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abstinence-only-until-marriage

Pre-Packaging Gender Roles: Abstinence-Only Programs Perpetuate Dangerous Stereotypes

By Martha Kempner, SIECUS

November 5, 2009 - 10:20am

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The notion that men and women sure are different is at the center of best-selling books, at least one Broadway play, and pretty much all episodes of “Everybody Love Raymond.” But as much as it can be mined for humor, it can also be pretty damaging. While there is some truth to the whole “men are from Mars women are from Venus” kind of thinking, the solution isn’t, as ab-only programs would have us believe, to accept these behaviors as innate and unchangeable and let either sex (though let’s face it, mostly men) behave badly as result. Instead students should be asked to question the nature, validity, and origin of these gender stereotypes, and to explore how stereotypes affect communication within friendships and sexual relationships.

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PEPFAR: Are Abstinence Requirements Really Gone?

By Liz Bayer

November 5, 2009 - 6:00am

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While prevention restrictions under US Global AIDS Policy were made looser in last year's reauthorization bill, the new law includes worrisome reporting requirements for prevention programs.

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National Sex Ed Call-In Day: Make Your Voice Heard

By National Sex Ed Month of Action Coalition

October 28, 2009 - 6:00am

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October is Sex Ed Month of Action and a coalition of groups has joined together to tell Congress it’s time for the federal government to get REAL about sex education. Will your voice be heard?

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Abstinence Only: A Teen Peer Educator Speaks Out

By Ginny McNulty

October 5, 2009 - 6:00am

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A message from a teen peer educator to parents, schools and policy makers: Providing us with 'abstinence-only-until-marriage' programs limits our decision making abilities and puts our lives at risk.

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A Point of Convergence With Michael Gerson?

By Jodi Jacobson, Senior Political Editor

September 17, 2009 - 9:00am

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I have to give kudos to Michael Gerson for stating in a recent Washington Post column that abstinence-only-until-marriage might be a "nice idea" for those who see these issues in religious or ideological terms, but is not feasible as a social expectation.

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Late-Night Committee Votes Yield Success for Sex Ed Programs within Health Care Reform

By Jodi Jacobson, Senior Political Editor

July 21, 2009 - 8:45am

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Advocates for evidence-based, comprehensive sex education realized two major gains in the health care reform process last night, defeating an amendment to the House Energy and Commerce Committee Affordable Health Choices Act that would have extended discredited abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, and passing another amendment introduced by Congresswman Lois Capps creating a Healthy Teen Initiative.


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Domestic AIDS Advocates Call for Urgent Action to Pass Omnibus

By Jodi Jacobson, Senior Political Editor

March 5, 2009 - 2:39pm

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If the omnibus fails, critical AIDS programs will be flat-funded as will other sexual and reproductive health programs, and funding for misleading abstinence-only programs will remain high.

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National Abstinence Education Association Throws Bristol Palin Under the Bus

By Jodi Jacobson, Senior Political Editor

February 20, 2009 - 7:14pm

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Now that Bristol Palin has dared to use her own voice to speak out about the challenges of early motherhood, the fact that "abstinence-only-until-marriage" is unrealistic, and the need for real sex ed, the far right is throwing her under the bus.

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