Remember abstinence-only-until-marriage funding? You may not remember, since President Obama chose not to provide Title V money, the funds for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, in his first budget. Advocates for comprehensive sexuality education were thrilled with Obama’s move to fund “evidence-based” teen pregnancy prevention programs.
Well, thanks to Senator Orrin Hatch (R – Utah), Title V funding may be back. Anti-choice advocates are taking advantage of the healthcare reform movement to further their agenda.
Last year the ACLU of MAINE, as part of the Maine Choice Coalition,
sent a thank you letter to Governor Baldacci for rejecting Title V
abstinence-only-until-marriage funding. In the letter, we cited research from a
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. study authorized by Congress. Mathematica conducted
a rigorous, multi-year, scientific evaluation of four abstinence-only-until-marriage
programs and found that participating youth were just as likely to have sex
before marriage as youth who did not participate. In addition, when they became
sexually active, they were far less likely to take precautions against
unintended pregnancy and disease.[i] Such programs withhold and actively censor
vital health care information necessary for sexually active persons to make informed
and responsible decisions.[ii] Baldacci’s move allowed
Hatch proposed an amendment to the healthcare bill currently with the Senate Finance Committee. His amendment reinstates Title V funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. Senator Olympia Snowe, along with the rest of her party members in the Senate Finance Committee and Blanche Lincoln (D – AR) and Kent Conrad (D – ND), voted in favor of Hatch’s amendment.
I have to ask. Mainers know these programs don’t work. Governor Baldacci rejects these funds and has since Bush made them available. Why is our Senator voting to reinstate funds for programs her constituents and Governor reject?
Call Senator Snowe. Tell her you want a healthcare bill that will respect our students by educating them with a wealth of information that will lead to sexually healthy lives. Let her know we’re watching every vote, and we will hold her accountable. (202) 224-5344. (Also, if that number is busy as it was when I just called, try reaching her Portland Office - (207) 874-0883.)
[i] Trenholm, Christopher et al, “Impacts of Four Title V, Section 510 Abstinence Education Programs,” Report authorized by Congress and submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services, 2007
[ii] 42 U.S.C § 710 (b)(2)(C)
