Advocates For Youth, Rock The Vote Team Up To Say No To Abstinence-Only Sex Education, Give Young People Voice

8/21/2002

From: Bill Barker of Advocates for Youth 202-347-5700, or Jamie Falkowski of Rock the Vote, 310-444-7041

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 -- To counter federal policies aimed at keeping young people in the dark, Advocates for Youth and Rock the Vote launched a nationwide campaign today to send tens of thousands of signatures to Capitol Hill before Congress votes next month on funding unrealistic abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. Using a unique, on-line advocacy tool, the campaign will help young people participate in the political process by encouraging them to sign a petition for honest sex education and to register to vote.

"Everyday in America, 10,000 young people contract an STD, 2,400 become pregnant, and 55 get HIV," said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth. "Flying in the face of this reality, the Bush Administration and Congress continue to direct millions in taxpayer dollars to abstinence-only-until-marriage programs that censor information about the health benefits of contraception. Nobody knows better than young people that these misguided programs are designed to keep them ignorant. Youth deserve a voice in Washington. When young people are engaged in the political process, we will get better adolescent health policies."

Thanks to a half a billion dollars in government funds allocated since 1996 to abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, young people are likely to return to class this year to find that "ignorance-based" curricula are being used in their schools. But they will also find an unusual message in their e-mail boxes. That message, linked to an "ePSA" -- www.advocatesforyouth.org/petition/ -- encourages young people to sign a petition in support of honest sex education, and, if old enough, to register to vote. In addition, Rock the Vote "Street Teams" will be at concerts and other events all over the country collecting additional signatures.

"Rock the Vote has mobilized around this issue because America's youth have told us that abstinence-only sex education is an unrealistic and potentially dangerous policy," said Jehmu Greene, executive director for Rock the Vote. "We don't expect the American public to make their political decisions with incomplete information, so why would we expect our youngest citizens to make life impacting choices without understanding all of their options."

As early as September, Congress will vote to authorize $135 million to fund abstinence-only programs over the next year. These narrowly defined programs teach teens that they must abstain from sex outside of marriage - and that not doing so is likely to have "harmful psychological and physical effects." Information about the health benefits of contraception, including condoms, is censored under federal guidelines.

Despite what abstinence-only-until-marriage proponents claim, peer-reviewed research has yet to prove that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs are effective. Even a recent report released by the United States Department of Health and Human Services indicated that "no definitive research has linked the abstinence education legislation" to the downward trends in teen sexual activity. Meanwhile, programs that provide young people with medically accurate information about abstinence and contraception - and help them to develop communication skills -- have been shown to delay the initiation of sex and to improve the use of contraception for those who are sexually active.

Advocates for Youth is a national, nonprofit organization that creates programs and advocates for policies that help young people make safe, responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. For more information, visit www.advocatesforyouth.org.

Rock the Vote was founded in 1990 by members of the recording industry in response to a wave of attacks on freedom of speech and artistic expression. The founders' goal was to mobilize young people to respond to First Amendment issues. Since that time, Rock the Vote has become a leading political organization for young people. The organization fosters a better understanding of political ideas and processes among youth, and it provides concrete ways for them to promote change in their communities. For more information, visit www.rockthevote.org.

------ Note to Editors and Producers: For more information or to set up an interview with adolescent sexuality experts or participating youth across the country, please contact Bill Barker at (202) 347-5700 or Jamie Falkowski at (310) 444-7041.