Nationwide Advocacy Campaign Launched to Fight Increased Federal Funding for Unproven Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs

-- The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS) is proud to announce the launch of its "No New Money" campaign, a nationwide online advocacy campaign, in an effort to halt additional federal funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. SIECUS is partnering with longtime advocates of adolescent heath, Advocates for Youth (AFY) and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). SIECUS also will be working with local and state-based organizations and coalitions, as well as other national organizations, to send a loud and clear message to federal policy makers -- "No New Money" should be sunk into unproven and harmful abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.

"By funding abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, our elected officials in Washington, led by President Bush, are promoting a conservative ideological agenda at the expense of sound public health policy, the health and well-being for our nation's youth, and the will of the American people," said Tamara Kreinin, president and CEO of SIECUS. "The 'No New Money' campaign will allow the overwhelming majority of the American people who support a comprehensive approach to sexuality education to have a voice in Washington," Kreinin continued.

Since 1998, the three federal programs solely dedicated to abstinence-only-until-marriage programs have been funded at more than a half a billion dollars. For Fiscal Year 2003, President Bush is seeking an additional $135 million. The programs are prohibited from discussing contraception or condoms as a way to prevent unintended pregnancy and the spread of STDs and HIV/AIDS, with the exception of their failure rates. No evidence exists to date that these programs are effective at delaying sexual activity or reducing unintended pregnancy or the spread of disease.

In contrast, comprehensive sexuality programs that include messages about both abstinence and contraception and condoms have been found to delay sexual activity, reduce the number of sexual partners, and increase the use of contraception and condoms.

Additionally, polls show that 93% of American parents want their children to learn about both abstinence and contraception in high school.

"The American people understand something that the U.S. Congress and the Bush Administration fail to grasp -- our young people deserve open and honest medically-accurate information and education about their sexual health in order to prevent unintended pregnancy, STDs, and HIV/AIDS, not programs that are shame and fear-based and misrepresent the effectiveness of contraception and condoms," Kreinin said.

See www.nonewmoney.org to take action.