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FLORIDA

Florida received $10,700,147 in federal funds for
abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Fiscal Year 2006.1

 

Florida Sexuality Education Law and Policy
Florida law states that in order for high school students to graduate, they must receive one-half credit in “life management skills” in either ninth or tenth grade. The course must include instruction in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), family life, the benefits of sexual abstinence, and the consequences of teen pregnancy. It also states that these “descriptions for comprehensive health education shall not interfere with the local determination of appropriate curriculum which reflects local values and concerns.”

School boards may decide to allow additional instruction regarding HIV/AIDS. Such instruction may include information about “means used to control the spread of acquired immune deficiency syndrome.” All instruction and course material must:

  • Teach abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the expected standard for all school-age students while teaching the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage;

  • Emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity is a certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and other associated health problems;

  • Teach that each student has the power to control personal behavior and encourage students to base actions on reasoning, self-esteem, and respect for others; and

  • Provide instruction and material that is appropriate for the grade and age of the student.

Florida standards, titled Sunshine State Standards for Health and Physical Fitness, do not mention instruction in HIV/AIDS, STDs, or sexuality education.
Parents or guardians may remove their children from any or all of sexuality education and/or STD/HIV education classes. This is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.

See Florida Statute, Title XLVIII, Chapter 1003, Section 42, 43, and 46.

Recent Legislation

Legislation Requires Funding for AIDS Education in Public Schools
In March 2007, Senate Bill 2248 was introduced.  It was referred to the Committees on Education Pre-K-12, Health Policy, and Education Pre-K-12 Appropriations. This bill would require the Department of Education to fund school-based AIDS education activities in public schools. The funding would be appropriated by the Legislature to the Department of Education.  The bill died.

Prevention First Act Introduced
In February 2007, House Bill 1191 and Senate Bill 1156 were introduced in the Florida State Legislature to create the Prevention First Act. These bills were referred to various committees upon introduction: HB 1191 went to the Healthcare and the Policy and Budget Councils, and SB 1156 went to the Committees on Health Policy, Education Pre-K–12, Education Pre-K–12 Appropriations, and Health and Human Services Appropriations. The Prevention First Act has three main purposes, the first of which is to require the Secretary of Health to include information on family planning and referrals to family planning clinics on the Department of Health’s website in order to assist women and families in preventing unintended pregnancies. The second purpose of the package is to require the Department of Education to develop a plan to provide comprehensive family life and sexuality education no later than the 2010–2011 school year, with a plan to implement instruction the following school year. Comprehensive family life and sexuality education must be medically accurate and age-appropriate, and it must promote responsible behaviors, including abstinence. The third purpose of the package is to require health care practitioners to prescribe or provide rape survivors with emergency contraception if it is determined to be medically appropriate and with the consent of the rape victim. HB 1191 was recently referred to the Committee on Health Quality by the Healthcare Council, while SB 1156 is still in the Committees on Health Policy, Education Pre-K-12, Education Pre-K-12 Appropriations, and Health and Human Services Appropriations.  Both bills died.

The same legislation was introduced in 2006 with House Bill 1073 and Senate Bill 2458. Both bills died.

Parental Right to Know Act Introduced
House Bill 663 and Senate Bill 162 would require the principal of any school that receives abstinence-only-until-marriage funding or provides such programming to students in grades six through 12 to send a notice home to parents of affected students. This notice must inform parents that their child is participating in an abstinence-only-until-marriage program and that the program will not teach about methods for preventing unintended pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, other than abstinence. It must also tell parents that they have the right to remove their child from such instruction. The bill also provides remedies for parents who believe they did not receive the proper notification. HB 663 was introduced in January 2007 and SB 162 was pre-filed in December 2006; in January, the bills were referred their respective House and Senate Committees on Pre-K through 12, the Committees on Health Policy, the Judiciary Committees, and the Education Appropriations Committees.  The bill died.

Events of Note

School Board Dismisses Parental Permission for Clubs
December 2006; Hillsborough County, FL
In December 2006, the Hillsborough School District rejected a proposal to require students to receive parental permission to join clubs, ending months of dispute. The decision came in response to the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance at Newsome High School.

In September 2005, the Newsome principal required students to receive parental permission to attend GSA meetings, but did not impose the rule on any other school club. The ACLU suggested that the principal’s actions might be a violation of the Equal Access Act.2

In response, the school district created a task force, comprised of students, community members, and educators, to field concerns and opinions over the GSA and other clubs before drafting a resolution. Ultimately, the group decided to adopt an “opt-out” policy under which parents may notify the school if there is any club in which they do not want their child to participate. Task force members felt that enforcing an “opt-in” policy—one that requires parental permission before students could participate in any clubs—would lead to less club attendance, especially for the GSA.3 The Task force further decided that principals, not the school board, have the power to green-light school clubs. Students, however, can appeal the principal’s decision.

Web Filtering in Palm Beach, FL: School District Unblocks Access to Some LGBT Sites
May-December 2006; Palm Beach County, FL
In December 2006, after months of pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Human Rights Council, the Palm Beach School District started to unblock access to several Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) websites.

The websites of a number of organizations were previously censored by the district’s filtering software, categorizing them as “Gay/Lesbian.” At the same time, students were still allowed to visit the websites of the Traditional Values Coalition, the American Family Association, Focus on the Family, and the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), all organizations that work to curtail the rights of LGBT individuals.4

A student at Inlet Grove High School publicly revealed this disparity in access when he wrote an article for the high school’s news site. The article was subsequently blocked by the district’s web filter.
The ACLU reviewed the filtering policy at the request of the Palm Beach Human Rights Council, a local organization that has had access to its site blocked. A lawyer for the ACLU commented, “If their blocking software prevents kids, particularly middle and high school kids, from having access to information about gay rights and public health issues, but on the other hand allow access to religious group Web sites that are hostile to gay and lesbian legal rights and public health, that constitutes censorship.”5

The web-filtering software used by the district, WebFilter, classifies websites into categories and then allows an administrator to choose what categories to block. One of the categories used by WebFilter is “Gay/Lesbian,” which, according to the software maker’s parent company, includes “sites that provide information, promote, or cater to gay or lesbian lifestyles.”6 While the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) fell into the “Gay/Lesbian” category, NARTH did not. NARTH is categorized as a “Health” website, despite the fact that it’s the leading advocate for “conversion therapy.” “Conversion therapy” or “reparative therapy” refers to psychotherapy aimed at changing a client’s sexual orientation and eliminating homosexual desires. It has been disavowed by nearly every major professional health and mental health association.7 The remaining unblocked organizations that feature anti-gay material are categorized as “Political/Activist Groups.”

Local advocates have questioned whether it is necessary to block access to LGBTQ websites from the entire district, especially middle and high school students who may be uncomfortable soliciting information from adults. “We need to recognize the computer has become a community tool for students to reach out,” explained the president of the West Palm Beach-based Compass, a center for LGBT individuals.8

In May 2006, an update posted to the Inlet Grove High School’s news site stated that the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and the Human Rights Campaign had been unblocked.9 As of December 2006, the district had not yet unblocked other LGBTQ websites. The district noted that it may change its computer filtering system.10 SIECUS will continue to monitor this situation.

