A quarterly international newsletter on sexuality, sexual health, and sexuality education.
Volume 2, Issue 1 - Winter 2001/2002
The Politics of Abstinence-only versus Comprehensive Sexuality Education in the United States
In the United States, national politics surrounding sexual health are often very controversial. For years, federal legislators have fervently debated the merits of issues ranging from sexuality education to the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Supporters of abstinence-only education have constantly taken the lead in the education dispute as evidenced by the proliferation of federally-funded abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.
To date, there are three separate federal programs that funnel funds into abstinence-only-until-marriage instruction: the Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA),Title V of the Social Security Act, and the Special Projects of Regional and National Significance- Community-Based Abstinence Education (SPRANS-CBAE) grants.
To the disappointment of advocates of comprehensive sexuality education, support and votes for such programs continue despite a lack of evidence that this approach works. As recently as October 2001,U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson continued to announce new abstinenceonly- until-marriage funding, with the latest adding four new grants under SPRANS-CBAE, for a total of $17.9 million in fiscal year 2001 alone.
Educating legislators about this topic often proves challenging, as the issues are steeped in ideology. Unfortunately, supporters of comprehensive sexuality education in the U.S. Congress are reluctant to speak out against these restrictive abstinence-only-untilmarriage programs despite national polling that clearly indicates overwhelming public support for instruction that includes abstinence as well as a host of other information, including contraception.
One of the largest obstacles to comprehensive sexuality education is a lack of federal sexuality education legislation upon which legislators can vote on as an alternative to abstinence-only-untilmarriage bills.
In response to this need, SIECUS, in conjunction with other colleague organizations such as Advocates for Youth, the Alan Guttmacher Institute, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the American Academy of Pediatrics conceived and developed the Family Life Education Act of 2001 (FLEA). For the first time, supporters of responsible, accurate sexuality education will have a leverage point from which to promote comprehensive sexuality education.
In an attempt to reduce teen pregnancy rates, HIV, and other sexually transmitted diseases as well as support healthy adolescent development, FLEA would establish a federal grant program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Eligible states would receive a grant to conduct family life education programs, including instruction on both abstinence and contraception. Programs chosen to participate would be ageappropriate, medically accurate, and required to participate in a national evaluation as a condition of receiving funds.
FLEA will likely prove an invaluable tool for educating the public and the legislature. It will also hopefully prove critical in ensuring that all young people receive the information they need to protect their health and their lives.
For information on supporting FLEA, contact SIECUS’ Public Policy Office in Washington, DC at 202/265-2405 or E-mail William Smith, director of public policy, at siecus@siecus.org.
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