Abstinence-only programs employ fear, shame and guilt to discourage teens from engaging in sexual activity when the reality is that many teens are already sexually active and need information about responsible decision-making, disease-prevention and contraception. (In 2003, 62 percent of 12th graders report having had sexual intercourse.[1]) Instead, abstinence-only programs rely on negative messages and medically-inaccurate information about sexuality, condoms and STIs, and promote biases based on gender, sexual orientation, marriage, family structure, and pregnancy options. Comprehensive sexuality education provides the tools for lifelong responsible-decision making about sexuality, including age-appropriate, medically-accurate information on a broad set of topics including human development, relationships, decision-making, abstinence, contraception, and disease prevention.
- Information that is wrong, too little, or too late can result in long-term and life-threatening consequences. Abstinence-only programs that do not include family planning, disease prevention, and responsible decision-making skills are dangerous and do not prevent pregnancy or disease.
- Some parents are not prepared to provide this information and teens need a responsible source to turn to in confidence and with confidence, not incorrect information from other teens.
- Many prominent health organizations have denounced abstinence-only programs in favor of comprehensive approaches, including the American Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institutes of Health.
In Virginia
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In 1988, the Virginia Board of Education adopted content and implementation guidelines for Family Life Education programs. The FLE guidelines cover eleven content areas, including health education and sexuality education, but they are not mandated.
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The FLE guidelines are subject to amendment by the Virginia General Assembly: in recent years, bills have been introduced to strengthen the guidelines to include information about Emergency Contraception and ensure medical-accuracy, as well as legislative attempts to include biased and inaccurate information. In 2009, a bill requiring Virginia’s Family Life Education materials to be medically accurate failed to pass the House Education subcommittee (5-4).
Recent Developments
In the 2006 General Assembly Session, Planned Parenthood worked with Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple to pass SJR 171, a resolution for an objective and comprehensive study of FLE programs. The survey found that 14% of local school districts’ FLE programs are abstinence-only. In these localities, when pregnancy and STIs are presented, abstinence is the only form of prevention discussed.
In the 2009 General Assembly Session, Planned Parenthood worked with Del. Jennifer McClellan to pass HB 1980, a Parents Right to Know. This bill will require school divisions to distribute a summary of the Family Life Education curriculum being taught in their child's school. Parents will have the right to opt their child out of a portion or all of the Family Life Education program. The passage of this bill will ensure that parents are informed about what their children are being taught or not taught in FLE programs and will encourage parent-teen communication about sexuality education.
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[1] CDC, Youth risk behavior surveillance summary – United States, 2003, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 2004, 53(2).
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