ACLU Sues School over GSA Restrictions
November 2006; Okeechobee, FL
In December, the Okeechobee County School Board faced a setback in its effort to prevent the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) at the high school: the conservative Christian group that had promised to serve as the school district’s lawyers abruptly quit the case.11

The controversy began in September 2006 when five high school students approached their principal asking for permission to start the new club. School administrators denied the request, first by saying that they didn’t allow any clubs, then that there were already too many clubs, and ultimately that a GSA ran counter to the school’s abstinence-only-until-marriage policy.12

The students sought the help of the ACLU, which filed suit against the principal and the school board in November, claiming that banning the GSA violated the 1984 Equal Access Act. The Liberty Counsel, the legal arm of Jerry Falwell’s evangelical ministry, offered to represent the district in the lawsuit. The organization, however, quickly changed its mind.

Members of the Okeechobee County School Board have confirmed that the Liberty Counsel has decided not to defend the board. School Board members speculate that it backed out because it was concerned that a win in the case might also restrict the ability of Christian student groups to meet on school campuses.13

In fact, the Equal Access Act, which holds that schools cannot discriminate against non-curricular student clubs based on their content, was originally spearheaded by Christian Conservatives who wanted to secure the rights of Christian clubs to meet on school premises. In recent years, courts have found that it grants these same rights to GSAs; students in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Kentucky, among others, have secured the right to form GSAs at their schools. 

Proposal to Alter HIV/AIDS Education Met with Mixed Results
October 2006; St. Lucie County, FL
Officials in the St. Lucie Department of Education, health professionals, and community members are exploring the possibility of revising the county’s sexuality education and HIV/AIDS prevention programs in public schools. State Health Department statistics from 2005 indicate high incidence of HIV in St. Lucie County. In fact, St. Lucie County has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS among blacks in any Florida county.

St. Lucie County schools currently have an abstinence-only-until-marriage focus. School board policy requires classroom instruction to “emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity is an absolute way to avoid pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, and other associated health problems.”14

Local school leaders have recognized that in order to address HIV/AIDS as a community health issue, it might be necessary to broaden the instruction in public classrooms. “If [the phrase ‘abstinence-only’] was working, there wouldn’t be an epidemic,” the superintendent explained.15 The chairwoman of the board agreed: “An abstinence-only policy is never the only policy that should be considered.”16

Many community members, however, stand firm behind abstinence education. A Port St. Lucie minister fears that altering the schools’ sexuality education program is a slippery slope that. If instruction is broadened, the minister fears that abstinence will no longer be promoted as a way to prevent unintended pregnancy and disease. Another community member and religious leader said he feared that the expansion of a sexuality education curriculum could lead to “risky” behavior among teenagers.17

An incoming school board member who is also a Baptist pastor explained that it is a parent’s job to educate children about sexual issues and health but acknowledged that “parents may need to be educated.”18 State law allows parents to remove their child from any course that teaches reproductive health or disease prevention; this is referred to as an “opt-out” policy.

Any change in sexuality education policy would require public hearings before the board could vote.

Art Teacher Suspended After Presenting Abortion Footage
October 2006; Ft. Lauderdale, FL
A Ft. Lauderdale charter school placed an art teacher on indefinite suspension after he showed sixth graders a film with inappropriate material.

The film, made by the teacher, was intended to display “good and evil” and depicted images of abortions, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Holocaust. Parents complained that the content of the film was too graphic for children. One student who saw the film described a scene to reporters: “There was this disturbing picture of a baby’s hand reaching out from the Mom’s stomach and grabbing the doctor’s finger, and there was a baby in a bucket.”19 The teacher said that he had no regrets about showing the film to students.20

School District Changes Sexuality Education Curriculum
April 2006; Palm Beach County, FL
Palm Beach County School District has updated its sexuality education curriculum in response to the increasing rates of sexual activity and pregnancy among middle school students.

The alarming teen pregnancy statistics released by the health department in September 2005 served as a call to the district to improve its prevention efforts.21 The number of births to girls ages 12–14 nearly doubled in just one year from 21 in 2003 to 41 in the 2004. In addition, a quarter of county middle school students surveyed in 2005 reported having engaged in sexual intercourse.22 The school health director for the county health department argued that the numbers reveal that schools can no longer wait until high school to talk openly about birth control and STDs.23

In response, the school district created its first new teaching materials for sexuality education since 1996. The new five-day curriculum continues to be abstinence-based but teachers have been given some flexibility to add extra days to cover sexually transmitted diseases, birth control, and condoms. These topics, often considered more controversial, were left out of the mandated lesson plan because many instructors reported being intimidated by the subject matter. Due to budget cuts, most instructors are science teachers rather than trained sexuality educators. In order to mitigate the lack of experience, the district also held a training workshop for the teachers.24

In another step to ensure quality education in each classroom, school district officials have begun to review all materials used by outside speakers. Currently, the district allows two groups to provide sexuality education to students: the American Red Cross and “Be The One,” an extension of a crisis pregnancy center that provides an abstinence-only-until-marriage program that emphasizes contraceptive failure.

Debated Abstinence-Only Program Wins Grant in Palm Beach County
April 2006; Palm Beach County, FL
A debated abstinence-only program titled “Be the One” has won a three-year federal grant of $800,000 per year to spread its message throughout middle and high schools in Palm Beach County, Florida.25 The agency that runs the program was founded in 1992 as a sister organization to the First Care anti-abortion pregnancy counseling center. “Be The One” was taught in more than 40 public and private schools in 2004 and ran dozens of lunch and after-school clubs.26 According to its project manager, this grant does not have any restrictions and allows the program to be in all schools countywide.27

“Be the One” educators stress the failure rates of condoms and emphasize that abstinence until marriage is the only foolproof way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. They do not teach teens how to use condoms if they are sexually active.28

Rising teen birth rates in Palm Beach County have caused some experts to question whether “Be the One” is doing enough to teach students how to prevent an unintended pregnancy. Between 2003 and 2004, the county experienced a 91% increase in the birth rates of girls ages 10–14, and almost 300 county high school girls each year give birth to their second or third child.29 The Executive Director of the county’s Children’s Services Council says these unintended pregnancies could be prevented if sexual health information and services are more available.30

Planned Parenthood of South Palm Beach and Broward Counties argues that by supporting programs like “Be the One,”public schools are keeping students away from materials that would lower birth rates. A representative of Planned Parenthood’s “Adult Role Model Program” explained, “Babies are having babies. Our school system needs to have a better program to prevent our teens from getting pregnant and contracting sexually transmitted diseases.”31

Some school board members disagreed, however. One member defended the program, saying, “having sex is like playing Russian roulette. The way you protect yourself is like having one chamber or all bullets full.”32

The Youth Education Manager for “Be the One” also defended the abstinence program, stating that “condoms are not 100 percent effective against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and they are zero percent effective toward the emotional consequences teens suffer after their first time.” He went on to say, “Our program does not try to use scare tactics. People assume it’s a ‘just say no’ message program, but we want to educate adolescents.”33

Student Asks to Distribute Condoms in School
March 2006; Port Charlotte, FL
A student’s proposal to make condoms available at Port Charlotte High School was met with opposition from the administration and the district.

