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.
Federal funding for abstinence education will likely fall considerably this year as Democratic leaders said Wednesday they will let a $50 million grant program expire on June 30.
The program, known as Title V, has not proven to be effective, said Rep. John Dingell, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Dingell's committee has jurisdiction over Title V funding. With a budget deficit and a war, he said the decision to eliminate funding was not a difficult one.
''Abstinence-only seems to be a colossal failure,'' said Dingell, a Michigan Democrat.
To back that view, he cited a recent report to Congress that showed students in four abstinence-until-marriage programs were just as likely to have sex as those who were not in the abstinence programs. Students in the four programs had sex at about the same age as students not in the programs --14.9 years, according to Mathematica Policy Research Inc.
Common topics in abstinence-until-marriage programs include human anatomy and sexually transmitted diseases. Also, classes often focus on helping students set personal goals and build self-esteem. Youth are also taught to improve communication skills and manage peer pressure.
The federal government funds abstinence education through three separate programs. Title V is the second largest of those programs. Congress approved it as part of welfare reform. Participating states match the grants with $3 for every $4 they get from the federal government.
Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association, said the decision to stop funding Title V would only embolden supporters of abstinence education to work harder to maintain the program.
''It's a public health message that offers risk-elimination for youth,'' Huber said. ''It's also consistent with what parents across America want for their youth.''
Dingell credited Rep. Diana DeGette, a Colorado Democrat, for her counsel on the need to do away with the grant program. Both lawmakers said they would prefer that the money be used for comprehensive sex-education programs that would include abstinence as part of the curriculum.
''With all we know about how to prevent teen pregnancy and reduce sexually transmitted diseases, it is high time to redirect the millions of federal dollars that we squander every year on abstinence-only education to programs that actually work,'' DeGette 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
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
30 Steamy Photos of Folsom Street Fair 2023 Debauchery
October 15 2023 11:06 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
How Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter advances equality
April 10 2024 1:39 PM
The North Face faces conservative boycott for sponsoring a queer summer camp (exclusive)
April 10 2024 8:26 AM
John Cena opens up about defending his gay brother when they were kids
April 09 2024 10:21 PM
Trans Latina Meraxes Medina killed in Los Angeles
April 09 2024 10:11 PM
Morgxn is proudly queering Southern music - here's how
April 09 2024 7:03 PM
Elon Musk uses burner accounts on X, doesn’t fact-check: report
April 09 2024 5:44 PM