HIV/AIDS & Young Women: What You Can Do to Fight For Young Women's Lives on World AIDS Day

On December 1st, the world will remember almost 60 million people have been infected with HIV and 25 million people have died of HIV-related causes since the beginning of the epidemic. Today, in many parts of the world, including the U.S., women have become the face of the disease. Women make up an increasing proportion of adults (ages 15–49) living with HIV/AIDS.

Young adults, ages 15–24 account for approximately half of new adult HIV infections and 28% of the global total of adults living with HIV/AIDS. Most young people living with AIDS are girls (62%), including 76% of HIV-positive young people in sub-Saharan Africa. In some countries, infection rates are up to six times higher among young women than young men.

These statistics are shocking, but real.

Sadly, the U.S. has been a strong proponent of abstinence-only funding for HIV/AIDS prevention programs around the world. These programs have been proven ineffective and continues the spread of the disease.

Based on recent studies, much of US aid for global AIDS relief administered under the Bush Administration was given to conservative, faith-based organizations (FBOs) that strongly promoted abstinence as a prevention method and demonized condom use. This type of "proselytization" of what is deemed as appropriate sexual behavior reverses the efforts to fight AIDS and continue its spread. Though a lot has changed in favor of comprehensive HIV/AIDS relief for young women under the Obama Administration, the fear of the continued trend of supporting conservative, anti-choice FBOs is very real. As a matter of fact, many FBOs that have partnered with the U.S. up to 2008 have provided AIDS relief in many developing countries with a special focus on abstinence-only in youth prevention programs. This (as well as lack of access to condoms) is directly tied to the continued rise of HIV transmission among young people.

Young feminists across the country are needed now more than ever! We can make a difference! We can collectively change the way our government makes foreign policy and who it gives our funds to. On this World AIDS Day, advocate for women's sexual and reproductive rights and sustainable AIDS relief on your campus by:

• Contacting members of Congress, the Obama Administration, and the United Nations' Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon via letter-writing campaigns, call-ins, fax-ins, or emails and demand that the U.S. end its support of abstinence-only funding for HIV/AIDS prevention.

• Pressing our government to meet the MDGs' 2015 deadline by increasing international sexual and reproductive health care funding to $3 billion which would provide universal access!

• Not just waiting on World AIDS Day, but get an early start in this "lame-duck" session to petition members of Congress to ratify the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and pass the International Violence Against Women Act. These policies can curb the epidemic significantly by ending violence against women. Contact the Campus Team at campusteam@feminist.org if you'd like to screen FMF's short documentary "CEDAW: The Secret Treaty". Remember, we only need 67 votes in the Senate!

• Writing op-ed's and campus newspaper articles about the dangers of supporting abstinence-only funding for global HIV/AIDS prevention and the need to support comprehensive sex ed in schools.

• Coordinating with student health services and nearby bars and restaurants to distribute free male and female condoms with HIV/AIDS facts.

• Creating a mural/collage display of various photos, letters, drawings, etc. representing the many "faces of HIV/AIDS" and their many walks of life. This disease affects everyone and we should continue to dispel the myths of who HIV/AIDS affects.

• Sponsoring a benefit theater production or music concert where the proceeds go to a local HIV/AIDS organization or campus HIV/AIDS program.

• Collaborating with your university's public health, nursing, medical, international affairs, and public policy schools/programs and student health services to host a discussion or seminar on the gendered-based effects of HIV/AIDS globally.

• Collaborating with international student organizations and environmental campus groups to create a poster and flyer campaign that shows how poverty and the results of climate change, like depleting water sources, impact young women living with HIV/AIDS.

There's so much we all can do to take action in the fight against AIDS. Remember, you can make a difference in saving the lives of young women and girls around the world. Fight for women and girls on World AIDS Day!

Few action ideas courtesy of Minnesota's Department of Health "How to Plan World AIDS Day Activities 2010: Universities/Colleges Tips".

This post is part of the November 2010 ezine. To subscribe to the monthly ezine, click here.

"Take The Test, Take Control" HIV does not discriminate!

National HIV Get Tested Day Sunday June 27, 2010
The HIV epidemic is still going strong in the United States today and this fact has been masked by the struggles of everyday life such as hard economic times, job loss, oils spills and unpredictable weather patterns. Yet every nine and a half minutes someone is infected with HIV in the United States. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is still very relevant!