The student, who is also the founder of the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance, presented the principal with a plan to promote safer sex, despite the fact that the district supports abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. According to district policy, condoms cannot be distributed on school grounds. While the student will continue to lobby for condom availability, the district remained clear on its stance. As the school board chairman explained, “Abstinence is the way to keep kids the safest they can be.”34

Community Debates Planned Parenthood’s Role in Schools
December 2004; Sarasota County, FL
A controversy over sexuality education in Sarasota County, FL forced the school district to reconsider its sexuality education program and whether Planned Parenthood should be allowed to speak in area high schools.

Planned Parenthood has given presentations to area middle and high school students as part of the school’s life skills management course for over 30 years. When invited by the teacher, educators give a presentation on reproduction, sexually transmitted diseases, and birth control. Parents are given the option of removing their children from these lessons.

The debate began in Spring 2004 when a group of parents approached the school board upset about the alleged distribution and demonstration of condoms, the use of “abortion videos,” and presentations by Planned Parenthood in the schools.35 One parent had complained frequently at school board meetings since May 2004. At one such meeting, stating her opposition to Planned Parenthood, she said, “Their whole philosophy is against what we try to instill into our children. They are a business. They increase promiscuity.”36 Since that spring, board members have been inundated with e-mails and phone calls from parents opposed to Planned Parenthood representatives speaking in area schools.

In response to the complaints, the board asked the school district to revise its policy so that only school district and county health personnel would be permitted to teach sexuality education in the classroom. In addition, the school district’s curriculum department created new sexuality education guidelines that instruct teachers to “avoid any discussion regarding how to use or apply the various forms of birth control,” and “not [to] use or supply samples of birth control devices or medicines in classroom instruction.”37 The guidelines have an increased abstinence-focus; they tell teachers to “instruct that abstinence outside of marriage is the expected standard for all school-age children” and to show a video that promotes abstinence titled Time to Wait for Sex, which was created by a national abstinence-only speaker, Pam Stenzel.38

Not everyone agrees with the changes or the decision to ban Planned Parenthood, however. At a school board meeting in late November 2004, a number of Planned Parenthood supporters told the school board that they wanted the group to keep teaching in local classrooms. A grandmother of two students explained, “I think you are on a very slippery slope. If people can get rid of Planned Parenthood and the teaching of human sexuality, will HIV and AIDS be next if people don’t like the subject or who’s teaching it?”39 Many teachers also disagreed with the move to ban Planned Parenthood from teaching health classes. A group of 70 teachers at Riverview High School signed a letter of protest, accusing the board of moving to appease a vocal group of abortion foes who oppose Planned Parenthood on principle, not on the content of the course they teach. People criticized the new guidelines as well, including the use of the Pam Stenzel video which, according to the education director at the Sarasota office of Planned Parenthood, “uses fear, guilt, and shame to teach sexuality.” She explained, “I don’t think fear is ever a good tool to get anyone to change their behavior.”40

The school board meeting in early December 2004 was packed with over 300 people, including more than 90 people who signed up to speak. At the meeting, the board voted to approve a compromise that would allow Planned Parenthood to continue teaching in local schools, but only allow those students whose parents had signed a permission slip to attend.

Gay Day at Disneyworld Causes Controversy for School Trip
May 2004; Coconut Creek, FL
Some Broward County parents were upset with the timing of a school field trip to Orlando theme parks because the dates were scheduled during “Gay Days.” “Gay Days” are advertised as “creating a gay and lesbian atmosphere,” and planners describe the days as a time for gays and lesbians and their families to be themselves on vacation. The days were expected to bring about 140,000 to the area.

School district officials explained that several Broward schools would be visiting Orlando during the week, but would not say which schools. A spokesperson said that “to cancel the trip solely because of other scheduled events happening would unfairly deprive the students of this experience without a rational reason in the absence of any apparent threat to the safety and well-being of the students.”41

The principal at Lyons Creek Middle School in Coconut Creek, FL offered refunds for the trip, as she had been unaware of the timing when it was scheduled. However, she said that parents shouldn’t be concerned, as “we plan this trip every year, and it’s pretty much at the same time, and we’ve never had any problems.”42

One parent who has a child at Lyons Creek Middle School said that she was in Orlando during a previous “Gay Days” event and was offended by what went on. In a televised interview on the O’Reilly Factor, the parent said, “I just don’t feel it’s an atmosphere that our kids should be subject to.”43 The same parent also said that, “because our society is so lenient with the gay lifestyle, they just feel like it’s not that big a deal to put our kids into that situation.”44

A gay teacher at Plantation Middle School who had been to previous “Gay Days” said that “very little goes on that a parent would have to be concerned about.” He called the parents’ concerns “homophobia.”45

Middle School Student’s Request to Distribute Anti-Abortion Materials Denied
April 2004; Fort Myers, FL
A Cypress Lake Middle School student’s request to distribute anti-choice pamphlets at school was turned down by a federal judge in a preliminary injunction hearing. The eighth-grade student wanted to hand out anti-abortion pamphlets during non-class time on the “Day of Remembrance” for aborted fetuses. Her request had been denied the previous year because of the school’s blanket policy prohibiting student distribution of pamphlets. As a result, the student and her mother filed a lawsuit against the Lee County School Board in late March 2004, asking for a court order to prevent the school from enforcing this policy.

The Liberty Counsel, a national law firm based in Florida that works on religious rights issues, represented the student in court. This group gained national attention earlier that year when they organized Purity Day, on which students handed out materials on abstinence-until-marriage to their classmates.

A U.S. District judge turned down the student’s request, explaining that although students have the right to free speech, school officials are also entitled to “prescribe and control conduct in the schools.”46

The school board attorney was pleased with the decision. “We felt our position with respect to distribution of materials was appropriate and legally defensible. We think this order establishes that.”47 The mother and student, however, were disappointed with the ruling and considered continuing with the litigation.

Parents Upset by Religious Group Teaching in Schools
February 2004; Eau Gallie, FL
In Eau Gallie, FL, a number of parents were upset about a five-day abstinence-only-until-marriage program conducted in the high school by First Defense, an anti-choice organization. First Defense is part of Pregnancy Resources, Inc., an anti-choice organization that offers pregnancy testing and counseling, and operates programs in six public high schools and a number of public middle schools in the area.

The group’s director, a former youth minister, said, “It gives us the opportunity to share truths we’ve come to believe based on our faith, but not have it be offensive to those who might not be of Christian faith.”48 The program is taught at the request of the life management teachers in the schools. One teacher explained, “The kids hear it, they get it. If they hear it from me, they’re not listening.”49

Many parents were upset about the role of such a religious organization in the schools. One parent explained, “A religious-based group has no business in the public schools, period….That information should be disseminated by medical professionals or teachers who have been trained.”50 In addition, many feel that the program relies on scare tactics.

Although teachers say they monitor the presentations to make sure they are appropriate for schools, many parents remain upset because the contact information for these organizations is given out to students as a resource.

Florida’s Youth: Statistical Information of Note51

  • In 2005, 47% of female high school students and 54% of male high school students in Florida reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 46% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 4% of female high school students and 14% of male high school students in Florida reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 12% of female high school students and 21% of male high school students in Florida reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 12% of female high school students and 17% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 35% of female high school students and 37% of male high school students in Florida reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 35% of female high school students and 33% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 63% of females and 71% of males in Florida reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 56% of females and 70% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 15% of females and 11% of males in Florida reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 15% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 17% of females and 23% of males in Florida reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 19% of females and 28% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, 88% of high school students in Florida reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.

