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.

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.

Bristol Palin: "Learn from my example"

And what example would that be, Bristol? Is it that sex leads to babies, parenting is hard, or, as you have said, "abstinence is not realistic."

Making the rounds on morning TV, Bristol Palin spoke of the importance of abstinence as the newest Teen Ambassador for The Candie's Foundation, an organization that promotes abstinence-only and educates teens about the "devastating consequences of teen pregnancy."

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It would be easier to agree with Matt Lauer's assessment of "do as I say, not as I do" if I could actually follow what she is saying. "Teenagers of America, do not have sex. That is, of course, unless you do have sex at which point you should be sure to have safe sex. But never mind with the pesky details about how to actually practice safe sex. So let's just make this easier for everyone and blissfully ignore the old adage "knowledge is power" and keep it simple with 'just say no' and this festive tank top from The Candies Foundation. Good night and good luck (really, you'll need it)."

The funny thing about an abstinence-only message is, of course, that it is abstinence only and, therefore, will not teach young people about condoms and contraception EVEN IF THEY WANTED TO HAVE SAFE SEX. Don't you see the catch here, Bristol?

With increased rates of teen pregnancy, young people need, now more than ever, a comprehensive approach that includes a message of abstinence (indeed, Bristol, it is a full-proof method to avoiding an "accessory on your hip") but also medically accurate, fact based information about contraception and sexual health. They need the ability to make an informed choice. In short, they need to get REAL (literally).