Pennsylvania's Rendell Flip-Flopping on Ab-Only?

It is no secret in Pennsylvania that Governor Ed Rendell may soon re-enroll the commonwealth in the federal Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage program. Unquestionably, this decision would be a step backward for Pennsylvania and would represent the prioritizing of short term political gain over the long term health of Pennsylvania's young people.

As recently as Fiscal Year 2003, only one state, California, did not accept Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funding. Pennsylvania refused the funds the next year, becoming one of the first states to actually turn back the money. And over the past years, more and more states have come to realize that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs are not the best way to educate their young people. By the beginning of 2007, nine states had decided that they would opt out of the Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage program. Now, halfway through 2008, that number has skyrocketed to 25.

Thanks to mounting evidence against abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, the overly restrictive requirements that come with receiving funding, and the bureaucratic nightmare of applying for the funds while coordinating the state and federal funding cycles and Fiscal Years, forward-thinking governors and states are taking the opportunity to mitigate the damage that has been done by these programs.

Numerous studies over the past year and a half have shown that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs don't work. An April 2007 study commissioned by the Department of Health and Human Services, and conducted by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. shows that these programs have no positive effect on the sexual behavior of youths. At the same time, Dr. Douglas Kirby, a leading sex researcher, found that comprehensive sex education programs hold the most promise for lowering the rates of teen pregnancy and STDs.

Proponents of the abstinence-only-until-marriage industry will often cry poverty whenever their funding is in jeopardy. In Pennsylvania, this is far from the truth. Even without any Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funds, Pennsylvania still received the fifth-most abstinence-only money of any state. How? Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funding is only one of three federal abstinence-related funding streams. In fact, the Community Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) grants make up the vast majority of federal abstinence-only-until-marriage dollars. Unlike Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage grants, CBAE grants go directly to organizations in the state, and are not regulated by the state government.

The majority of the organizations that receive abstinence-only-until-marriage funds have noticeable right-wing leanings. These groups are often not satisfied with spreading their fear-based misinformation in schools, but also have broader political goals that include opposing many of the proposals, plans, and values that Governor Rendell supports. Why would the Governor hand an undeserved windfall to organizations that fight tooth-and-nail against his agenda at every turn and work feverishly to elect his opponents?

Some facts about teen sexual health in Pennsylvania to consider:

• The only states that currently receive more federal abstinence-only-until-marriage money than Pennsylvania are Texas, New York, Florida, and Georgia.
• In 2007, 41% of female high school students and 50% of male high school students in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 36% of female high school students and 34% of male high school students nationwide.
• In 2007, 84% of high school students in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania reported having been taught about HIV/AIDS in school compared to 90% of high school students nationwide.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the teen birth rate in Pennsylvania went up 3.2 percent between 2005 and 2006, corresponding to the nationwide trend.

With the high profile role that Governor Rendell has been playing in national politics recently, he may have forgotten that his first duty is to the health and safety of the people of Pennsylvania. Like other Americans across the country, Pennsylvanians are sick and tired of politics and ideology being put before scientific evidence, common sense and basic mainstream American values. This is especially the case when the health of our young people is concerned. Governor Rendell needs to take this opportunity, while he is in the national spotlight, to show that he is willing to do the right thing and continue to reject failed Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funding.