  • In 2000, Florida’s abortion rate was 33 per 1,000 women ages 15–19 compared to a teen abortion rate of 24 per 1,000 nationwide.52

  • In 2004, Florida’s birth rate was 42 per 1,000 women ages 15–19 compared to a teen birth rate of 41 per 1,000 nationwide.53

Broward County, Florida

  • In 2005, 46% of female high school students and 61% of male high school students in Broward County, Florida reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 46% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 4% of female high school students and 13% of male high school students in Broward County, Florida reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 10% of female high school students and 25% of male high school students in Broward County, Florida reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 12% of female high school students and 17% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 34% of female high school students and 41% of male high school students in Broward County, Florida reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 35% of female high school students and 33% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 68% of females and 82% of males in Broward County, Florida reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 56% of females and 70% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 14% of females and 8% of males in Broward County, Florida reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 15% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 13% of females and 23% of males in Broward County, Florida reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 19% of females and 28% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, 88% of high school students in Broward County, Florida reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.

Hillsborough County, Florida

  • In 2005, 45% of female high school students and 52% of male high school students in Hillsborough County, Florida reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 46% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 4% of female high school students and 11% of male high school students in Hillsborough County, Florida reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 12% of female high school students and 19% of male high school students in Hillsborough County, Florida reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 12% of female high school students and 17% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 34% of female high school students and 37% of male high school students in Hillsborough County, Florida reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 35% of female high school students and 33% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 61% of females and 74% of males in Hillsborough County, Florida reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 56% of females and 70% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 20% of females and 15% of males in Hillsborough County, Florida reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 15% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 18% of females and 35% of males in Hillsborough County, Florida reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 19% of females and 28% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, 90% of high school students in Hillsborough County, Florida reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.

Miami-Dade County, Florida

  • In 2005, 45% of female high school students and 59% of male high school students in Miami-Dade County, Florida reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 46% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 4% of female high school students and 17% of male high school students in Miami-Dade County, Florida reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 8% of female high school students and 25% of male high school students in Miami-Dade County, Florida reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 12% of female high school students and 17% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 33% of female high school students and 39% of male high school students in Miami-Dade County, Florida reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 35% of female high school students and 33% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 65% of females and 79% of males in Miami-Dade County, Florida reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 56% of females and 70% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 6% of females and 5% of males in Miami-Dade County, Florida reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 15% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 14% of females and 16% of males in Miami-Dade County, Florida reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 19% of females and 28% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, 86% of high school students in Miami-Dade County, Florida reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.

Orange County, Florida

  • In 2005, 47% of female high school students and 55% of male high school students in Orange County, Florida reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 46% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 5% of female high school students and 13% of male high school students in Orange County, Florida reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 13% of female high school students and 21% of male high school students in Orange County, Florida reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 12% of female high school students and 17% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 38% of female high school students and 36% of male high school students in Orange County, Florida reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 35% of female high school students and 33% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 59% of females and 71% of males in Orange County, Florida reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 56% of females and 70% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 8% of females and 9% of males in Orange County, Florida reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 15% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 17% of females and 21% of males in Orange County, Florida reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 19% of females and 28% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, 88% of high school students in Orange County, Florida reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.

Palm Beach County, Florida

  • In 2005, 45% of female high school students and 54% of male high school students in Palm Beach County, Florida reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 46% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 3% of female high school students and 10% of male high school students in Palm Beach County, Florida reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 9% of female high school students and 18% of male high school students in Palm Beach County, Florida reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 12% of female high school students and 17% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, 35% of female high school students and 34% of male high school students in Palm Beach County, Florida reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 35% of female high school students and 33% of male high school students nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 68% of females and 75% of males in Palm Beach County, Florida reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 56% of females and 70% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 13% of females and 13% of males in Palm Beach County, Florida reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 15% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 16% of females and 19% of males in Palm Beach County, Florida reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 19% of females and 28% of males nationwide.

  • In 2005, 88% of high school students in Palm Beach County, Florida reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.

Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding
Florida received $2,521,581 in federal Title V funding in Fiscal Year 2006. The Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage grant requires states to provide three state-raised dollars or the equivalent in services for every four federal dollars received. The state match may be provided in part or in full by local groups. In Florida, sub-grantees are responsible for matching the federal funding. The state allocated a separate $3,500,000 from state funds for Fiscal Year 2006 which is also contracted out to sub-grantees. A portion of the state funds is used to support state-wide community outreach events and Florida’s public media campaign, “It’s Great to Wait” (www.greattowait.com).

The “It’s Great to Wait” campaign is designed to generate awareness and motivate the community to reduce teen pregnancy. Components of the campaign include bilingual television and radio spots targeting adolescents, Latino teens, older teens, and parents; and a newly redesigned educational website for youth and adults.

The website informs youth about the health risks of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and provides tips on how to abstain from sexual activity. Since the inception of this initiative, “over 350,000 youth have participated in abstinence-only-until-marriage classes and activities by way of school-based and community-based programs, after-school programs, and state and provider sponsored youth rallies.”54 On January 25, 2007, Julie Laipply, former Miss Virginia USA, announced that she has been contracted by the Florida Department of Health’s Abstinence Education Office to do all of the “It’s Great to Wait” training across the state.55

Sub-grantees receive money from both federal and state funds. There are 10 sub-grantees: ABST (Abstinence Between Strong Teens); Catholic Charities, Diocese of Palm Beach; Central Florida Pregnancy Center, Inc.; Investing In Our Youth, Inc.; Project S.O.S.; Putnam County Health Department (Teen Hope); Recapturing the Vision International; River Region Human Services, Inc.; Seminole County Healthy Start Coalition, Inc.; and the Washington County Health Department. Sub-grantees use a variety of curricula, including Choosing the Best LIFE, A.C. Green’s Game Plan, and WAIT (Why Am I Tempted) Training.

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).” 56

SIECUS reviewed A.C. Green’s Game Plan and found that in order to convince high school students to remain abstinent until marriage, the curriculumrelies on messages of fear and shame, inaccurate and misleading information, and biased views of marriage, sexual orientation, and family structure. In addition, Game Plan fails to provide important information on sexual health, including how students can seek testing and treatment if they suspect they may have an STD. Finally, the format and underlying biases of the curriculum do not allow for cultural, community, and individual values, and discourage critical thinking and discussions of alternate points of view in the classroom. For example, Game Plan states that, “Even if you’ve been sexually active, it’s never too late to say no. You can’t go back, but you can go forward. You might feel guilty or untrustworthy, but you can start over again.”57

SIECUS reviewed WAIT Training and found that it contained 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.”58

ReCapturing the Vision (RTV) describes its mission as empowering “youth through abstinence education and marriage training.” The curriculum is taught as a yearlong elective in primary, middle, and high schools. The core of the RTV program is the Capturing the Vision and Vessels of Honor curricula. The goal of the Capturing the Vision curriculum is to immerse students in “activities designed to build character, improve their self-esteem, and sharpen their critical-thinking and decision-making skills.” Through Vessels of Honor, students are taught to “honor their bodies, to value their virginity, and to ‘say no’ to negative influences.”59

Two of Florida’s sub-grantees (River Region Human Services, Inc. and Seminole County Healthy Start Coalition, Inc.) implement the ENABL (Education Now and Babies Later) program. Evaluations of the ENABL program in California, Florida, and Minnesota have found it to be ineffective in significantly changing youth’s attitudes, sexual intentions, or behaviors related to remaining abstinent. In fact, in Minnesota, researchers found increases in sexual intentions and behaviors among youth after one year. Ultimately, this study found that “a comprehensive approach provides the most promising prevention of teen pregnancies and STDs.”60

Title V Evaluation

In 2003, Florida evaluated its Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage program. The evaluation found that programs served youth and young adults ages 7–25 and used a variety of curricula including Choosing the Best LIFE, A.C. Green’s Game Plan, and WAIT (Why Am I Tempted) Training.

