The Source: Volume 1, Issue 1, January 1998

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The Source: Volume 1, Issue 1, January 1998

New Fact Sheets

Facts at a Glance, October 1997.
This Fact Sheet contains statistics that address teen birth rates, number of births to teens, marital and non-marital birth rates, non-voluntary sex, birth by race/ethnicity, risk factors for teen births, teen abortion rates, and births by birth order.
Child Trends, Inc., 4301 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 100, Washington, DC 20008; phone: 202/362-5580; Web site: http://www.childtrends.org
Facts in Brief: Teen Sex and Pregnancy.
This Fact Sheet contains statistics that address sexual activity, contraceptive use, STDs, teen pregnancy, childbearing, teen mothers and their children, and abortion.
The Alan Guttmacher Institute, 120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005; phone: 212/248-1111; Web site: http://www.guttmacher.org

New Reports and Surveys

Fertility, Family Planning, and Women's Health: New Data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth, Vital and Health Statistics, May 1997, Series 23, No. 19.
The National Survey of Family Growth is a multipurpose study based on personal interviews with a national sample of women 15 to 44 years of age in the civilian non-institutionalized population of the United States. Findings are on these topics: children ever born and total births expected; wanted and unwanted births; sexual intercourse; marriage and cohabitation; contraceptive use; fecundity, infertility, and sterilization operations; breastfeeding, maternity leave, and child care; adoption, stepchildren, and foster children; health insurance coverage; family planning and other medical services; cigarette smoking; HIV testing; pelvic inflammatory disease; and sexuality education.
Data Dissemination Branch, National Center for Health Statistics, U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6525 Belcrest Road, Room 1064; Hyattsville, MD 20782; phone: 301/436-8500; Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww/nchshome.htm
HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, Midyear Edition, Vol. 9, No. 1.
This report documents U.S. HIV and AIDS cases through June 1997. It includes AIDS tables, figures, opportunistic illness tables, death tables, and HIV infection tables.
U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National AIDS Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003; phone: 800/458-5231; Web site: http://www.cdc.gov
No Easy Answers, 1997.
This review summarizes three bodies of research that have implications for the design and effectiveness of programs to reduce teen pregnancy in the United States. First, it examines statistics on teenage sexual risk-taking behaviors. Second, it briefly reviews common concepts in research-based theories of behavioral change and research on the antecedents of adolescent sexual risk-taking behaviors. Third, it examines and synthesizes numerous evaluations of specific programs designed to reduce sexual risk-taking and teen pregnancy. The paper concludes with recommendations about program implementation and evaluation.
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 1776 Massachusetts Ave, N.W., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20036; Phone: 202/478-8500; Fax: 202/478-8588; Web site: http://www.teenpregnancy.org
Sex, Kids and the Family Hour: A Three Part Study of Sexual Content on Television, December 11, 1996.
This study looks at the sexual content on television's family hour and its impact on children and their families. Ask for document 1209.
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2400 Sandy Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025; phone: 415/854-9400; Web site: http://www.kff.org
Sexual Health Coverage in Women's, Men's Teen and Other Specialty Magazines, April 19, 1997.
This is a content analysis and focus group report on magazine coverage of sexual health issues. Ask for document 1258.
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2400 Sandy Hill Road., Menlo Park, CA 94025; phone: 415/854-9400; Web site: http://www.kff.org
Survey of Women about their Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Their Reproductive Health, February 1997.
This survey is an in-depth, comprehensive look at women's knowledge, attitudes, and practices on a wide range of reproductive health issues. Ask for document 1205.
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2400 Sandy Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025; phone: 415/854-9400; Web site: http://www.kff.org
Survey on Men's Role in Preventing Pregnancy, March 19, 1997.
This is a national survey of American men and women on their perceptions about men's roles and responsibilities when it comes to preventing unplanned pregnancy. Ask for document 1251.
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2400 Sandy Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025; phone: 415/854-9400; Web site: http://www.kff.org
Talking About STDs with Health Professionals: Women's Experiences, September 15, 1997.
This is a summary of findings and toplines from a survey of women's experiences talking with health professionals about STDs. Ask for document 1313.
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2400 Sandy Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025; phone: 415/854-9400; Web site: http://www.kff.org
Teens and Sex: What They Say Teens Today Need to Know, And Who they Listen To, June 24, 1996.
The survey finds that most teens have enough information about how girls get pregnant, but not enough about how to use different kinds of birth control. The survey also reveals a number of misconceptions about the consequences of pregnancy. Ask for document 1160.
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2400 Sandy Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025; phone: 415/854-9400; Web site: http://www.kff.org
Who Decides? A State-By-State Review of Abortion and Reproductive Rights, Sixth Edition, 1997.
This report provides an in-depth look at abortion rights in each state, including the positions of the governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general; the make-up of the state legislature; abortion-related legislation enacted or voted upon in the past year; and a review of the major state party platforms. In addition to abortion laws, the study reviews whether states mandate sexuality education and whether they require that contraception and disease prevention be taught in addition to abstinence.
National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL), 1156 15th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20005; phone: 202/973-3000; Web site: http://www.naral.org
Why Some Men Don't Use Condoms: Male Attitudes about Condoms and Other Contraceptives, September 1997.
In this report, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS experts explore reasons why some men at risk for HIV/AIDS and other STDs do not use condoms consistently, or at all. Ask for document 1319.
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2400 Sandy Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025; Phone: 415/854-9400; Web site: http://www.kff.org
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, United States 1995. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC Surveillance Summaries, September 27, 1996, volume 45, number 22-4.
This report includes statistics on youth and young adults addressing priority health-risk behaviors. Sexuality issues that are addressed include: sexual intercourse, condom use, birth control pill use, alcohol and drug use at last sexual intercourse, pregnancy, and HIV education.
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402; phone: 202/512-1800. Web site: http://www.cdc.gov
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, National College Health Risk Behavior Survey, United States 1995.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC Surveillance Summaries, November 14, 1997, Vol. 46, No. SS-6.
This report includes statistics on college students addressing health-risk behaviors. Sexuality issues that are addressed include: forced sexual intercourse, sexual intercourse, contraceptive use, birth control pill use, condom use, alcohol and drug use at last sexual intercourse, pregnancy, pregnancy prevention, STD prevention, AIDS or prevention of HIV infection, HIV education, and testing for HIV infection.
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402; phone: 202/512-1800. Web site: http://www.cdc.gov

