ACLU launches
campaign urging states to reject abstinence-only education

The American Civil Liberties Union this week launched a campaign in 18 states to urge government and school board officials to reject federally funded abstinence-only sex education programs in schools because the programs contain false information, the Washington Times reports. The ACLU, citing a report prepared for Democratic congressman Henry Waxman of California, says that many federally funded abstinence-only programs include false information about the effectiveness of condoms in preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Called "Not in My State," the ACLU's campaign will include letters written to local leaders who have a voice in school sex education curricula decisions in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Wyoming. The letters urge the officials to implement sex education programs that include medically accurate information about sex and sexuality.

Earlier this week, Maine became the third state in the country to refuse federal funds for abstinence-only education. California and Pennsylvania already have rejected abstinence-only funding. The Republican-led Congress approved Bush's request for $168 million in abstinence education funding for the current fiscal year; Bush has requested $206 million for fiscal 2006. (Advocate.com)