Florida’s review of its programs involved pre- and post-test surveys and one behavioral survey, but did not include comparison groups. The results showed small changes in participants’ agreement with statements like, “I believe having sex as a young person could mess up my future.”61 In contrast, the behavioral survey found that participants reported increases in seven sexual behaviors, including an increase in the number reporting that they had engaged in sexual intercourse.62

Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) and Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) Grantees
There are 12 CBAE grantees in Florida: Abstinence Between Strong Teens (ABST), Baker County Health Department, Beta Center Inc., Catholic Diocese of Orlando/ ThinkSmart Inc., Christian Care Center Inc., Hendry County Health Department, James B. Sanderlin Family Center, Osceola County Health Department, Pinellas Crisis Pregnancy Center (United Students for Abstinence), Project S.O.S., TLC Clinic (Be the One), and A Women’s Place Ministries Inc. There are four AFLA grantees in Florida: BETA Center Inc., Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Switchboard of Miami, Inc. (receives two grants), and Urban League of Broward County.

Five of the CBAE and AFLA grantees are crisis pregnancy centers. Crisis pregnancy centers typically advertise as providing medical services and then use anti-abortion propaganda, misinformation, and fear and shame tactics to dissuade women facing unintended pregnancy from exercising their right to choose.
Abstinence Between Strong Teens (ABST), founded by former True Love Waits Campaign coordinator Althea Ferguson McMillan,63 operates in the Miami-Dade and Broward county areas in public, private, and Christian schools, churches, youth groups, low-income housing projects, large and small special interest groups and, sororities and fraternities.64 ABST describes itself as a ministry and claims to reach over 30,000 participants each year.65

ABST runs four abstinence-only-until-marriage programs: “Boys 2 Men,” “Closing the Gap,” “Metro Dade,” and “Project Hope.”66 These programs provide abstinence-only-until-marriage training in schools and other settings, encourage virginity pledges, establish abstinence and secondary virginity clubs, orchestrate commitment ceremonies and graduations where certificates and commitment rings are distributed, and conduct parent outreach and education. ABST partners with national abstinence movement figures, such as Lakita Garth67 and A.C. Green,68 often bringing these individuals to speak to communities about ABST’s programs.69

“Boys 2 Men” is a mentoring program targeting young men ages 12–18. It coordinates 60 abstinence and secondary virginity clubs called “Men of Character,” in which participants pledge to remain abstinent until marriage. Research has found that under certain conditions such pledges, most commonly called virginity pledges, may 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. More importantly, 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.70

The Boys 2 Men program uses, and trains other agencies to use, the Choosing the Best series. SIECUS reviewed two of the curricula produced by Choosing the Best, Inc.: Choosing the Best LIFE (for high school students) and Choosing the Best PATH (for middle school students). These reviews found that the curricula name numerous negative consequences of premarital sexuality activity and suggest that teens should feel guilty, embarrassed, and ashamed of sexual behavior. For example, Choosing the Best PATH says, “Sexual activity also can lead to the trashing of a person’s reputation, resulting in the loss of friends.”71

Since February of 2006, the Boys 2 Men” program has been in 34 community agencies and elementary, middle, and high schools. As of July 31, 2006, the program claims to have reached 5,351 young men, of whom 3,363 have taken an abstinence pledge.72

Among its other activities, “Closing the Gap” plans to implement an HPV Awareness Symposium at the end of each quarter. It intends to invite 50 at-risk female students from each public school, private school, or community organization served during that quarter to attend. Among other things, these events will teach etiquette lessons to the “young ladies” who attend:  

The symposium will be a 2-4 hour session where students will be informed that HPV is one of the most commonly contracted Sexually Transmitted Deadly Diseases in young women today. Which often translate as a death sentence to many teenagers…. In addition, these participants will also take part in a [sic] Etiquette session provided as an extra bonus for these special young ladies.73

In fact, according to a report by the CDC, the majority of HPV infections resolve themselves spontaneously and do not lead to any long-term consequences. The report explains that: “While infection with high-risk types [of HPV] appears to be ‘necessary’ for the development of cervical cancer, it is not ‘sufficient’ because cancer does not develop in the vast majority of women with HPV infection.”74 The report also emphasizes the importance of routine screenings for pre-cancerous cells using the Pap test. The CDC estimates that approximately half the cases of cervical cancer that occur each year will occur in women who have never had a Pap test and an additional 10 percent will occur in women who were not screened in the last five years. In addition, the CDC explains that condoms can be used in the fight against HPV and cervical cancer.

The Catholic Diocese of Orlando runs the “ThinkSmart, Inc.” program which claims to have reached 18,000 students in 20 of the 27 middle schools in Orange County.75 This abstinence-only-until-marriage program uses a number of different curricula including A. C. Green’s Game Plan, Baby Think It Over, Choosing the Best, Go A.P.E. (Abstinence Protects Everyone), Families that Care series, R.S.V.P. (Responsible Social Values Program), and WAIT Training.76 (See the Title V section for more information on A.C Greene’s Game Plan, Choosing the Best, and WAIT Training.) ThinkSmart, Inc. also uses the STARS mentoring program developed by Friends First.

Christian Care Center, Inc. is part of the First Baptist Leesburg’s Ministry Village and includes a crisis pregnancy center. Its website explains, “First Baptist Church is all about Meeting Needs - Sharing Christ. Our Ministry village accomplishes this as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission.”

Project S.O.S. explains on its website that “sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that are transferred from one person to another through sexual contact.” Project S.O.S. includes kissing as well as “all forms of sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal & oral), and the use of sexual toys” in its definition of sexual contact.77 In reality the majority of STDs are not transmitted through kissing.

The Pinellas Crisis Pregnancy Center funds two abstinence-only-until-marriage programs: “United Students for Abstinence” and “More 2 Life! (M2L).” M2L uses the A.C. Green’s Game Plan curriculum. (See the Title V section for more information on A.C. Green’s Game Plan.)

