CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco is defending the state's abstinence-education program from charges that it continues to promote religion in violation of a 2002 court settlement. In July 2002, U.S. district judge Thomas Porteous Jr. found that some grants made by the Governor's Program on Abstinence under former governor Mike Foster were used to promote religion. He issued an order that the program stop such spending; program officials contended they had already done so. Louisiana appealed then dropped its appeal in favor of a settlement under which it agreed to monitor spending more closely, conduct quarterly reviews, and not renew funding for groups promoting religion. The latest complaint by the American Civil Liberties Union focuses on GPA's Web site, AbstinenceEdu.com, not its allocation of grant money. In a letter to Blanco's office last month, ACLU attorney Louise Melling noted several links from the site to Internet resources that promote religious views. In a response Thursday, Blanco and Terry Ryder, her executive counsel, said that simply providing links to abstinence-related sites with religious content does not violate the settlement. "In each instance, GPA neither wrote not composed the articles. Additionally, in most cases, the GPA notice--'Faith-based content'--is located above the link," wrote Ryder. Blanco defended two sites cited: one on which youths discuss their faith as a motivation for abstinence and another on which the script for a skit called "The Wedding" includes an officiant who makes numerous references to God. Louisiana ACLU director Joe Cook said the group's lawyers will look at Blanco's response and determine whether to file a lawsuit. "People can certainly base their decision about engaging in sexual activity on religious beliefs, but the government cannot convey that message and use tax funds as a vehicle to do it," Cook said. (AP)
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Pride
Yahoo FeedIndulge in luxury and sensuality with The Pride Store’s Taurus gift guide
April 22 2024 11:46 AM
The gay man leading the Earth Day Initiative offers hope for the future
April 22 2024 9:00 AM
Pattie Gonia takes drag and fierceness to Capitol Hill to voice environmental concerns
April 22 2024 8:23 AM
Jodie Foster leaves her mark in cement at L.A.'s Chinese Theatre
April 22 2024 7:55 AM
Climate change has a bigger impact on LGBTQ+ couples than straight couples. Here's how
April 22 2024 7:42 AM
Iraq postpones vote on bill punishing gay sex with death
April 20 2024 1:31 PM
Russian poetry contest bans entries from transgender poets
April 20 2024 1:25 PM
Here's who won 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 16
April 20 2024 1:01 PM
The Tip Off: A beginners guide to the WNBA
April 20 2024 11:06 AM
John Fetterman challenges Pa. school board’s cancellation of talk by gay actor
April 19 2024 2:39 PM
New study finds inadequate response to mpox outbreak
April 19 2024 2:06 PM
Fighting back against MAGA’s attacks on equality
April 19 2024 1:00 PM
Just one Christian Nationalist group is behind Idaho's bans on trans care and abortion
April 19 2024 11:57 AM
Linda Perry opens up in new documentary, premiering in June at Tribeca Festival
April 19 2024 11:43 AM