Bush Abstinence Program Accused Of Draining AIDS Education Money
Sat. February 14, 2004 12:00 AM by 365gay.com
Washington, D.C. -
The Bush administration came under attack Friday from AIDS activists who accuse the president of using money that should be going to AIDS prevention education and using it to help fund a massive increase in funding for Bush's highly touted sexual abstinence program.
The sexual abstinence programs will bar any discussion of birth control or condoms to prevent pregnancy or AIDS despite a lack of evidence that such programs work.
The president also would move the programs into the same agency within the Health and Human Services Department that oversees religious-based programs and the president's $1.5 billion plan to promote marriage.
The president alluded to an increase in funding for abstinence programs in his State of the Union Address. The administration now says in its 2005 budget that $270 million will be spend on abstinence-only education, compared with $100 million annually when the President took office.
At the same time, funding has been cut back for AIDS education and the the budget provides flat funding for nearly every care and treatment program within the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act.
AIDS activists accuse the president of shifting priorities to appeal to conservatives in an election year.
In Minnesota, a study found that sexual activity doubled among junior high school students taking part in an abstinence-only program. The independent study, commissioned by the state's health department, recommended broadening the program to include more information about contraception.
Independent researchers who are studying abstinence-only programs for the federal government said in their first report two years ago that no reliable evidence exists whether the programs work. They are expected to issue an update soon.
James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, a group that promotes education about birth control and condom use, said abstinence-only programs deprive teenagers of information about the effectiveness of condoms in stopping the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
©365Gay.com® 2004
The sexual abstinence programs will bar any discussion of birth control or condoms to prevent pregnancy or AIDS despite a lack of evidence that such programs work.
The president also would move the programs into the same agency within the Health and Human Services Department that oversees religious-based programs and the president's $1.5 billion plan to promote marriage.
The president alluded to an increase in funding for abstinence programs in his State of the Union Address. The administration now says in its 2005 budget that $270 million will be spend on abstinence-only education, compared with $100 million annually when the President took office.
At the same time, funding has been cut back for AIDS education and the the budget provides flat funding for nearly every care and treatment program within the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act.
AIDS activists accuse the president of shifting priorities to appeal to conservatives in an election year.
In Minnesota, a study found that sexual activity doubled among junior high school students taking part in an abstinence-only program. The independent study, commissioned by the state's health department, recommended broadening the program to include more information about contraception.
Independent researchers who are studying abstinence-only programs for the federal government said in their first report two years ago that no reliable evidence exists whether the programs work. They are expected to issue an update soon.
James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, a group that promotes education about birth control and condom use, said abstinence-only programs deprive teenagers of information about the effectiveness of condoms in stopping the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
©365Gay.com® 2004
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.