M2L’s website contains incorrect information regarding STDs and condom usage. Under “Avoiding the Penalties,” M2L states, “People talk up condoms as sure protection from STDs and pregnancy. In reality, most STDs are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact on areas not covered by a condom.”78 Though it is true that condoms can not protect against all skin-to-skin transmission, the CDC explains that condoms do reduce the risk of STDs transmitted this way, including herpes and HPV. According to the CDC, “laboratory studies have demonstrated that latex condoms provide an essentially impermeable barrier to particles the size of HPV” and that “studies of HPV infection in men demonstrate that most HPV infections are located on parts of the penis that would be covered by a condom.”79

United Students for Abstinence also uses messages of fear about condom effectiveness and STDs. Its website lists the diseases HPV, genital herpes, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV/AIDS and states, “Don’t buy into the smokescreen about condoms. Condoms do not give you 100% effective protection against any of these diseases.”80

A Woman’s Place Ministries, Inc. claims on its website, “Here you’ll find straight facts about your pregnancy options. No propaganda, no hype, just the truth.”81 However, the website contains many examples of misinformation and propaganda, especially regarding abortion. After listing the most common reasons for choosing abortion, such as “can’t afford a baby,” “she has all the children she wants,” and “she or the fetus has a health problem,” A Woman’s Place Ministries states, “Notice the tone of these ‘reasons’ however…Such reasons are usually used by abortion providers to make young women feel they have no other choice, when, in reality, adoption answers all of these questions too.”82
A Woman’s Place Ministries also cites misinformation about abortion and its health risks. In answer to the question, “Does abortion cause breast cancer?,” A Woman’s Place Ministries cites a National Cancer Institute study from 1994, offering “results directly quoted from the study” linking abortion to breast cancer.83 Yet, the website failed to clarify that in 2003, the National Cancer Institute convened a comprehensive study with over 100 pregnancy and breast cancer risk experts who “concluded that having an abortion or miscarriage does not increase a woman’s subsequent risk of developing breast cancer.”84

A Woman’s Place Ministries also offers The Healing Journey, a post-abortion talk group created under the pretense that “many women who have had an abortion also experience symptoms of post-abortion trauma. They may not realize that these symptoms are directly related to their past abortion.”85 There is no sound scientific evidence linking abortion to subsequent mental health problems, termed “post-abortion stress syndrome” by anti-abortion groups. Neither the American Psychological Association nor the American Psychiatric Association recognize “post-abortion stress syndrome” as a legitimate medical condition. 86 Nonetheless, abortion opponents often refer to studies that have been found to have severe methodological flaws or cite anecdotal evidence of this condition in an effort to scare women out of exercising their right to choose.

TLC Clinic, Inc. is listed on the Administration for Children & Families’ website as a CBAE grantee in FY 2006, though the agency that actually applied for and won this grant is Be the One. TLC Clinic’s address is the same as Be the One’s address. Be the One and TLC are both sister organizations to First Care, a crisis pregnancy center. (See the Events of Note section for more information about Be the One.)

Federal and State Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in FY 2006

Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Grantee
Length of Grant

 

Amount of Grant

Type of Grant (includes Title V, CBAE, AFLA, and other funds)

Florida Department of Health

www.doh.state.fl.us
www.greattowait.com

$2,521,581 federal
$3,500,000 state

Title V

ABST (Abstinence Between Strong Teens)

DUAL GRANTEE
2005–2008
www.abstinc.com

$249,999.84

$642,250

Title V sub-grantee

CBAE

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Palm Beach, Inc.
www.diocesepb.org

$205, 467

Title V sub-grantee

Central Florida Pregnancy Center, Inc.

$139,633

Title V sub-grantee

Investing in Our Youth, Inc.

$227,552

Title V sub-grantee

Project S.O.S.

DUAL GRANTEE
2006–2011
www.projectsos.com

$250,000

$599,619

Title V sub-grantee

CBAE

Putnam County Health Department

$129,344

Title V sub-grantee

Recapturing the Vision
www.recapturingthevision.org

$105,000

Title V sub-grantee

River Region Human Services, Inc.
www.rrhs.org

$250,000

Title V sub-grantee

Seminole County Healthy Start Coalition, Inc.
www.seminolehealthystart.org

$100,661

Title V sub-grantee

Washington County Health Department
www.doh.state.fl.us/chdWashington/Default.htm

$250,000

Title V sub-grantee

A Woman’s Place Ministries, Inc.
2005–2008
www.awpm.net

$782,992

CBAE

Baker County Health Department
2005–2008
www.outspokn.com

$460,755

CBAE

BETA Center, Inc.
2005–2008
www.betacenter.org

$430,938

CBAE

Catholic Diocese of Orlando/ ThinkSmart, Inc.
2004–2007
www.orlandodiocese.org

$800,000

CBAE

Christian Care Center, Inc.
2006–2011

$423,166

CBAE

Hendry County Health Department
2005–2008
www.doh.state.fl.us/chdHentry/home.html

$393,067

CBAE

James B. Sanderlin Family Center
2004–2007

$371,761

CBAE

Osceola County Health Department
2004–2007
www.osceolahealth.org

$799,791

CBAE

Pinellas Crisis Pregnancy Center (United Students for Abstinence)
2006–2011
www.pregctr.net

$600,000

CBAE

TLC Clinic, Inc.
2005–2008

$800,000

CBAE

Beta Center, Inc.
2002–2007
www.betacenter.org

$225,000

AFLA

Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County
2002–2007
www.boysandgirlsclub.com

$225,000

AFLA

Switchboard of Miami
2002–2007

DUAL GRANTEE
2004–2009
www.switchboardmiami.org

$225,000

 

$300,000

AFLA

 

AFLA

Urban League of Broward County
2002–2007
www.campaignforchange.org

$99,227

AFLA

Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Coordinator

Christina Canty
Florida Department of Health
Family Health Services
4025 Esplande Way 105A
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 245-4466

Florida Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education

ACLU of Florida
4500 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 340
Miami, FL 33137
Phone: (786) 363-2700
www.aclufl.org

Florida Association of Planned Parenthood Affiliates
317 East Park Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 201-0516
www.ppaction.org/FAPPA/home.html

 

Florida NOW
Phone: 1-800-535-2669
www.flnow.org

Florida Women’s Consortium
4335 Elm Ave.
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
www.floridawomensconsortium.com

 

National Women’s Political Caucus
of Florida
161 S.E. 13th St.
Pompano Beach, FL 33060
Phone: (954) 946-3265
www.withoutboundaries.com

Republican Majority for Choice
P.O. Box 30503
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420
Phone: (561) 493-8880
www.gopchoice.org

Florida Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Family First
609 West De Leon St.
Tampa, FL 33606
Phone: (813) 222-8300
www.familyfirst.net

Florida Right To Life
378 Center Pointe Circle, Suite 1250
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Phone: (407) 834-LIFE
www.frtl.org

Newspapers in Florida

Bradenton Herald
Donna Wright
Health & Medicine Writer
P.O. Box 921
Bradenton, FL 34206
Phone: (941) 745-7049

 

Diario Las Americas
Miriam Perez
Health & Medicine Editor
P.O. Box 593177
Miami, FL 33159
Phone: (305) 633-3341

El Nuevo Herald
Gloria Leal
Health & Medicine Editor
1 Herald Plz.
Miami, FL 33132
Phone: (305) 376-2183

 

The Florida Times-Union
Tom Szaroleta
Health & Medicine Editor
P.O. Box 1949
Jacksonville, FL 32231
Phone: (904) 359-4548

Florida Today
Belinda Stewart
Metro Editor
P.O. Box 419000
Melbourne, FL 32941
Phone: (321) 242-3642

 

The Ledger
Robin Williams Adams
Health & Medicine Reporter
P.O. Box 408
Lakeland, FL 33802
Phone: (863) 802-7558

The Ledger
Diane Allen
Local Governments Reporter
P.O. Box 408
Lakeland, FL 33802
Phone: (863) 802-7514

 