It is still fully encouraged that people go out and get tested particularly this weekend! Sunday June 27, 2010 is the National HIV Testing Day. The National HIV get tested day was founded on June 27, 1995 and is organized by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) in partnership with the Center for Disease Control(CDC). The initiative beckons for people everywhere to get tested and know their status. The NAPWA advocates for everyone to know their status but they mainly targets at risk groups like African Americans mainly African American women, Latinas, and gay men. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for African American women in the United States today. African Americans only make up 13% of the U.S population, but they make up 49% of people who get HIV/AIDS. More than one million people are living with HIV in the U.S and approximately one in five of those are unaware of their infection. That breaks down to about 250,000 people who are living with the infection and do not know it. For some people who are HIV positive and do not know, they may not show any symptoms and even if one may feel healthy the HIV is still effecting their body. Early detection in many of cases can be all the difference between life and death, this is why NAPWA encourages everyone to get tested.

Barriers in HIV prevention:
One of the biggest barriers in HIV prevention comes from abstinence only education. Abstinence only until marriage education is taught to the youth all over the country, yet it does not properly equip young people with a comprehensive sex education. Most importantly it does not tell these youth the most important part which is to use a condom. But this is not only a youth issue, Crisis Pregnancy Centers do the same thing with adults. Misleading people by telling them condoms do not work and won’t protect you against HIV.

HIV is just as much a social issues as it is a medical issues, and issues of race and class are overwhelming in who gets infected and how long they survive. So whatever you decide to do this weekend please make time to go get tested, and bring a friend. Afraid of needles? No problem, there are many different forms of HIV testing which include a quick and painless swab of the mouth!

Abstinence only "could" work?

The Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine came out with a study on Monday that claimed abstinence-only education could work. The study was done in urban public schools with 662 African-American students in 6 and 7 grade over a period of 24 months. The results showed that of the students that were given abstinence-only education, 1/3 of them had started having sex after 2 years, compared to the students that were given other types of sex education of which 1/2 of them had started having sex.

This landmark study is big news for abstinence-only education proponents because if gives them some scientific evidence that abstinence-only education might work. The Obama Administration has just come out with a project that would give grants to pregnancy prevention programs as long as they are scientifically based.

One study that tests only a small and not diverse group of students is not enough to prove that abstinence-only education works. There have been numerous studies like this that prove comprehensive sex education works but that has not been enough to prove it is the best solution. Abstinence-only education proponents have been searching for some tiny bit of proof and now that they've found it they're going to run with this for as long as possible.

Read more about the study at The Washington Post


photo courtesy of M1khaela via Flickr

Teen Parent Shows… Good or bad?

Before I jump into this question, I would like to introduce myself. I am Annie Neimand, a new intern at the Los Angeles office! Woo! I have been given allowance to use my feminist eye to write, and sometimes rant, about questionable things in our society. So as my first blog… drum roll please...I have decided to ask the question: Are shows like MTV’s Teen Mom, The CW’s Life Unexpected, and ABC Family’s The Secret Life of an American Teen, good or bad for American teens?

I can’t help but feel somewhat stoked that there are shows discussing teen pregnancy, but I somehow feel like they are rooting for some team other than mine. I am of course progressively pro-choice and pro sex-ed, but these shows don’t seem to tackle any of those things. In fact it seems to be creating a whole different side, a side that capitalizes on and glamorizes teen mommies! Oy!

These shows, which are centered on young women making ‘choices’ about their lives and families, don’t discuss abortion or even highlight it as an option. They show girls either keeping their babies or opting for adoption.
Note: they seem to portray adoption as a choice you will eventually feel incredibly regretful of. Hmm…

Furthermore, I feel like these shows should look at why these girls got pregnant in the first place, and why they decided to keep it. For instance, maybe teen A didn’t know about contraception, or maybe teen B didn’t have a clinic or a parent to turn to. I think these factors would make the show be and mean something more than another teen drama.

You know, I would like to see an undercover show where they expose abstinence-only education or the anti-choice rhetoric as a culprit in the teen mom scenario, or at the very least MTV can give Abstinence-only the moon man it deserves.

So after reading my clearly unbiased bit, do you think this is a step forward or backward for the pro-choice/sex-ed platform? Do you think these issues belong together? What do you think?


If you have any ideas or questions for me you can email me at aneimand@feminist.org

Ughhh

It is so disheartening to see Sarah Palin's anti-choice agenda pushed on the cover of a mainstream gossip magazine. Yes, both the Palins made a "choice," as the cover says. Yet Sarah Palin wants to deprive American women of the right to make that choice. About as ironic as Bristol Palin's abstinence-only advocacy, huh?

