our opinions..so its all good.
i personally do not think anyone thinks abstinence is 'wrong'...not at all. i DO believe however, that i'd think most feel it should be a personal CHOICE, and certainly not pushed, all alone, as the only right choice one can make, etc. best idea is to show ALL choices available, how to go about making wise and safe choices for yourself from there.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
Nothing wrong with abstinence, if that's what you want, but there's nothing wrong with sex either, as long as its done in safe manner. Why don't they put the effort into educating kids about safe sex, instead of pushing bullshit moral agendas onto them. People are still going to have sex, no matter what you tell them, so you might as well equip them to do it in a way that isn't going to get them into trouble.
This is just one more reason why I'm glad I don't live in america. We may have an arsehole conservative government here, but at least they're not trying to tell me what I can do in the bedroom.
-C Addison
Oh yeah, abstinence only works. In high school, there were a bunch of seniors in my class to prove otherwise. :P
William Somerset Maugham
Jessica
Besides all that political stuff, I think taxing us for this gargabe is pathetic.
Tax money doesn't need to teach me responsibility. Nor does it need to pay for irresponsibility. Period.
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
Camden 5-28-06
Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
Have we lost our way tonight?
Have we lost our hope to sorrow?
Feels like were all alone
Running further from what’s right
And there are no more heroes to follow
So what are we becoming?
Where did we go wrong?