Abstinence Education Campaign
Targets Gov. Strickland
Abstinence education supporters rally at Capitol to Voice Their Choice; urge Governor to stop weakening health message to students
Columbus (November 29, 2007) — Today hundreds of citizens from across Ohio rallied at the State Capitol Atrium to urge Governor Strickland to accept free federal funds for abstinence education and stop diverting money approved by the State Assembly expressly for abstinence education into other risky sex education programs.
"The State Assembly unanimously supported accepting federal abstinence money during the budget debates, and Governor Strickland - once an abstinence education supporter - has now rejected their intentions and put Ohio students' health at risk," said Valerie Huber, Executive Director, National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA).
Citizens participating in the rally want middle and high school students to hear a strong message on the health merits of delaying sexual activity. Abstaining from casual sex is the only way to prevent with certainty unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
"By rejecting federal abstinence education support, Governor Strickland is weakening the health message offered to Ohio students in an era of epidemic STDs," said Angela Smith, Director of Health Education and Preparedness for the Huron County Health Department.
Governor Strickland has flip-flopped on the abstinence education issue. He supported abstinence education as a U.S. Congressman, but as governor has vetoed federal abstinence education funds, favoring less comprehensive programs that do not provide comprehensive tools and instruction to help students make the choice to delay sex and develop healthy relationships.
"By quietly abolishing the abstinence education office, we believe the Governor has broken trust with the State Assembly and the people of Ohio," said Jan Seibel, Executive Director, REACH of Southwestern Ohio.
Abstinence education programs in Ohio provide adolescents with information about contraception and STDs, while emphasizing that abstaining from sex is the only way to avoid all physical and emotional risks associated with casual sex.
"Ohio's students deserve to know the truth about the risks of casual sex, but Governor Strickland's action means we could lose these programs, and I think a lot of students won't have the skills to make the best choice for their futures, " said Andrew Pickard, a student at Chanel High School.
-###-
For more information:
http://abstinenceassociation.org/voiceyourchoiceohio/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Patra Stephan, Communications Director,
202.248.5420/
202-246-3822