Take Action - Talking Points
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NARAL P.O. Box 279 |
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Talking Points:
Please use these talking points to help us send a message to Montanans that continuing to increase funding to abstinence-only sex ed programs is endangering the youth of Montana.
Abstinence-only programs fail to provide information about contraception beyond failure rates, and, in some cases provide misinformation. Without complete and accurate information, some teens may forego contraceptive use, jeopardizing their reproductive health.
Increased funding to abstinence-only programs is driven by ideology, not science. This huge investment of taxpayer funds contradicts scientific and medical research.
Montana’s teens deserve accurate information so they can make responsible choices if and when they become sexually active. Denying them information about how to protect themselves from STDs and unplanned pregnancy is bad health policy.
Eighty-nine percent of Americans believe it is important for young people to have information about contraception and STD prevention and that sex education programs should focus on how to avoid unintended pregnancies and STDs.
When given the opportunity to remove their children from sex education classes, no more than one to five percent of parents actually do so.
Teaching young people about abstinence is a critical part of a well-rounded and effective sex education program. But abstinence by itself is not sufficient.
Responsible sex education that encourages abstinence from premature sexual activity, yet at the same time provides complete, unbiased, and accurate information on contraception and STD/HIV prevention, has positive results, effectively protecting teens’ reproductive health.
Comprehensive sex education programs delay teen sex, reduce the frequency of sex, and increase contraceptive use.
At a time when the U.S. continues to face unacceptably high rates of teen pregnancy and STD/HIV infection, we must pursue policies that are known to be effective—Montana teens’ health and lives depend on it.
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