The Ledger
Lyle McBride
Family & Parenting Editor
300 W. Lime St.
Lakeland, FL 33815
Phone: (863) 802-7505

Miami Herald
Frank Davies
Federal Legislation Correspondent
700 12th St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 383-6054

 

Miami Herald
Leonard Pitts
Social Issues Columnist
790 National Press Building
Washington, DC 20045
Phone: (888) 251-4407

Miami Herald
Bob Radziewicz
Education Editor
1 Herald Plz.
Miami, FL 33132
Phone: (305) 376-3506

 

Naples Daily News
Liz Freeman
Health & Medicine Editor
1075 Central Ave.
Naples, FL 34102
Phone: (239) 263-4778

The News-Journal
Anne Geggis
Health & Medicine Reporter
901 6th St.
Daytona Beach, FL 32117
Phone: (386) 681-2746

 

News-Press
Tammy Ayer
Assistant Editor
2442 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 334-4785

Orlando Sentinel
Robyn Shelton
Health & Medicine Reporter
P.O. Box 2833
Orlando, FL 32802
Phone: (407) 420-5487

 

Orlando Sentinel
Alex Beasley
City Editor
633 N. Orange Ave.
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: (407) 420-5443

The Palm Beach Post
Sonja Isger
Health Reporter
2751 S. Dixie Hwy.
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Phone: (561) 820-4459

 

Pensacola News Journal
Susie Forrester
Health & Medicine Editor
101 E. Romana St.
Pensacola, FL 32502
Phone: (850) 435-8550

St. Petersburg Times
Melanie Ave
Education Staff Writer
1000 N. Ashley Dr.
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 226-3400

 

St. Petersburg Times
Lisa Greene
Health & Medicine Writer
P.O. Box 1121
Saint Petersburg, FL 33731
Phone: (727) 893-8846

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Cindy Kane
Health & Medicine Reporter
P.O. Box 1719
Sarasota, FL 34230
(941) 361-4828

 

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Bob LaMendola
Health & Medicine Reporter
200 E. Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954) 356-4000

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Nancy McVicar
Health & Medicine Reporter
200 E. Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954) 356-4000

 

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Tina Kelley
Reporter
200 E. Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954) 356-4000

Tampa Tribune
Susan Johnson
Health & Medicine Reporter
200 S. Parker St.
Tampa, FL 33606
Phone: (813) 259-7600

 