New Video

It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues In School

Issues facing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) members of our society have become the fuel for a "cultural war" currently being waged on several fronts. The rights of all citizens to equal access and due process have received increased attention as LGBT people campaign for freedom from bigotry and resulting oppression. The educational system has been among those targeted to increase awareness and effect a change in attitudes and tolerance.

Academy Award-winner, Debra Chasnoff, has co-produced a 1 hour and 17 minute video, It's Elementary, which addresses the challenges inherent in teaching elementary and middle-school students about lesbian and gay issues. Interweaving comments from students, teachers, school administrators, and parents with the propaganda from the so-called "right," this video is extremely effective in highlighting the need for these issues to be addressed within school curricula. As one participant so aptly said, "Kids are already thinking about it-- it's already there." The problem has been that children have been taught to parrot stereotypes and epithets without any real understanding of or appreciation for the impact upon peoples' lives.

Addressing these issues in school settings in the past has been very sensitive and controversial primarily because many people have equated the need to combat discrimination with sexuality education. This video provides an effective tool for desexualizing the issues. It drives home the point that the issue is addressing communities and how discrimination hurts people, especially children. It deals with the misinformation with which children are faced about lesbians and gay men.

Contrary to the picture painted by anti-gay hatemongers, this video is not a "how-to" on gay and lesbian sex. It does not discuss sexual practices at all. What it does is provide a tool for educating teachers so they can educate children. Film crews were allowed into schools where this education is currently happening. Models are provided for leading discussions and designing activities for students of different ages.

The students, themselves, are the most insightful and strongest proponents of the need for this type of education. They talk openly about the name-calling and ostracism of students presumed to be "different" and of their perceptions of how it must feel to be the recipient of such abuse. They question teachers' participation in allowing this to continue in our schools. They also challenge the opponents of teaching about gay and lesbian issues in their failure to see what all the fuss is about. There are, too, those students who voice anti-gay sentiment, some of whom, when offered an opportunity to think about what they've been saying, see the hurtful consequences of their opinions.

Teachers, administrators, and parents provide cogent support for the need for this type of education, as well as the challenges faced in school systems who take on these issues. The teaching of not just "family values" but "social and community values" and a broadened definition of "family" is covered.

The ill effects of the emotional abuse and violence targeted toward gay and lesbian children and youth is demonstrated through the display of harrowing statistics. According to the video, 28 percent of gay teens drop out (twice the national average); and teen suicide among gay and lesbian youth is 30 percent. These indicators will continue to be a reality for young people growing up gay or lesbian unless we make significant strides to eliminate oppression on the basis of sexual orientation or sex role identification.

Several basic core values have been espoused in the movement to create schools that are safe environments for all students. These include every student's right to equal access to education, the right to self-understanding, and the requirement that schools address the welfare of all their students.

This video clearly and effectively supports these values. Debra Chasnoff and Helen Cohen did a fine job of addressing vitally important, yet, controversial issues with grace.

This is a 77-minute video from the Women's Educational Media, San Francisco, CA 94110; phone: 415/641-4616. Cost is:$250/universities, associations; $150/school districts; $99/schools, community groups, individuals Reviewed by Beverly Saunders Biddle, MHA, who is the executive director for the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association in Washington, DC.