For over 10 years, the federal government has wasted taxpayers' money on ineffective, misleading abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. These programs are prompted by a single, narrowly focused moral perspective and fail to recognize the broad religious support for comprehensive sexuality education that does include messages of abstinence.

Numerous reports have found that the ‘abstinence-only’ approach does not work and, in fact, puts young people more at risk by withholding medically-accurate information on contraception and sexually transmitted disease prevention.  These programs have been proven to not help our teens abstain from sex, and many are rife with scientific inaccuracies, factual errors, and troubling biases that put our teens at great risk.

However, despite overwhelming negative reports, $204 million dollars has been proposed in the 2009 federal budget to fund abstinence-only programs.  As responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, we must continue the effort to scale back our nation’s investment in these ineffective programs.  It is time for a more balanced approach—for the sake of our children and our teens.

The Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT), (S. 972/HR 1653), would provide federal money to support responsible sex education in schools. This education would include science-based, medically accurate, and age appropriate public health information about both abstinence and contraception.

The REAL Act would provide $204 million to states for programs that provide honest, medically accurate, complete, age-appropriate sexuality education.

For more information contact Advocates for Youth.

The United Church of Christ has developed sexuality materials (Our Whole Lives) that are being used in many faith communities as well as secular sites.  The REAL Act would provide education that, in many ways, mirrors the type of education that is available through Our Whole Lives, based on values of self worth, responsibility, sexual health, justice and inclusivity.

As people of faith, we want our youths taught the value of accurate, honest information about how to protect themselves and make responsible choices.  We want them to be winners.