Abstinence-Only Funds Won't Die

George W. Bush's consistent support for abstinence-only sex education funding was the bane of many health care professionals' existence. When President Obama removed funding for the programs in his budget earlier this year, it seemed a new day had dawned. But money for abstinence-only education is back -- thanks to antigay Utah senator Orrin Hatch.

The Senate Finance Committee in September approved an amendment, pushed by Hatch, to its health care reform bill that set aside $50 million in annual funding to abstinence-only programs, even though, according to The Atlantic and other publications, numerous studies have found that abstinence-only sex education -- as opposed to teaching about birth control or safer-sex practices -- does not work.

Earlier this month the Finance Committee approved its overall health care bill in a 14-9 vote, with all Democrats and Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine in support. The Hatch amendment was included in the version that passed. The National Sexuality Resource Center says Hatch wants $250 million for abstinence-only funding over five years.

The NSRC is urging voters to reach out to their senators and demand that they remove the funding for abstinence-only programs. The group also says that on Wednesday sex education professionals are "calling in and standing up to Hatch's back room bullying."