Sex Act! Abstinence for Adults?

Abstinence-Only Education for Adults?

New Sex-Negative Guidelines from the U.S. Government

In an alarming move, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last month that federal funds for abstinence-only sex “education” will now be available for programs targeting adults up to 29 years of age.

The National Center for Health Statistics reports that well over 90% of adults ages 20-29 have already had sexual intercourse.

Federal guidelines for abstinence education require that programs teach “that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity” and “that sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects.”

Studies of abstinence-only education have found that these programs rely on medically inaccurate information and that they are ineffective at preventing students from having sex. See our Sex Act from January 2005. Last year Congress appropriated $50 million in grants for abstinence education.
Learn More!

-USA Today’s article “Abstinence Message Goes Beyond Teens.”

-U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ new guidelines for abstinence-only education grants.

-Read the U.S. government’s definition of “Abstinence Education.”

Take Action!

-The U.S. government has no business telling responsible, consenting adults to abstain from sex! Comprehensive sex education — including responsible information about birth control that works — is the best way to prevent unintended pregnancies. E-mail Annie Miller, the Interim Abstinence Program Specialist, at the Administration for Children & Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at ammiller@acf.hhs.gov.

-Support the work of Advocates for Youth, a great organization that fights for responsible, comprehensive sex education while envisioning “a society that views sexuality as normal and healthy and treats young people as a valuable resource.”