References

  1. This refers to the fiscal year for the federal government which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, Fiscal Year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  2. S.I. Rosenbaum, “Gay-Straight Group Forms at High School,” St. Petersburg Times, 15 September 2005, accessed 17 November 2006, <http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/15/news_pf/Hillsborough/Gay_straight_group_fo.shtml>.
  3. Jim Sloan, “Task Force Pens Rules for Clubs in School,” Tampa Tribune, 24 February 2006.
  4. Christina DeNardo, “District’s Uneven Blocking of Web Sites Draws Criticism,” Palm Beach Post, 9 May 2006, accessed 16 May 2006, <www.palmbeachpost.com/pbccentral/content/local_news/epaper/
    2006/05/09/s1b_skWEB_0509.html    >.
  5. Ibid.
  6. Joe Dellosa, “‘Gay/Lesbian Websites Blocked by the School District of Palm Beach County,” InletSpin.com, 4 May 2006, accessed 16 May 2006, <www.inletspin.com/text/11.htm>.
  7. American Psychiatric Association, “Position Statement on Psychiatric Treatment and Sexual Orientation,” released 11 September 1998, accessed 19 August 2005, <www.psych.org>.
  8. Ibid.
  9. Dellosa, “Gay/Lesbian Websites Blocked.”
  10. Nicol Jenkins, “Palm Beach School District Unblocks Access to Gay Supportive Websites,” Boca Raton News, 21 December 2006, accessed 2 January 2006, <http://www.bocaratonnews.com/index.php?src=news&prid=18237&category=Local%20News>.
  11. Pete Gawda, “School Board Loses Counsel: Local Board Needs New Counsel to Handle ACLU Suit,” Okeechobee News, 1 December 2006, accessed 5 December 2006, <http://www.newszap.com/articles/2006/12/01/fl/lake_okeechobee/aok01.txt>.
  12. Associated Press, “Lawsuit Challenges Attitudes on Gays: The ACLU Supports a Push for a School Gay-Straight Club,” St. Petersburg Times, 2 January 2007, accessed 4 January 2007, <http://www.sptimes.com/2007/01/02/State/Lawsuit_challenges_at.shtml>.
  13. Gwada, “School Board Loses Counsel.”
  14. Margot Susca, “St. Lucie Community Group Studies Sex-Ed Issues, Alternatives,” TC Palm Local News, 4 October 2006, accessed 11 October 2006,
    <http://www1.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,2545,TCP_16736_5040615,00.html>.
  15. Ibid.
  16. Ibid.
  17. Ibid.
  18. Ibid.             
  19. Evan Bacon, “Teacher Suspended: Showed Kids Abortion Film,” CBS4, 27 October 2006, accessed 31 October 2006 <http://cbs4.com/local/local_story_300033109.html >.
  20. Ibid.
  21. Marc Freeman, “Teen Pregnancy Rising Sharply in Palm Beach County,” Sun Sentinel, 29 September 2005, accessed 13 April 2006, <www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-pteenparents29sep29.0.174090.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines>.
  22. Rani Gupta, “As Schools Revamp Sex Ed, Some Call for Teaching More Earlier,” Palm Beach Post, 8 April 2006, accessed 13 April 2006, <www.palmbeachpost.com/pbcsouth/content/local_news/epaper/
    2006/04/08/s1a_SEXED_0408.html    >.
  23. Ibid.
  24. Ibid.
  25. Kathleen Chapman, “Abstinence Education Program Wins Grant,” The Palm Beach Post, 7 October 2005, 3B.
  26. Ibid.
  27. Ibid.
  28. Ibid.
  29. Marc Freeman, “Teen Pregnancy Rising Sharply in Palm Beach County,” 29 September 2005, Sun Sentinel, accessed <http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-
    pteenparents29sep29,0,174090.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines    >.
  30. Ibid.
  31. “Promoting Abstinence or Courting Disaster,” Boca Raton News, 24 October 2004, accessed 25 October 2004, <http://www.bocaratonnews.com/index.php?src=news&prid=9942&category=Local%20News>.
  32. Ibid.
  33. Ibid.
  34. Ella Nayor, “PCHS Teen Activist Wants to Bring Condoms to School,” Sun-Herald, 7 March 2006, accessed 7 March 2006, < http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/030706/tp3ch8.htm?date=030706&story=tp3ch8.htm>.
  35. “Venice Parents Sound Off–Again,” Venice Gondolier Sun, 2 June 2004.
  36. Christina DeNardo, “Parents Oppose Talks by Agency; Schools Reconsider Speakers from Planned Parenthood,” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 6 November 2004, accessed on Lexis-Nexis, 7 January 2005.
  37. Christina DeNardo, “District Putting Limits on Sex Ed,” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 29 November 2004, accessed on Lexis-Nexis, 7 January 2005.
  38. Christina DeNardo, “Board OKs Alternative Sex-Ed Plan,” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 8 December 2004, accessed on Lexis-Nexis, 7 January 2005.
  39. Christina DeNardo, “Board Hears Sex-Ed Debate,” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 18 November 2004, accessed on Lexis-Nexis, 7 January 2005.
  40. Christina DeNardo, “Sex-ed Debate Raises Questions About Video,” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 9 December 2004, accessed on Lexis-Nexis, 7 January 2005.
  41. Jamie Malernee, “Field Trip Schedule Concerns Parents; Visit to Orlando Theme Parks Will Coincide With Gay Days,” Sun-Sentinel, 6 May 2004.
  42. Ibid.
  43. “The O’Reilly Factor,” Fox News Channel Transcript, 4 May 2004.
  44. J. Brown et al., “Mom Protests Middle School’s Orlando Outing During ‘Gay’ Pride Week,” Agape Press,
    30 April 2004, accessed 3 March 2006 < http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/4/302004c.asp>.
  45. Malernee.
  46. Mike Hoyem, “Teen Loses Lee School Board Suit,” News-Press, 15 April 2004.
  47. Ibid.
  48. J. Dean, “Faith-Based Groups Tout Abstinence to Students,” Florida Today, 7 February 2004.
  49. Ibid.
  50. Ibid.
  51. Unless otherwise cited, all statistical information comes from: Danice K. Eaton, et. al., “Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2005,” Surveillance Summaries, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 55, no. SS-5 (9 June 2006): 1-108, accessed 26 January 2007, <http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm>.
  52. U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics: Overall Trends, Trends by Race and Ethnicity and State-by-State Information (New York: The Guttmacher Institute, February 2004), accessed 26 January 2007, <http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2006/09/12/USTPstats.pdf>.
  53. National Vital Statistics Reports 55.01 (Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 2006), 10, accessed 26 January 2006, <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr55/nvsr55_01.pdf>.
  54. “It’s Great to Wait Program Information,” Florida Department of Health, (2005), accessed 31 January 2007, <http://www.greattowait.com/program.html>.
  55. Silvia Casabianca, “Abstinence a Powerful Choice, Says Miss Virginia,” Naples Sun Times, 31 January 2007, accessed 1 February 2007, <http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17784661&
    BRD=2605&PAG=461&dept_id=523946&rfi=6    >.
  56. Bruce Cook, Choosing the Best LIFE (Marietta, GA: Choosing the Best Inc., 2000). For more information, see SIECUS’ review of Choosing the Best LIFE at <http://www.communityactionkit.org/curricula_reviews.html>.
  57. Scott Phelps and Libby Gray, A.C. Green’s Game Plan (Golf, IL: Project Reality, 2001). For more information, see SIECUS’ review of A.C. Green’s Game Plan at <http://www.communityactionkit.org/curricula_reviews.html>.
  58. Joneen Krauth-Mackenzie, WAIT (Why Am I Tempted) Training, Second Edition (Greenwood Village, CO: WAIT Training, undated). For more information, see SIECUS’ review of WAIT Training at <http://www.communityactionkit.org/curricula_reviews.html>.
  59. “School,”ReCapturing the Vision (2007), accessed 31 January 2007, <http://recapturingthevision.org/>.
  60. Debra Hauser, Five Years of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Education: Assessing the Impact (Washington, D.C.: Advocates for Youth, 2004), accessed 22 March 2007, < http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/stateevaluations.pdf>.
  61. Florida State University School of Social Work, Florida DOH Abstinence Education Providers Pretest/Posttest Analysis (Tallahassee, FL: Florida State University and Florida Department of Health, 2002–2003).
  62. Florida State University School of Social Work, Total Sample Pretest/Posttest Analysis Behavior Survey (Tallahassee, FL: Florida State University and Florida Department of Health, 2002–2003).
  63. “About Us: Meet Our Founder,” Abstinence Between Strong Teens, Inc., (2007), accessed 12 February 2007, <http://www.abstinc.com/aboutus/ourfounder.html>.
  64. “About Us: ABST,” Abstinence Between Strong Teens, Inc. (2007) accessed 12 February 2007, <http://www.abstinc.com/aboutus.html>.
  65. Ibid.
  66. “Programs,” Abstinence Between Strong Teens, Inc. (2007), accessed 12 February 2007, <http://www.abstinc.com/programs.html>.
  67. “Programs: Boys 2 Men,” Abstinence Between Strong Teens, Inc. (2007), accessed 12 February 2007, <http://www.abstinc.com/programs/boys2men.html>.
  68. “MySpace Profile,” Abstinence Between Strong Teens, Inc., accessed 12 February 2007, <http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=92670717>.
  69. “Partners,” Abstinence Between Strong Teens, Inc. (2007), accessed 30 January 2007, <http://www.abstinc.com/partners.html>.
  70. Peter Bearman and Hannah Brückner, “Promising the Future: Virginity Pledges and the Transition to First Intercourse,” American Journal of Sociology 106.4 (2001): 859-912.; Peter Bearman and Hannah Brückner, “After the Promise: The STD Consequences of Adolescent Virginity Pledges,” Journal of Adolescent Health 36.4 (2005): 271-278.
  71. Cook, Choosing the Best LIFE.
  72. “Programs: Boys 2 Men,” Abstinence Between Strong Teens, Inc. (2007), accessed 12 February 2007, <http://www.abstinc.com/programs/boys2men.html>.
  73. “Programs: Closing the Gap,” Abstinence Between Strong Teens, Inc. (2007), accessed 12 February 2007, <http://www.abstinc.com/programs/closingthegap.html>.
  74. Julie Gerberding, Report to Congress: Prevention of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection (Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004).
  75. “What We Do,” ThinkSmart, accessed 12 February 2007, <http://www.thinksmartflorida.com/what_we_do.html>.
  76. “Why Wait: Curriculum,” ThinkSmart, accessed 11 January 2007 <http://www.thinksmartflorida.com/why_curriculum.html>.
  77. “Students,” Project SOS, accessed 11 January 2007 <http://www.projectsos.com/truth.htm>.
  78. “Game Plan: Avoiding the Penalities,” More 2 Life (2006), accessed 30 January 2007, <http://www.m2l.org/game_penalties.html>.
  79. Gerberding, Report to Congress.
  80. “Why Wait?: What if I Don’t?,” United Students for Abstinence (2004), accessed 30 January 2007, <http://www.usa100.net/if_I_dont.html>.
  81. “Welcome,” A Woman’s Place Ministries, Inc., accessed 30 January 2007,<http://www.awpm.net/>.
  82. “Abortion,” A Woman’s Place Ministries, Inc., accessed 30 January 2007, <http://www.awpm.net/other-services.html>.
  83. “Abortion: Facts,” A Woman’s Place Ministries, Inc., accessed 30 January 2007, <http://www.awpm.net/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=25>.
  84. Summary Report: Early Reproductive Events and Breast Cancer Workshop (Washington, D.C.: National Cancer Institute, 4 March 2003), accessed 30 January 2007 <http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/ere-workshop-report>.
  85. “The Healing Journey,” A Woman’s Place Ministries, Inc., accessed 30 January 2007, <http://www.awpm.net/thehealingjourney>.
  86. Susan Cohen, “Abortion and Mental Health: Myths and Realities,” Guttmacher Policy Review vol. 9, no. 3 (Summer 2006), accessed 30 January 2007, <http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/gpr/09/3/gpr090308.html>.

 

 

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