The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) just released its report on which states applied for Title V abstinence-education funding. An encouraging three out of every five governors elected to apply for Title V abstinence education by the Aug. 30 deadline.
Prior to the deadline, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services held back the results of a pivotal abstinence study, which featured results contrary to the Obama administration's policy of "zeroing out" all abstinence-education funding.
As a result of public pressure, the taxpayer-funded survey –"The National Survey of Adolescents and Their Parents" – was released in time for wavering governors to re-apply for critical funding for their states' abstinence programs, which end on Sept. 30.
States that participated in the 2009 Title V abstinence-only education program were:
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and West Virginia.
Of those states, only five elected not to reapply:
Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada and Oklahoma
Compared to 2009, there were eight new states that applied for the FY2011 funding:
Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Virginia
The state chapters of Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice were outraged after learning that Republican Govs. Bob McDonnell of Virginia and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota opted to forego the government-preferred Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) funding for the abstinence-only funding option.
Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation of Virginia, did not mince words when defending McDonnell's decision.
"Despite the rhetoric from the economic loser in this decision – Planned Parenthood – recent studies have shown that abstinence education effectively helps teens postpone risky sexual behavior," Cobb said.
Planned Parenthood of Virginia would have been a substantial recipient of PREP funds.
Tom Pritchard, executive director of the Minnesota Family Council, equally defended Pawlenty's decision. He told the Star Tribune, "It's better to spend no money on sex education if it's going to have a condom message. You are pouring fuel on the fire."
The pro-abortion groups were not the only ones that went after the governors. Liberal, sex groups like Sexuality Information Education Council of the U.S (SIECUS) – a fringe, Kinsey-rooted policy organization –fought against Title V funding and lobbied the Obama Administration to zero out abstinence funding.
The Huffington Post, a liberal website, also tried besmirch the governors for opposing President Obama's "comprehensive sex education" program.
Bruce Gordon, communications director for Pawlenty, said, "The governor has consistently prioritized abstinence amongst family planning options."
Stacey Johnson, spokesperson for McDonnell, the McDonnell's decision was consistent with his past support of abstinence-only education, as proven when he opposed the decision of his predecessor, Gov. Tim Kaine, of eliminating the funding.
Chad Hills, CitizenLink's abstinence and sexual health analyst, applauds the 30 governors who listened to put sound public policy over politics.
"It's encouraging to know that several governors realize the importance of upholding the highest expected standard for sexuality within their public and private schools," Hills said. "However, I was surprised that the governor of Indiana rejected these funds. Parents and teens support the message of abstinence, and citizens are encouraged to thank the governors who opted to make their decisions based on principle and the will of the people –not on political correctness."
Contact: Catherine Snow
Source: CitizenLinkDate Published: September 16, 2010
