Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Faced between a proposal for mandating comprehensive sex ed from the Senate and creating "abstinence-only" sex ed curriculum from the House, the conference committee struck both proposals and maintained the status quo. Thank you to all who took action. Comprehensive sex education works and is responsible. It teaches not only abstinence and resistance skills, but also provides teens with information about contraceptives and STD/HIV prevention so they can make responsible decisions if and when they become sexually active. Abstinence-only education, promoted by anti-choice activists and legislators, often fails to provide information regarding pregnancy prevention and STD/HIV prevention beyond simply urging teenagers to abstain from sexual activity. It is time to focus on programs that achieve the best results, that is, on comprehensive, age and developmentally appropriate sex education. This measure was inserted into SF 1211 in the Senate, whereas an "abstinence-only" measure was inserted into HF 1227 in the House. The measure will now be debated in Conference Committee. WHAT YOU CAN DO
Please contact the members appointed to the Conference Committee (listed below) regardless of whether you are a constituent. Tell them you support the comprehensive sexual health education to prevent HIV and STIs and oppose abstinence-until-marriage restrictions. HOUSE CONFEREES
Rep. Alice Seagren - 651-296-7803
Rep. Barb Sykora - 651-296-4315
Rep. Mark Buesgens - 651-296-5185
Rep. Tony Kielkucki - 651-296-1534
Rep. Paul Marquart - 651-296-6829 SENATE CONFEREES
Sen. Steve Kelley - (651) 297-8065
Sen. Rod Skoe - (651) 296-4196
Sen. Thomas Bakk - (651) 296-8881
Sen. Wesley Skoglund - (651) 296-4274
Sen. Ellen Anderson - (651) 296-5537 >> Find out how to contact your legislators here.
>> Find out your legislative district here.
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