ALABAMAAlabama received $4,268,013 in federal funds for
Alabama Sexuality Education Law and Policy
The Code also states that:
In Alabama, curriculum content is developed locally; however, Alabama’s Course of Study: Health Education provides the foundation for the minimum content requirements for topics such as HIV, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and pregnancy prevention. In addition, in July 1987, the Alabama State Board of Education passed the Resolution to Provide Information to Students to Prevent the Spread of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Disease in the Public Schools of Alabama. This resolution specifies that students in grades five–12 must receive instruction about AIDS through a health education program. Parents or guardians may remove their children from sexuality education and/or STD/HIV education classes. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy. See Alabama State Code Section 16-40A-2, the Alabama Course of Study: Health Education, and the Resolution to Provide Information to Students to Prevent the Spread of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Disease in the Public Schools of Alabama. Recent Legislation SIECUS is not aware of any proposed legislation regarding sexuality education in Alabama. Events of Note Community Discusses More Concrete Guidelines for Sexuality Education The state code declares that sexuality education should promote abstinence as the only “completely effective protection against unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) when transmitted sexually,” but that there should be mention of the “increase in protection against pregnancy and protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS infection, which is afforded by the use of various contraceptive measures.”3 Teachers are unsure exactly what to teach and how to answer questions that may fall in the gray areas of these guidelines. While the department of education believes that better teacher training on state law is in order, some educators are calling for a set sexuality education curriculum. Lesbian Mother Speaks Out Against Denunciation of Homosexuality in Schools The pamphlet, provided by an abstinence-only-until-marriage program, aimed to answer ten common questions teenagers may have about sex. The mother had specific problems with the question “What can I do if I am attracted to someone of the same sex?” The response reflected homophobic sentiments by saying, “Too often, homosexuality is shown as a legitimate lifestyle equal to a heterosexual lifestyle” and further stated that homosexuality is “contrary to the laws of nature.”4 The Honeysuckle principal supported the program and reminded parents that they do have to sign a consent form for their children to participate in this program. However, the Dothan City School Board president did not think the program was acceptable. Equality Alabama, a group that advocates for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals, is tracking the concern. Alabamians Support Neutral, Parent-Approved Sexuality Education in Schools The survey found that more than four out of five Alabamians approve of some form of sexuality education classes being offered at the middle and high school levels. This was true among both those who identified as religious and those who identified as non-religious. However, 75 percent of respondents believe that parental permission should be required before students are presented with sexuality education materials.6 The majority (95-98 percent) of Alabamians support curricula that contain information on topics such as STDs, rape prevention, rape reporting, and abstinence. Additionally, the study found that 86 percent of respondents support discussing contraceptive methods with students. Finally, the study showed that 72 percent support discussions regarding homosexuality that are led from a neutral perspective, which neither supports nor condemns any viewpoint.7 “Parents want Alabama’s public schools to ask them first,” explained the poll manager. “It is possible many Alabamians worry that without a permission requirement, they may not even know when their children are being presented with sex education material, much less the content of that material.” The poll manager takes this as an indication that parents in Alabama want to protect their children from partisan influence. “Parents are comfortable having the public school system provide their children with factual information on these topics, but they reserve the right to discuss with their kids their personal views and beliefs,” she explained.8 Complete results of the “Ask Alabama” poll on “Sex Education in the Classroom” can be found at www.askalabama.org. The poll had a sample size of 603 resident Alabamians ages 19 or older and an estimated margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. Pregnant Student Walks Graduation Stage Despite Being Banned The pregnant woman, an honor student, wanted to remain in school and obtained a doctor’s note stating she could safely attend classes through September 2005, long after her scheduled graduation. The school, however, would not reconsider; a guidance counselor delivered her diploma to her house and her name was not included in the graduation program. On the day of her graduation, the student took the situation into her own hands. She waited until the last senior had been called for her diploma. Then, she stood up in the audience, called her own name and walked across the stage, prompting applause and cheers of support from her classmates, including the father of her child. The student explained, “I worked hard throughout high school and I wanted to walk with my class.”10 Afterwards, the student, her mother, and her grandmother were escorted off the premises by police. Alabama’s Youth: Statistical Information of Note11
Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding The AAEP runs a state-wide media campaign entitled, “Doin’ Doesn’t Get It—Save Sex For Marriage.” The campaign consists of a website with information, resources, and upcoming events; printed material; news releases; radio and television announcements; and billboards. The AAEP website contains misinformation and messages of fear and shame. On its website for parents and teens, AAEP states that a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is an infection that can be transferred through sexual activity. They go on to define sexual activity as “any activity that involves intentional contact for the purpose of sexual arousal. Sexual activity, then, includes sexual intercourse, oral sex, anal sex, mutual masturbation, & other purposeful sexual touching.” In truth, sexual activities such as mutual masturbation or massage, which can be categorized as “purposeful sexual touching,” do not pose any risk of transmitting STDs. An STD chart on AAEP’s website lists several STDs. Under the column marked “Condom Effectiveness,” the AAEP tells young people that there is “no clinical proof of effectiveness” against the transmission of gonorrhea, Chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and human papillomavirus (HPV).14 In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that “Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can reduce the risk of transmission of gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and trichomoniasis.15 In addition, condoms can protect against HPV. According to a University of Washington study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, consistent condom use cut a woman’s risk of infection by 70% and protected her from developing precancerous cervical changes.16 The AAEP also encourages teens to “make the commitment/pledge that you will abstain (stay away from) sex until marriage.”17 Such pledges or commitments, often referred to as virginity pledges, have been found to be ineffective and may actually cause harm. Research has found that under certain conditions these pledges may only help some adolescents delay sexual intercourse. When they work, pledges help this select group of adolescents delay the onset of sexual intercourse for an average of 18 months—far short of marriage. Researchers found that pledges only worked when taken by a small group of students. Pledges taken by a whole class were ineffective. The studies also found that those young people who took a pledge were one-third less likely to use contraception when they did become sexually active than their peers who had not pledged. These teens are therefore more vulnerable to the risks of unprotected sexual activity such as unintended pregnancy and STDs, including HIV/AIDS. Further research has confirmed that although some students who take pledges delay intercourse, ultimately they are just as likely to contract an STD as their non-pledging peers. The study also found that the STD rates were higher in communities where a significant proportion (over 20%) of the young people had taken virginity pledges.18 The AAEP distributes Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funding to nine sub-grantees: the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Boligee 2000, Inc., Circle of Care Center for Families, Crittenton Youth Services, Dale County Abstinence Advocacy Council, Troy Regional Medical Center, Huntsville City Schools, Lee County Youth Development Center, and Sex and Family Education (S.A.f.E.), Inc. Sub-grantees use a variety of curricula including Abstinence the Better Choice, Aspire, Baby Think It Over, Choosing the Best LIFE, Choosing the Best PATH, Everyone Is Not Doing It, Fetal Development: A Nine Month Journey, Love U2: Increasing Your Relationship Smarts, Reasonable Reasons to Wait, and Why kNOw. SIECUS reviewed Choosing the Best LIFE and found that it names numerous physical and psychological consequences of premarital sexual activity, suggests that sexually active teens will never have happy futures, and implies that only teens with low self-esteem and poor judgment become sexually active. For example, Choosing the Best LIFE states that “Relationships often lower the self-respect of both partners—one feeling used, the other feeling like the user. Emotional pain can cause a downward spiral leading to intense feelings of lack of worthlessness (sic).”19 SIECUS reviewed Choosing the Best PATH and found that it provides endless information on the negative consequences of premarital sexual activity and utilizes a variety of tactics to suggest that teens should feel guilty, embarrassed, and ashamed of sexual behavior. For example, Choosing the Best PATH asks students: “How does being sexually active as a teen affect how a person feels about himself or herself?” The suggested answer is: “Can feel sad about losing virginity, loss of self-respect, blames self for getting pregnant or contracting an STD.” It goes on to say, “Sexual activity also can lead to the trashing of a person’s reputation, resulting in the loss of friends.” 