Sign Letter to Congress: Restoring Abstinence-Only is Unacceptable

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!

A Senate committee inserted the Title V funding early in the health care debate. But the money was never removed before passage of the bill, apparently left in as a compromise for conservative, anti-choice House Democrats vote for health care reform. Watch a video as one sexuality education advocate attempts to confront congressional members and staff about the funding.

Our Illinois senators and representatives need to know that reauthorizing Title V is simply unacceptable. We're urging the state congressional delegation to end the failed abstinence-only experiment once and for all. Funding abstinence-only undermines the goals of evidence-based, age-appropriate sexuality education that aims to reduce unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections while promoting a positive approach to adolescent sexual health.

Act now: Please sign a letter to our Illinois Congress members expressing your disappointment in the restoration of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. Organizational and individual signatures welcome. Deadline to sign is Sunday, May 16, 2010.