Let's talk about sex

... or how abstinence makes the heart grow fonder!

It's funny -- as in odd, not ha ha -- how religious right conservatives would have you believe that the answer to preventing teen sex is to simply teach kids about abstinence. Well guess what? It still doesn't work!

The Associated Press reports:

Programs that focus exclusively on abstinence have not been shown to affect teenager sexual behavior, although they are eligible for tens of millions of dollars in federal grants, according to a study released by a nonpartisan group that seeks to reduce teen pregnancies.

"At present there does not exist any strong evidence that any abstinence program delays the initiation of sex, hastens the return to abstinence or reduces the number of sexual partners" among teenagers, the study concluded.

The report, which was based on a review of research into teenager sexual behavior, was being released Wednesday by the nonpartisan National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

The study found that while abstinence-only efforts appear to have little positive impact, more comprehensive sex education programs were having "positive outcomes" including teenagers "delaying the initiation of sex, reducing the frequency of sex, reducing the number of sexual partners and increasing condom or contraceptive use."

"Two-thirds of the 48 comprehensive programs that supported both abstinence and the use of condoms and contraceptives for sexually active teens had positive behavior effect," said the report.

A spending bill before Congress for the Department of Health and Human Services would provide $141 million in assistance for community-based, abstinence-only sex education programs, $4 million more than what President Bush had requested.

Instead of wasting precious time, and tax-payer dollars, wouldn't it be better to simply provide comprehensive sex education to students?

Maybe a way to start would be to encourage teens to watch the Midwest Teen Sex Show! I'm sure it's more educational/beneficial than an abstinence-only program.

Or another idea would be to provide more sports programs for girls. Studies indicate that creating opportunities for girls to play sports can play a key role in reducing teen pregnancy.

We have the information needed to help prevent kids of engaging in sex before they are ready, or to protect themselves when they do. Too bad we don't have an administration, or Congress, willing to accept the truth.

Let's talk about sex!

Sister Song Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective held their 2nd national conference in Chicago this weekend. The theme for the gathering was "Let's talk about sex!"

More than 800 women and men attended the four day event, along with featured speakers including Byllye Avery, founder of the Black Women's Health Imperative, Dorothy Roberts, the Kirkland & Ellis Professor at Northwestern University School of Law, and Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders, former US Surgeon General and now a Distinguished Professor of Public Health at the University of Arkansas School of Public Health and a Distinguished Professor at the Clinton School of Public Policy.

The plenary sessions and workshops were thought-provoking and inspiring. Dr. Elders delivered some of the best quotes, however.

Talking about the current controversy surrounding the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, Dr. Elders said: "We insure our house, we insure our car ... but we don't want to insure our daughters against cervical cancer." She accused politicians of playing: "Vaginal politics -- using women to get elected." And she spoke about the challenges facing African American men, and how the government could "send kids to Harvard for less than what we spend incarcerating them."

My favorite comment came when she launched a verbal attack on "abstinence only" education. Dr. Elders noted that the argument most often used by advocates of abstinence only education is that condoms break. Her response was: "Yes, condoms break -- but the vows of chastity break far more easily."

Our children need to know how to protect themselves.

In her final swipe at the current administration, Dr. Elders noted: "Not to know is bad ... not to want to know is worse ... but not to care is unforgivable."

It's too bad that Bill Clinton caved under pressure from religious right leaders and forced her to resign. Dr. Joycelyn Elders is just the kind of Surgeon General we need.