Great post, Max. Thanks for speaking up and sharing your experience.

and your testimony was probably the best among any of the speakers. I loved seeing some of the congressmen reaction to your story - and I loved the idea that your unique and personal story is now "on record"

I hope they listened.

Max,

Your story cuts through all the lies and misinformation of ab-only programs, and your courage demonstrates the wisdom and intelligence youth today can share to help wake the world up to the need for change. Thanks, and good luck on your efforts to make up for the failures of our education system. The world needs more voices like yours.

Be the change you seek,

Scott Swenson, Editor

Just want to second how moving your story is. It's a reminder that withholding information has real consequences. Thank you for your bravery.

It's important that people keep talking about this issue. One size doesn't fit all when it comes to education, and abstinence-only hurts people. Thanks for sharing your story! It is imperative for real people to come forward and fight for everyone's right to truthful and accurate education.

It's simply tragic that "we" continue to allow this type of behavior to wreak such continuous and STUPID havoc in our lives. I'm 70 and I can't believe that it's STILL happening. I could easily contribute a huge litany of stuff & nonsense on this subject... and how sad it is to even contemplate the need or even the reason to do so. MY disappointment re this state of affairs pales in comparison to Max's experience(s). My thoughts & heart are with him, as well as with all our other wonderful young people who are having to deal with this crap - mostly because of the 'ostriches' among us.

Keep on keepin' on, y'all -

Max,

Thank you for your tireless dedication to the sexual education of our young people. I admire the bravery of your presence and testimony. May those in Congress hear the sincere candor of your voice and understand the urgency of your message; and may they act swiftly.

Max,

Great job at the hearing last week. I just now had time to read your blog. I am so happy to finally see some action on this issue which I worked on for the last 2 years at AIDS Alliance and continue to work on locally here in the District. Keep up the good work!

I would also encourage others to read the report from AIDS Alliance - mainly the other testimonies that were collected and distribute widely! The voices of HIV-positive youth and parents are rarely heard in the debate around sexuality education and their stories are in my opinion some of the best defense against our ab-only opponents.

Good job speaking out in front of Congress. They need to understand that hard science does not change along with politicians' ideals.

25 years ago, my school was pioneering abstinence-only sex education. As a result, I too didn't have the knowledge to insist on a condom for my first sexual encounter. I was luckier than you. I "only" caught gonorrhea and the HPV virus (associated with cervical cancer) AND had an unwanted pregnancy. Luckily for me and my education, that pregnancy ended early with a miscarriage. I did later contract a pre-cancerous cervical growth due to HPV, and was treated. This first sexual encounter happened before my senior year of High School, when condom use was FINALLY discussed in a health class.

Fast-forward 25 years, I have my college degree, am happily married, and I am a mom with a 13 year old son. Every year after sex-ed classes at his school, my husband and I spend LOTS of time undoing the damage of erroneous and biased information they teach in the abstinence-only program. I hope and pray that what we do is enough and that he doesn't have to find out the hard way, like you did, that abstinence-only education does NOT help anyone. And I always have to wonder if and when the HPV will cause me to have another fight with cancer... all thanks to abstinence-only "sex ed."