More over at Jezebel.

Big Wins for Women in the Omnibus Bill

The House approved the Omnibus Spending Bill, which combines 6 of the 7 appropriations bills for the 2010 fiscal year. The Senate is expected to vote this weekend.

In victories, we've got:

- The elimination of traditional sources of funding for failed abstinence-only programs, and the introduction of $114.5 million to fund comprehensive sexual health education programs.

- Removal of a District of Columbia prohibition, which will enable the district to use its own funds to provide abortions to low-income women. It will also ease restrictions on needle-exchange programs in DC, intended to reduce HIV transmissions.

- An increase in U.S. international family planning and reproductive health funding, to $648.5 million. An increase of more than $103 million, or 19%, over the FY 2009 level.

These are major victories for young women, low-income women and women and children worldwide! Unfortunately, language that would have permanently repealed the Global Gag Rule was struck from the bill.

Ignorance Leads to Unsexy Consequences

Easy or prudish? Those are the two categories that any American is bound to be placed, should they live in Europe. Sad as it may be, when I was working in France, it wasn't a rare occurrence to be told statements like "American girls are afraid of sex, they are like nuns!" and "Rumor has it, Americans will have oral sex before having vaginal intercourse...French women won't do that!" all in the same week.

While neither "easy" nor "prudish" is a desired title, stereotypes don't exist in a vacuum and this image of Americans represents a lot about our culture. With the abstinence-only programs in curriculum's across the nation, students are educated about sexuality in terms of waiting, but are left in the dark when hormones inevitably kick in and tempt them to join the 95% Americans who have sex before marriage ( feministing.com/Guttmacher Institute.) Sure, these programs may create a more passionate, uncontrollable, "heat of the moment" feeling when youth first start experimenting with sexuality, but it's not giving them the information necessary to make decisions about their health.

That unpreparedness is starting to show. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has just announced that America is "among the highest rates of STDs of any developed country in the world," linking a lack of comprehensive sex education as a main reason for our poor ranking.

Abstinence-only programs are not working. Out of any age group, it is young adults that are most affected: each year, almost 19 million newly sexually transmitted infections are found in 15-24 year olds!

Wrap your brain around these figures (brought to you by Reuters and the CDC):

* 1.2 million cases of chlamydia were reported in 2008, up from 1.1 million in 2007.

* Nearly 337,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported.

* Adolescent girls 15 to 19 years had the most chlamydia and gonorrhea cases of any age group at 409,531.

* Blacks, who represent 12 percent of the U.S. population, accounted for about 71 percent of reported gonorrhea cases and almost half of all chlamydia and syphilis cases in 2008.

* Black women 15 to 19 had the highest rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea.

* 13,500 syphilis cases were reported in 2008, an almost 18 percent increase from 2007.

* 63 percent of syphilis cases were among men who have sex with men.

* Syphilis rates among women increased 36 percent from 2007 to 2008.

Fired Up? Now go educate yourself! Speak to someone about your options and proper condom use! If you're part of a campus FMLA, take it to the next step by working with your regional campus organizer to arrange for a speaker to educate your campus! Take control of your sexual education to avoid becoming a statistic or culture stereotype!

photo credit: Alex_Morrice at photoshop.com

Exposing Fake Clinics Action Series: National Sex-Ed Call in Day

Have you heard of the Hatch Amendment??

It is a recent amendment to the health care reform bill passed by Senate Finance Committee that would reinstate $50 million/year to abstinence-only programs. GAHH!

I don't need to tell you that abstinence-only programs don't work. They do not lower the rates of unintended pregnancies or the spread of STIs including HIV. But I should tell you that this federal funding would also go to fund Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

Let's not forget that this week is “Don’t Get Tricked, Get Treated” national week of action to expose “fake clinics.” I have a great action idea for you and everyone you know!

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 28th is National Sex Ed Call-In Day. Please call your US Senators and let them know that reinstating $50 million to failed abstinence-only programs is unacceptable.

1. Call 1-800-423-5983 where you will be connected to the Capitol Switchboard

2. Tell them what state you are in and that you would like to speak to one of your Senators

3. Ask to speak to the lead aide on health and tell them why you think your senator needs to support comprehensive sex education and reject the Hatch Amendment that would reinstate $50 millions to abstinence-only education

4. Once you call one Senator, call the switchboard back and ask to be connected to your other State Senator.

5. When you are tabling and holding events this week for "Don't Get Tricked, Get Treated," have everyone you talk to take a second and do the same!

