Oppose

The So-Called "Healthy Teens Act" authorizes New York State to finance the development and instruction of comprehensive sex education in the public school system.

State law does not currently require public schools to teach sexual education to its students; however, at the local level, districts throughout the state have voluntarily developed or implemented multiple programs to address unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and other risks associated with sexual activity. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms believes this is where the decision should be made – at the local level, not by the State Legislature.

No legislator should vote for this particular bill believing that it is abstinence-based as some have claimed. The bill recommends abstinence instruction, but it is not a mandatory component of instruction.

Comprehensive sex education, such as promoted in A1806, will not decrease either the rate of out-of-wedlock pregnancy or the number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases throughout the state. Practicing abstinence until marriage is the only 100 percent effective way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and out-of-wedlock pregnancy.

Numerous studies indicate that abstinence has contributed to the decline in unwed teen birthrates^[1] and even the sponsor’s memo acknowledges that the rate of teenage pregnancy has been in decline during the same timeframe that abstinence education was promoted within the state.

Comprehensive sex education programs encourage contraceptive use, assuming that young people will be sexually active. The underlying message in these programs is that sexual activity is okay for teens as long as they use "protection."^[2]

Abstinence programs teach relationship skills; goal setting; self-control; decision making; healthy personal and sexual boundaries; an understanding of sexual intimacy and human bonding; emotional and physical consequences of premarital sexual activity; and the benefits of saving sex for marriage.

A growing body of evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of abstinence education. Several studies published in peer-reviewed journals found that students participating in abstinence programs are more likely to delay sex, to view abstinence more positively and to have an increased knowledge of the negative consequences of premarital sexual activity.^[3]

Finally, on a fiscal note, New York taxpayers are already funding comprehensive sex education programs through such organizations as Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program ($7.6 million), Assets Coming Together for Youth ($2.6 million), and Community-Based Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program ($6.3 million).^[4]

Additionally, in July 2007, New York State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines cancelled all existing federal Title V abstinence-only contracts, opting instead to expand the state’s comprehensive sexual education programs. As of October 2007, New York began redirecting $2.6 million in annual state funds to comprehensive sexual education in schools and other community settings.

The reality is that the state is facing a fiscal crisis, and regardless of one’s particular ideology, now is not the time to be expanding this program any further.

New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms asks the New York State Assembly to practice its own form of abstinence when it comes to any additional funding for comprehensive sexual education.

[1] Joanna K. Mohn and Lynne R. Tingle, et al., "An Analysis of the Causes of the Decline in Non-marital Birth and Pregnancy Rates for Teens from 1991 to 1995," Adolescent and Health 3 (2003): 39-47 and John Santelli, et al., "Can Changes in Sexual Behaviors Among High School Students Explain the Decline in Teen Pregnancy Rates in the 1990s?" Journal of Adolescent Health 35 (August 2004): 80-90.

[2] Shannan Martin, et al., "Comprehensive Sex Education vs. Authentic Abstinence: A Study of Competing Curricula," The Heritage Foundation, 2004

[3] Robert Lerner, "Can Abstinence Programs Work? An Analysis of the Best Friends Program," Adolescent and Family Health 3 (2004): 185-192; Elaine A. Borawski, et al., "Effectiveness of Abstinence-only Intervention in Middle School Teens," American Journal of Health Behavior 29 (2005) 423-434; and Andrew S. Doniger, et al., "Impact Evaluation of the 'Not me, Not Now' Abstinence-Oriented, Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Communications Program, Monroe County," Journal of Health Communications (2001): 45-60.

[4] According to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States’ (SIECUS) Public Policy fact sheet for 2003