SEX ED

RELIGION, SEX & DEATH IN AMERICA:
HOW RELIGIOUS OPPOSITION TO RAW SEX EDUCATION
IS SPREADING DEATH, DISEASE, AND DELUSION

America has been under the false impression that teaching youths about sex is unnecessary, immoral, and promotes mindless sexual intercourse. The religious right-wing conservatives are killing millions of people by keeping them in the dark about sex, diseases and protection.

Religious and political elites are killing millions of people by refusing to embrace comprehensive education about sex, STDs, pregnancy and reproduction.

Making minors aware of their sexual urges, organs, and of what exactly the act of sex entails - both mentally and physically - is a safety precaution that cannot be ignored. The fact that Christianity and politics have been inseparable in American history is a union that has lead to a poisoned, sickened view of sexual behavior in the United States. Religious, political elites are so mentally warped that they believe that restricting young minds from realistic information about sex will ultimately save them from unwanted diseases and pregnancies, and instill the mentality that sex outside of marriage is wrong.

Educating young minds comprehensively about sexual health is not a way to impose thoughts of sexual behavior upon minors. Sexual exploration is natural and inevitable in all human beings. Proper education of these matters is a basic human right, and is necessary to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, sexual stigmas and especially unwanted pregnancies.

With religious involvement and a lack of consent from parents, many schools worldwide are omitting proper sex education altogether in favor of such fallacies as "abstinence-only" sex education. Most branches of Christianity, at one point or another, condemned the use of contraceptives which leads to another dangerous aspect of abstinence-only education. However, Abstinence Only Education has been largely ineffective in terms of preventing teen pregnancies and STDS, a fact that will be further discussed below.

Leaving minors in the dark about sexual issues does not mean that the biological instinct to have sex will disappear, it simply means that these youths will remain clueless, unprepared and misinformed about their bodies and how to protect themselves - and ultimately end up in a much worse predicament.

TEEN PREGNANCY

[According to statistics from 2010]

It's no secret: sexual misconceptions lead to trouble, disease, and death. Teen pregnancy in the United States is highest in the states that practice abstinence-only sex education. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2011, nearly 400,000 infants were born to young women between the ages of 15 and 19. Some young women are so misinformed about sexual protocol that they fall into believing myths; they believe that showering after sex or even jumping up-and-down will decrease their chance of being pregnant after having unprotected sex (WebMD Teens). The United States as a nation has the highest rate of teen pregnancies in the modernized Western world (Family First Aid). Are we truly doing our children a favor by leaving condoms and birth control out of the conversation? Teaching youths about the realities and consequences of sex is just as important as professing the sacred value of sex.

Some argue that the teen pregnancy rates in the United States have plummeted, but research suggests otherwise and further reminds us that our system of sex education is failing our young generations, not saving them. It's true that there have been small declines in certain areas, but overall, the rate of teen pregnancies in our country is still at a disappointing and dangerous high. A new report this year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the majority of teen girls ages 15 to 17 do not receive proper education about sex until after they have already started having sex. The CDC is rightfully concerned at this average, as young women who give birth at these ages are more susceptible to a poor future in terms of medical conditions and economic and social outcomes (Think Progress). The following chart illustrates the recent findings from the CDC and shows just how frightening the reality of sex miseducation is.

In the same study, the teen birth rates of various states were examined more closely, and the results are not promising. The District of Columbia, right in Capitol Hill's backyard, was found to have the highest rate of teen pregnancies, reporting 29 out of every 1,000 teens (CDC). Just two years ago in 2012, DC's number was pretty reflective of the country at a whole. It was found that nationwide, there were 29.4 births for every 1,000 teens between the ages of 15 and 19. While it sounds like a low percentage, in reality it means that that age group gave birth to 305,388 babies that year (Office of Adolescent Health). Are these the numbers that the anti-sex government was hoping for with their abstinence-only campaign? Most likely not, but their steady inaction on intelligently assessing the issue suggests otherwise.

HYPOCRISY OF RELIGIOUS RIGHT AND SEX

The religious right is not the only group that professes a message of inhuman purity when it comes to matters of sex and education, but it is the most well-known group that promotes an identity of holiness and sexless human existence. Religious leaders like to give people the impression that they are above others, in that they possess the power to deny sexual temptation and ignore lust. Truthfully, identifying as Christian, or any other religion for that matter has nothing to do with human biology and it will not render a person any less interested in sex than a non-Christian might be. The reality when it comes to Christians and sex is that they are just as sexual and "immoral" as the people they denounce. In fact, the most religious states in America happen to be the largest consumers of gay porn, and the number of Christians who indulge in porn in general are just like any other group, if not higher.

To anyone surprised that the states ranking highest in consumption of gay porn belong to the Bible Belt, you shouldn't be. People in these states may be taught (or forced) to hide their homosexuality on a regular basis, but in the semi-security of the internet world, they are free to explore their true interest. The statistics aren't just eye-opening for Christians and gay porn, but other genres and habits as well. Secular Americans are not the only ones who "suffer" from a porn addiction or just check it out from time-to-time. In a ChristianNet.com poll, many Christians, including Evangelicals, were actually honest about their porn habits - so one can only imagine how different the numbers would be had the whole Christian population been honestly questioned. According to the poll, 50% of all Christian men and 20% of Christian women are addicted to viewing pornography. Could it be perhaps their only escape from a religion that harshly condemns most sexual activity? In the same poll, 60% of the women who answered confessed that they had "problems" with lust (Christian News).