We have been making great progress at finally putting an end to abstinence-only education, and we must not let the Hatch Amendment undue our hard work!

On Wednesday October 28^th, call your Senators at 1-888-423-5983 and urge them to put a stop to the harmful Hatch Amendment and abstinence-only-before- marriage programs!

For more ideas on how to take action during "Don't Get Tricked, Get Treated," check out our action series

Senate Committee Votes to Restore Ab-Only $$$

You might want to sit down for this one. We've got a long road ahead...

The Senate Finance Committee voted last night to RESTORE $50 million/year in federal funding of abstinence-only programs (I emphasize the word programs because, clearly, abstinence-ONLY is in no way "educational").

Earlier this year, President Obama took measures to eliminate federal funding of abstinence-only programs, option to use the money to fund programs aimed at lowering teen pregnancy. Now, however, money that could be used for effective, evidence-based educational programming, is back on the chopping block.

While things look grim, all is not yet lost. According to the Huffington Post, an alternative measure offered by Senator Bauchus, also passed. Before the the entire bill can pass the Senate, Senators will have to reconcile both measures approved by the committee. From there, the Senate and House versions of the legislation must then be reconciled and voted on by both bodies.

Passing legislation through Congress is a long process, but hopefully, this time, the finer details of the process will work in the favor of those seeking comprehensive sexual education. Keep an eye out and let us know if you hear more.

Photo credit: qmnonic on flickr.com

Sexy abstinence t-shirts

Bonnie sent me a link to this post on Sociological Images about some pro-abstinence shirts that say "I'm sexy enough to keep you waiting." The shirts are from the Candie's Foundation, an organization that is working to prevent teen pregnancies.

It seems to me that these shirts a little bit of a mixed message. If being abstinent is supposed to be sort of empowering because you have control of your body, why is the message focusing on the body and attractiveness instead of intelligence or other qualities? I mean, I was under the impression that waiting to have sex was something that had more to do with thought or personal morals rather than attractiveness.

Maybe the shirts should say something more like "It's my decision to wait for sex" or "I am fulfilled without having sex." If you gave me more time I could come up with something more catchy, I promise.

Also, there is really no in-depth discussion about birth control. Yes, we all know that abstinence is one way to not get pregnant, but we also know that abstinence-only education and knowledge is not actually helping reduce rates of unwanted pregnancy and transmission of STIs.
Photo Courtesy www.flickr/picturesofthings

Just say no to ab-only education

As you've probably heard, Gen X and Gen Y slackers will be the death of newspapers. And rightfully so. Jon Stewart and The Onion are entertaining, trustworthy news sources. Linda Greenhouse? Not so much.

So when I read The Onion's coverage of the failure of abstinence-only lunch programs, high school memories came rushing back to me.

Abstinence-only lunches were an integral part of my moral, spiritual, and gastrointestinal upbringing. I knew that if I wanted to snag a husband, I would have to count calories. It wasn't easy, and I was often tempted by the lure of cheap, convenient Easy Mac.

But I persevered. I chose margarine and red meat, because my teacher said butter and eggs didn't work anyway.

Some of my friends got into trouble. They ate in the back row of movie theaters. They ate in their cars, and on unsupervised class trips. And you know what happened to them?

NOTHING. Big, fat, nothing.

---

[For more on abstinence-only curricula, check out FMF's toolkit here.]

Photo credit: pwbaker on Flickr

Good News

Last Friday, the House Committe on Appropriations Subcommitte on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies passed their bill and eliminated traditional sources abstinence-only programs! Talk about awesome news!

Research, and common sense, says that ab-only education is ineffective in reducing unwanted pregnancies and the transmission of STIs, HIV, and AIDS. Ab-only education has been recieving millions of dollars in federal funding for years, despite evidence that it was not actually doing what it claimed to do. It is not clear what funding ab-only programs will recieve or if that funding will go to comprehensive sex education programs.

In addition to this, the bill also removed the ban on syringe exchange programs that reduce the spread of HIV. The ban was instated because of false ideas that the programs actually increased the spread of HIV.

Hopefully these changes will signal a progression towards actaully reducing the rates of unwanted pregnancies and the spread of STIs, HIV and AIDS. Oh, and a move towards honesty and openness about sexuality.