20 SIECUS reviewed Why kNOw and found that it offers limited information about important topics in human sexuality such as puberty, anatomy, and human reproduction, and no information about sexual orientation and gender identity. The information that is included is outdated, inaccurate, and misleading. In addition, Why kNOw relies on negative messages, distorted information, and biased views of gender, marriage, family structure, sexual orientation, and pregnancy options. For example, the curriculum tells students that the tradition of lifting the bride’s veil during a wedding shows that “the groom [is] the only man allowed to uncover the bride,” and demonstrates “her respect for him by illustrating that she [has] not allowed any other man to lay claim to her.”21 Lee County Youth Development Center was started in 1973 and offers a wide range of community programs, including abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. The center provides a “multi-component, interactive curriculum advocating sexual, drug, alcohol, and tobacco abstinence to teens in grades 7–10 in Lee County, Opelika City, and Auburn City schools.”22 Sex and Family Education (S.A.f.E.), Inc. is an organization that strives “to make abstinence a desirable, achievable, and sustainable lifestyle for all unmarried people while promoting sexual integrity within marrage (sic).”23 S.A.f.E. provides classroom instruction for public and private school students using three curricula: Changes, You Are Unique, and Choices. Changes is recommended for students ages 10–12 and includes information about puberty. The program stresses “personal worth as motivation for choosing abstinence until marriage.”24 You Are Unique is recommended for public school students ages 12–15 and provides “adolescents with clear and accurate information on the emotional and physical consequences of premarital sex,” in addition to “the emotional and physical benifits (sic) of waiting until marriage.”25 Choices is recommended for high school students as a follow-up to You Are Unique and promotes the “value of sexual abstinence until marriage via a four-part video series.”26 S.A.f.E. does not evaluate behavior change among its participants. Instead, its program evaluates behavioral intentions and attitudes through a voluntary pre- and post-test survey, particularly in relation to the eight-point federal definition of “abstinence education.” For example, the survey asks participants, “Do you understand the possible negative consequences of sex outside of marriage?” Another question is, “Do you realize you can stop, start over, and practice renewed virginity?” These leading questions do not appear to be a genuine attempt to assess change in attitude or behavioral intentions. Boligee 2000, Inc., another sub-grantee, also gives students pre- and post-test surveys. The post-test survey asks, “Did you sign the card to abstain from sex until marriage?” 75 percent of respondents answered yes. Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) and Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) Grantees Alabama State University partners with the Gift of Life Foundation to instruct students in 12 junior high and high schools in Montgomery County. During in-classroom instruction, teachers use one of the Choosing the Best curricula and pledge cards. (See the Title V section for more information on the Choosing the Best curricula.) The Gift of Life Foundation also sponsors a project called the “Montgomery Area Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy” (MACPTP). MACPTP’s website contains misinformation regarding condoms such as the claim that the AIDS virus “can travel through semi-permeable substances such as condoms.”27 In truth, intact latex condoms do not have holes large enough for viruses such as HIV to pass through. According to the CDC, latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In fact, researchers have concluded that using a condom to protect against HIV transmission is 10,000 times safer than not using a condom.28 Teens Empowerment Awareness with ResolutionS (TEARS), Inc., is an organization that “encourages youth to create their own path by making sound and healthy decisions.” TEARS posts a poem on its website called “Am I Worth the Wait?”:
TEARS created the abstinence program “Abstinence Education To Help Instill Character (A-ETHICS),” which uses the curricula The Choice Game and WAIT (Why Am I Tempted) Training. The Choice Game is an interactive CD/DVD software program that teaches healthy choices about abstinence, drugs, alcohol, and teen pressures. SIECUS reviewed WAIT Training and found that it contains little medical or biological information and almost no information about STDs, including HIV/AIDS. Instead, it contains information and statistics about marriage, many of which are outdated and not supported by scientific research. It also contains messages of fear and shame and biased views of gender, sexual orientation, and family type. For example, WAIT Training explains that “men sexually are like microwaves and women sexually are like crockpots….A woman is stimulated more by touch and romantic words. She is far more attracted by a man’s personality while a man is stimulated by sight. A man is usually less discriminating about those to whom he is physically attracted.”30 Federal and State Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in FY 2006
Alabama Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Alabama Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Newspapers in Alabama
References
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