August 3, 2007
AB-ONLY ACTION IN AUGUST
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Obey should expect some angry constituents at his office |
In June, House Democratic leaders chose politics over America's health when they decided to increase abstinence-only sex-ed funding by $27.8 million. Dems were sleazily trying to induce Republicans to vote for the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill, even though Congress's own study proved ab-only programs ineffective and Democratic leaders have repeatedly spoken out about the importance of comprehensive sex ed.
To express outrage about this act of legislative cowardice, youth advocates are uniting this month to tell the House that it can't sacrifice young people's lives for political gain. August is Stop the Increase—Take Action Month, organized by comprehensive sex-ed groups Advocates for Youth (AFY) and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS). "The House Dems' excuse was that this was a trade-off. Well, we need to show that young people's health can't just be traded off," said Marcela Howell, AFY vice president of communications. "All of these Democrats were very, very vocal critics of abstinence-only education, so this turnaround is a betrayal."
During the week of August 6, AFY President James Wagoner and SIECUS Vice President William Smith will conduct radio interviews in targeted states to stoke opposition to the ab-only funding boost. From August 13 to 24, advocates will be working with youth activists to schedule in-district meetings with their representatives. These young people will be especially keen to meet with reps who in the past have shown they understand the benefits of comprehensive sex ed such as Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI), the appropriations chairman who orchestrated the $28 million compromise; House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Rep. Jesse L. Jackson (D-Ill), who has called the ab-only deal a "reasonable concession." (Only Lowey has expressed even token remorse about the situation).
Youth Action Institute participant Danielle Bowman plans to join the mobilization effort. "Abstinence-only programs are a great idea, but it's just an idea, it's not a reality," said Bowman, who teaches comprehensive sex ed in high schools and college. "It would only work in a perfect world where kids were playing with toys and not in bed."
Here are some ways you can help make ab-only history:
- Schedule your coalition to participate in the in-district lobby visits August 13 to 24
- Mobilize community/campus groups
- Send letters to the editors of your state and local newspapers regarding abstinence-only funding
For additional information or to participate in any of these activities, contact Will Neville, Manager of New Media and Marketing in AFY's Communications Department at will@advocatesforyouth.org. If you are interested in doing media outreach in your state during this month, please contact Marcela Howell, AFY's Vice President of Communications, Marketing and Policy at marcela@advocatesforyouth.org.