Sex education that works keeps teens safe and protects their health.
- Schools must teach completely, medically accurate and age-appropriate information.
- Traditional sex-education programs encourage teens to wait to have sex until they are ready.
- Effective sex-education programs teach teens about birth control so they can avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
The Challenge
Unfortunately, anti-choice activists oppose teaching traditional sex education in schools. Instead, they created "abstinence-only" programs. "Abstinence-only" programs are unrealistic, outdated, and often tell teens lies about birth control.
You may be surprised to learn just how dangerous these programs are.
- "Abstinence-only" programs don't work. They don't convince teens to wait until marriage to have sex.
- In fact, many teens who take "abstinence-only" classes don't even use birth control when they decide to have sex.
- “Abstinence-only” programs have contributed to the public-health crisis among teens.
Our Solution
We owe it to our teens to end "abstinence-only" programs once and for all. Our lawmakers and schools can take a lot of steps to keep teens safe.
- We should stop spending tax dollars on these dangerous programs.
- Schools should teach teens the facts about both abstinence and birth control. Information about birth control does not cause teens to have sex.
- Teens should have access to birth control if they need it. Giving teens access to birth control prevents pregnancy and STDs.
- We support more after-school programs. These programs give teens positive activities in a safe environment.