Photo courtesy of www.flickr/foreverdigital

Abstinence Only Programs have a Lasting Effect on Teens

I recently download a study from Legal Momentum entitled Sex, Lies & Stereotypes: How Abstinence-Only Programs Harm Women and Girls. The file was extensive and inside I found information about students who have actually undergone these programs. I already knew that abstinence only education featured lies and a biased approach, but what shocked me about the program is its lasting effect on teens.

“My exposure to abstinence-only education has certainly affected how I view my sexual activity and my relationships. There is an underlying piece of me that I don’t know if I’ll ever be fully comfortable with sex, even after I am married, because of the exposure I’ve had to these messages that sex, and enjoying sex, is not okay.” (Dan from Illinois)

Wow. Clearly, these programs have been proven as ineffective, but now they are impacting teens' ability to have fulfilling relationships. Perhaps Dan will never be able to enjoy a normal romantic relationship because of abstinence only programming. Just another reason these programs that lie and deceive teens should be de-funded as soon as possible.

Demand that your tax dollars go to scientifically-proven comprehensive sexual health education programs!

Crisis of Deception: Fake Clinics Spread Misinformation on the Federal Dime

Katherine Spillar, Executive Vice President of Feminist Majority Foundation and Executive Editor of Ms. Magazine, has published a blog post on RHRealityCheck, a leading reproductive health and rights blog.

The posting, titled, "Crisis of Deception: Fake Clinics Spread Misinformation on the Federal Dime" is accompanied by a hard-hitting video, exposing what really goes on behind fake clinics' doors.

As the blog reads, "The flagrant deceit documented in the video accompanying this article will shock most people – regardless of their political persuasion."



Please read the blog, watch the video, tweet it and post it on your facebook pages! Anything you can do to get the word out!

We are at an absolutely crucial point: next week, the House Appropriations Labor Health and Human Services Committee will be considering whether to keep funding failed abstinence-only education programs and bogus crisis pregnancy centers, or whether to re-direct our tax dollars to scientifically-proven, evidence-based comprehensive sexual health education programs and services, as President Obama's proposed budget calls for.

Take action and make sure your voice is heard now!

Shocking: AMA Finds Abstinence-Only INEFFECTIVE

The American Medical Association's Council on Science and Public Health has released a review of reports on sex education from the past 10 years, and the findings are that abstinence-only sex ed is ineffective. (gasp!)

Stuart Gitlow, MD said that the review found that abstinence-only programs resulted in "no delay of initiating sexual activity, no reduction in the number of sexual partners and no increase in abstinence."

In fact, the rise of abstinence-only during the Bush years may have contributed to a rise in teenage parenthood. Centers for Disease Control statistics show that "the birth rate among teens age 15 to 19 rose to 41.9 per 1,000 live births in 2006 from 40.5 in 2005." This may seem like an insignificant change, but it becomes more worrisome when you consider that the rate "had been declining for the previous 14 years."

The Washington Post reports that John Santelli of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health conducted a study to determine why the teen birth rate has risen. His team determined that sexual activity is not on the rise among teens--but there has been a small decrease in contraceptive use.

There is hope that these statistics will change along with a changed attitude toward sex education brought about by Obama's administration. In his budget request to Congress, President Obama proposed replacing abstinence-only programs with a Teen Pregnancy Initiative. As one can guess from the name, this is a sex-ed program focused on preventing teen pregnancy--and while proponents of comprehensive sex-ed are relieved that this will be a giant step away from abstinence-only, they are concerned that the focus on pregnancy will detract from information on disease prevention and exclude LGBT issues. RH Reality Check writes that the Initiative "only repeats past mistakes and the vague direction given by the Administration leaves the program vulnerable to changes in the balance of power in Congress."

Looks like the new brand of sex ed might not quite earn the title of comprehensive. I wonder if the Obama administration is providing only "vague direction" in an attempt to bypass conservative opposition. I think it's time, though, for Congress to realize that a great majority of the public supports comprehensive sex ed. Maybe we need a new public survey to prove this--the last one conducted (that I can find with a quick Google search) was a 2006 study by the University of Pennsylvania that found 82% of adults support it. I'm guessing that percentage has only gone up in the last 3 years, as reports such as the AMA's are constantly showing the ineffectiveness of abstinence only. (If you want to help get this message through to Congress, check out FMF's campaign to stop federal funding of abstinence-only and to expose fake clinics!)

On a related note, the Washington Post is reporting on a program to prevent teen pregnancy that has been around for years but is just now making headlines. College Bound Sisters, at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, is a program for teen girls that pays each a dollar for every day she doesn't get pregnant. Participants have to attend weekly meetings, where a curriculum including both abstinence and contraception is taught. The program is small, with a max of 24 girls at a time, and only girls with older sisters who became teen mothers are eligible.

