November 20, 2009, Sun-Sentinel

The last-minute amendment preventing the proposed "public option" from covering abortions, which was shoved down the throats of Congress in order to pass the bill, should be looked at as an opportunity for Florida and all of America. The dissolution of Title V funding by the Obama administration, which provided school districts with funds to disseminate information on abstinence only, will free up monies to create a proactive rather than a reactive rationale toward the abortion issue. Although many legislators feel that, by simply providing better health care, the number of selective abortions will be reduced, comprehensive sexual education curricula, which stresses the benefits of abstinence but also includes medically accurate and age-appropriate information, would be a better first line of defense. The inclusion of a comprehensive sexual education curricula in all public schools will provide our youngsters with the knowledge necessary to make important life decisions. Perhaps then will Florida release itself from the notoriety of being number one in the nation for sexually transmitted diseases and number two for unintended teen pregnancies.

This legislative session will see the re-introduction of the Healthy Teens Act by Sen. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, and Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota, which requires that a medically accurate and age-appropriate sexual education curriculum be taught in conjunction with the stated preference of abstinence. This bill also includes a parental opt-out opportunity. It is time for the Florida Legislature to pass this bill. Then, and only then, will our children finally have the information necessary to make decisions that affect their future.

Helene Askinazi, vice president of advocacy, National Council of Jewish Women, Palm Beach Section