A Closer Look at Florida
Healthy Teens Campaign
Can you make the grade?
Remember sex ed classes in school?
Teens today still aren't getting the full story. Instead, they're being misled by ideological politicians who take a "see no evil" abstinence-only approach over potentially life-saving guidance on contraceptives.
This is ridiculous. Even worse, it's dangerous. Our young people deserve medically-accurate, age-appropriate sex education. And the Florida Healthy Teens Act will guarantee just that in our public schools.
But apparently some Florida lawmakers are in the dark themselves when it comes to sex ed. They worked until the end of the legislative session to defend abstinence-only education and defeat this commonsense bill.
If they truly think teens don’t need better sex ed, then clearly, Florida lawmakers haven’t done their homework on teen pregnancy and STD rates. Sign our open letter - our legislators need to make the grade and pass the Healthy Teens Act. While you’re at it, why not take the test yourself and quiz your friends?
Latest News
Condom-use video approved with little discussion
Cara Fitzpatrick
Palm Beach Post, May 14, 2008
St. Lucie School Board to Consider Condom Video
Cara Fitpatrick
Palm Beach Post , May 13, 2008
Teenagers Consider The Source
Harold Valentin, The Tampa Tribune
April 30, 2008
FOREST HILLS - Not only is lack of sex education a problem for high school students in Hillsborough County, said members of Teen Source Theatre, but also misinformation.
Source teens say a few popular myths include: Only gay people can get AIDS; pregnancy can be prevented if sex occurs in a swimming pool; and condoms don't work.
Experts say sex abstinence program doesn't work
Will Dunham, Reuters
April 24, 2008
Programs teaching U.S. schoolchildren to abstain from sex have not cut
teen pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases or delayed the age at
which sex begins, health groups told Congress on Wednesday.
The Bush administration, however, voiced continuing support for such
programs during a hearing before a House of Representatives panel even
as many Democrats called for cutting off federal money for so-called
abstinence-only instruction.
Some state lawmakers pitch uniform sex education
As schools grow and STD rates rise, some state lawmakers want contraception taught in 6th grade.
Claudia Zequeira, Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer
April 14, 2008
In theory, Florida's schools are supposed to teach sex education by
promoting abstinence as the way to avoid pregnancy and disease.
But the reality of sex ed in Florida varies from school district to school district.
In Orange County, for example, schools teach students about condoms and birth-control pills.
Teen Study Says Romance Makes for Safer Sex
Laura Sessions Stepp, Washington Post
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Teenage romance can be a good thing and so can dating, a large study of youth in grades 7 through 12 has concluded.
An analysis of national data conducted by Child Trends, a research
center that focuses on children and youth, found that sexually active
teens who identify their relationships with a partner as romantic and
who go out socially with that person are more likely to use
contraceptives than similar teens in more-casual relationships.
Sex ed bill will require more than abstinence only
Bill Kaczor, Associated Press
April 1, 2008
TALLAHASSEE - Some Florida teens believe drinking Mountain Dew or
smoking marijuana will prevent pregnancy and that swallowing a capful
of bleach will prevent HIV/AIDS. One reason those dangerous myths have
spread is the state's reliance on abstinence-only sex education, say
advocates of a bill to require a more comprehensive approach in
Florida's schools.
Teach sex ed built on facts, not dogma
St. Petersburg Times Editorial
March 20, 2008
On some issues the public is ahead of its political leaders. Sex education is one of them. By substantial margins, Floridians favor providing students with information about sexually transmitted disease prevention and contraception rather than just an abstinence-only approach favored by the Bush administration. The Legislature should hear this call and put the health of Florida's teens ahead of a narrow, religiously grounded agenda.
Sex Ed Can Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy
WWSB ABC 7 Sarasota
March 25, 2008
MONDAY, March 24 (HealthDay News) -- Comprehensive sex education may
help reduce teen pregnancies without increasing levels of sexual
intercourse or sexually transmitted diseases.
So find U.S. researchers who reviewed data from a 2002 national survey of more than 1,700 heterosexual teens, ages 15 to 19.
There is ongoing debate about whether abstinence-only education or
comprehensive sex education (including instruction in birth control) is
best for students.