New York rejects federal funding for abstinence only education

Bravo to the State of New York for rejecting federal funding for abstinence only propaganda:

ALBANY, N.Y. - Federal and state funding for abstinence-only sex education will end in New York and state money will now go to programs deemed more effective, officials announced this week.

The state received up to about $3.7 million annually from the federal government for abstinence-only programs since 1998, according to state Health Department spokeswoman Claudia Hutton. Another $2.6 million in state money was allocated each year for the programs. [AP]

The Congressional Democrats actually increased funding for abstinence-only-until-heterosexual-marriage programs this year as part of a compromise to pass a much larger package of legislation.

New York isn't the first state to say no. Nine other states already decline federal dollars for these ineffective, dangerous, and constitutionally questionable programs.

 

Comments

[Uncle Kvetch]

How nice to get a smidge of unalloyed Good News after the tsunami of bullshit we've had from Washington this week.

[Hawise]

3.7 million doesn't even begin to cover the aid and services young women need who discover just how bad abstinence-only sex-ed is in action. It's nice to see the State doing the math and going with reality-based funding.

[Anacher Forester]

Only this morning my wife and I were cringing at the “Parents Speak Up” ad campaign paid for by our tax dollars and directed by The Office of Heath and Human Services. This program is the raison d'être of the
National Abstinence Education Association. whose dues are paid in large part by the US Government. These Abstinence pushers abstain from ethics. They've hired Swift Boat PR Firm Creative Research Concepts to keep the public spigot flowing after studies showed the $1 billion campaign to be ineffective. Earlier this month the NAEA launched an aggressive new advertising campaign to pressure Governors to accept funding for these abstinence-only sex ed classes. If the other 12 Governors on the fence reject these funds the NAEA will take a major hit.

AF

[Anacher Forester]

Only this morning my wife and I were cringing at the “Parents Speak Up” ad campaign paid for by our tax dollars and directed by The Office of Heath and Human Services. This program is the raison d'être of the
National Abstinence Education Association. whose dues are paid in large part by the US Government. These Abstinence pushers abstain from ethics. They've hired Swift Boat PR Firm Creative Research Concepts to keep the public spigot flowing after studies showed the $1 billion campaign to be ineffective. Earlier this month the NAEA launched an aggressive new advertising campaign to pressure Governors to accept funding for these abstinence-only sex ed classes. If the other 12 Governors on the fence reject these funds the NAEA will take a major hit.

AF

[Anacher Forester]

Apologies for the double post. My browser exploded.

AF

[brightbluelizard]

Hurray New York! Question though: will the more sensible scientific, constitutionally sound programs have enough money, & what are states like New York doing to ensure affordable contraception?