Julia Fedor's blog

Thought abstinence-only-until-marriage programs were a thing of the past? Think again. The new health care reform law reinstates $250 million in funding for five years for Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage programs—money that President Obama eliminated last year!

Congress inserted and approved $250 million in Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funding with the passage of health care reform last week. While health reform will provide sweeping, much-needed changes to our health care system, reauthorization of Title V money is a major concern.

The Reproductive Health and Access Act will require all Illinois public schools to offer medically-accurate, age-appropriate sexual health education to equip youth with the information and resources needed to make healthy decisions throughout their lives.

via TIME In the latest study on parent-child talks about sex and sexuality, researchers found that more than 40% of adolescents had had intercourse before talking to their parents about safe sex, birth control or sexually transmitted diseases. Read the full article.

The Senate health care reform bill currently contains provisions to restore abstinence-only-until-marriage program funding -- money that Obama eliminated earlier this year! Click here to sign on a letter to Congress.

Help advance reproductive justice for all Illinois youth.

Thursday | November 12, 2009

6 - 8 pm

Three Peas Art Lounge

via Newsweek It's been a mainstay of sex ed for more than a decade. Now, as the Obama administration cuts off federal funding, the movement scrambles for money, determined to continue its mission. Read the full article.

We've been building momentum for sexuality education during October, National Sex Ed Month. Today, we're asking you to join us for the National Sex Ed Call-In Day to tell Illinois Senators Roland Burris and Dick Durbin -- who have supported sexuality education in the past -- to remove abstinence-only funding from the Senate health care reform bill.

The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance last week establishing a buffer zone outside all medical facilities to protect health care workers, volunteers, and patients from harassment and obstruction.

Last Wednesday, the Chicago City Council's Human Relations Committee approved an ordinance that would prohibit the use of force, threats, and obstruction directed towards individuals entering or leaving a medical facility.