Obama Seeks to Drop Abstinence-Only Funding

[FundieFarmer]

Obama is seeking to have abstinence–only funding struck from the 2017 budget. As a Bustle article on the matter says:

Quote

Currently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers grants to states and territories for teaching abstinence-based curriculums in sex education classes. Obama has proposed cutting this funding completely, thereby removing a huge incentive for states to teach such programs. Ultimately, Obama's recommended cut represents a realistic vision for the future of sex education in the U.S., as research has typically demonstrated that teaching abstinence does not effectively reduce rates of teenage pregnancy.

The problem is that congressional Republicans probably won't see it that way. Sex education has long remained a moral dilemma for lawmakers in Congress, and it's likely that the debate will reemerge later this year, as Congress sets out to shape and approve Obama's budget.

Honestly, I'd like to see it happen. You know, since it works so well. 

[nellautumngirl]

It's mind-boggling that this still exists. Of course it doesn't work, it's laughable that it's even named as a method of sex education yet alone still taught. Of course, if you do nothing, nothing happens. That's not helpful, that's obvious.

[Trynn]

Go Barack Obama!

[Mercer]

Good. It's about time.

I work with teenagers. There are some practical reasons why it can be a good idea to wait till adulthood to be sexually active, but sometimes that is not the decision they're going to make, and they need to have accurate information about how to keep themselves safe in the activities they engage in. 

You can't control teenage behavior with fear and ignorance. Instead, we need to be empowering kids to make whatever they feel is the right choice for themselves by providing truthful information about both the potential consequences and how to protect themselves and mitigate risk as much as possible. 

[AlysonRR]

What??? Base political decisions on the results of scientific research??? Say it's not so!

As a (former) research scientist, I applaud Obama. He is certainly trying to spend his last year productively. Of course, the obstructionist Republicans will squash it all :-(

[FloraKitty35]

Good.

[Diggingupdirt]

It's about time!!!