I have mixed feelings about this. Reports say some girls have completed the program with $3,000 saved for college, which is great. But monetary rewards (bribes?) for good behavior are a bit iffy--the goal should be to instill in someone the desire to do well for their own wellbeing, not for an external incentive. This program (and Obama's Teen Pregnancy initiative) concern me a bit with their focus on women's sexuality.

It's certainly important to recognize that teen girls are often face greater consequences, in the form of pregnancy, when they have unprotected sex. But programs that focus on educating girls risk giving the impression that boys are free from the responsibility to practice healthy behavior. If a program pays girls not to get pregnant, why not have a program that pays boys to not get girls pregnant? Sounds strange, right?

Photo credit: zazzle.com

Exposing Fake Clinics

By now, everyone knows the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) hosted our annual National Young Women's Leadership Conference this past March...and it was awesome! Over 500 participants, speakers, and experts came together for a truly outstanding "meeting of the minds" that continues to bare fruitful results.

One fundamental aspect of the 2009 National Young Women's Leadership Conference was FMF's Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics. Throughout the conference, student leaders and activists worked together, with FMF, to spread the message that so-called "Crisis Pregnancy Centers" are a direct threat to women's reproductive health and they must be stopped!

Check out the great video Charlie Stuart has produced on FMF's work:

PS - Don't forget to read FMF intern Myra Duran's fabulous blog post featured on rhrealitycheck.org!

_

Keeping Track of Bristol

Can someone help me please? I need help keeping track with Bristol Palin, and exactly what her position on teen pregnancy is. This latest issue of People Magazine has me seething. I mean are you serious? Really? It is nothing less than a blatant promotion of teen pregnancy.

Let's backtrack here for a second: First, Bristol's pregnancy is played out during her mother's campaign, shrouded in the "Yes, I am a huge advocate of abstinence only, but my pregnant teenager is marrying the father of her baby." Because that makes everything okay, right? Especially when you're running on a platform of such moral superiority. Then, it's "campaign's over and so is the relationship," to Bristol stating clearly on that Fox News Exclusive that abstinence is "not realistic." And then voila, personality switch. Is it just me or did everyone miss the beat between "abstinece is not realistic" to "I am now the Abstinence Only Ambassador for the World?"

Bristol Palin is sending out very dangerous mixed messages here, and although she doesn't make a difference in my life, media exposure is what it is. It gets you into people's homes and heads. I don't think she even understands the seriousness of the issue she's dabbling with only to advance her personal agenda, whatever it may be. 

However, at a time when teenage pregnancy in the US is consistently rising, the last thing we need is a recognizable face like Bristol Palin's posing on the cover of a widely distributed publication like People glaring at you in the grocery encouraging you to, "Try teen pregnancy! It works! It's great! Just look at me...." Glamorizing teen pregnancy is not the right message to be sending, and no one should know that better than Bristol Palin, whether her actions are intentional or not. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Rachel Maddow: "We dated abstinence, but we're marrying science."

Three cheers to Miriam from feministing.com for posting this great clip from Rachel Maddow!

A Possible End to Abstinence-Only Education?

So, the big news today is that President Obama's FY2010 was finally released! Though it's a pretty hefty document to paw through, we've got some good news!

The President's budget:
"... proposes a new Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative to support community-based and faith-based efforts to reduce teen pregnancy using evidence-based and promising models. In addition, a new Strengthening Communities Fund will help build the capacity of non-profit organizations and State, Local and Tribal entities to better serve low-income and disadvantaged populations. This Budget also proposes funding for (1) a new child welfare initiative, and (2) a human services case management system for Federally-declared disasters. This Budget eliminates funding for Community-Based Abstinence Education, the mandatory Title V Abstinence Education program, the Compassion Capital Fund, and Rural Community Facilities." From the President's Budget (PDF) - page 491 for those interested

Hallelujah! I know that I am not the only one elated that we finally have a president that is interested in spending our tax dollars on sex ed programs that WORK instead of ab-only programs that DON'T. Comprehensive sex ed saves lives, and we here at FMF are excited that this is a priority.

There's quite a buzz over this, and we may post some more commentary tomorrow, but here's some links to other thoughts on the web:
Salon Broadsheet
Jezebel
Time.com
Politico

Feminist Leaders Take on FAILED Abstinence Only Policies

Keep an eye out for FMF President Ellie Smeal around minute 2:30!