RELIGIOUS OPPOSITION TO BIRTH CONTROL & CONTRACEPTIVE USE

While it is incorrect to assume that ALL Christian groups (or individuals) are antagonists in the fight for proper sex education, a few key branches have made it their mission to sway the general public from natural, unfiltered information. Christian opposition to the use of birth control has been prevalent since the religion came about. Birth control was associated with adultery and promiscuous behavior, and was therefore condemned (PBS). Though, by the 1930s some branches had embraced the use of contraceptives as a health measure, other branches remained determined to uphold their deluded point-of-view.

Evangelicals are known to look down upon the use of condoms, and most preach that sex outside of marriage is simply unacceptable. However, taking a look at the statistics, their methods aren't exactly producing holier-than-thou results. In a statement from the National Association of Evangelicals, it was mentioned that the Evangelical community is experiencing too many abortions. The association also informed that 80% of Evangelical youths are participating in premarital sex, and that it is necessary to begin teaching youths about the use of contraceptives.

The Catholic Church is no stranger to the anti-contraceptive (and pretty much anti-sex) battle. Catholics are persistent believers that premarital sex is a one-way ticket to hell, and that discussing contraceptive use is a pathway to "immoral" behavior. The Vatican has long upheld the belief that sex is solely for the purpose of creating a child. These are also the same people that believe that a virgin was miraculously impregnated with no penetration, so what exactly justifies their authority on sexual health issues?

The Catholic faith sets inhuman standards when it comes to sex. Premarital sex is out of the question. Abortion, even in necessary cases, is unacceptable due to their belief that pregnancy is the will of God and therefore cannot be tampered with. Apparently, life begins at the moment of conception, which Catholics also believe that they can correctly predict. The use of condoms is strictly prohibited, as they are considered "artificial" contraceptives. Masturbation is off-limits, to both married and single individuals. Homosexual relationships are harshly exiled and frowned upon (Criticism of the Catholic Church and Human Sexual Behavior). Now, what part of this mentality is in any way natural? These views from the church have spread an unnatural perspective on sex and have also strengthened a movement of hatred towards "sexual deviants."

Again, let's look at the statistics: in a report from the Guttenacher Institute, 98% of Catholic women have used birth control methods which are prohibited by the Church.

THE DANGERS OF CONDEMNING ABORTION

Religious arguments against a woman's right to an abortion are dangerous to a woman's health. The Catholic Church in particular has long been an advocate of pro-life propaganda, insisting that a child is a gift from God, and that conception and pregnancy cannot be interrupted or terminated without being sinful (Catholic Faith). Catholics are convinced that aborting an unborn child is an act against the will and creativity of God (Catholic News Agency). This is not a matter for human debate. But what humans do need to address is that the religious right is abridging basic female rights and ultimately infringing on the well-being of both women and their children.

Banning of abortion does not prevent abortion from happening, it just forces the operation to be sought out underground. Political action (or lack thereof) along with religious closed-mindedness is putting the lives of numerous women in danger by forcing them to seek any means necessary for abortion - whether the method is safe or not (Washington Post). There are about 20-30 million illegal (including partial-birth) abortions performed every year, worldwide. Illegal abortions are performed by individuals who do not have proper medical training or authorization to perform such operations, and often result in serious infection or even death (E-Medicine Health). Women who are restricted from having safe abortions whether by outdated law or by religious persecution often resort to unsafe methods to rid themselves of a pregnancy at any cost.

Denying a woman's right to an abortion based on religious standing is not just absurd, it is deadly. A woman's life - as well as the life of an unborn child - should not be dictated and destructed by sick, religious men in office. Unfortunately, over half of primary Republican voters of the GOP are right-wing Evangelicals (CBS News), leaving no room in debates for right-minded Republicans to speak up. Republicans have been openly pro-life since the 1980s, and have already successfully established cruel law that bans abortion in a number of states. The views of religious Republicans toward abortion is so narrow that it often makes no exception for abortion in extreme cases such as rape or incest. Is that their idea of a traditional, moral value? Notorious Republican Rick Santorum says "yes." A strong Catholic, he believes that pregnant rape victims should "make the best of a bad situation" and welcome their "horrible gift from God" (Daily Mail).

(Statistic according to the Pro-Choice Public Education Project)

These Conservatives have justified the endangerment and possible death of women and children on the grounds that abortion is bad for a woman's "health and well-being" (Washington Post). Christianity-crazed Republicans have consistently struck down positive proposals for comprehensive sex education, opting for the absolute terror abstinence-only education and leaving teens and young adults at risk in the process.

In 2011, the House of Representatives passed the "Protect Life Act", a piece of legislature that makes it impossible for women to purchase health care plans that offer coverage for abortion under the Affordable Care Act, also making it legal for hospitals and doctors to deny abortions to women - even in life-threatening conditions.

As if the Protect Life Act did not infringe upon women's safety and rights enough, Title X, a federal grant program initiated in the 1970s, has also been subjected to cuts in funding. Title X, administered by the Office of Family Planning, was the first program in the United States dedicated to providing family planning services and preventative health care services to individuals, primarily to low-income households or the otherwise uninsured. The program even has the power to save the nation a lot of money: expenditures tied to unwanted pregnancies are estimated at around $11 billion, a number that would undoubtedly be much higher without family planning services (American Progress). Services including contraceptive education, access to birth control, breast and pelvic exams, and screenings/treatment for sexually-transmitted diseases are provided at little or no cost to these individuals (Wikipedia). It is estimated by the Guttmacher Institute that out of the 7,000 family planning clinics around the country, more than 4,500 received funding from Title X. The program does not exclusively cover abortions, but has met a lot of scrutiny from conservative groups who believe that Title X funding should not be appropriated to Planned Parenthood, one of the most wide-scale providers of private abortions in the country. In reality, Title X effectively reduces the number of abortions performed in the United States thanks to its comprehensive view on sex education and its efforts to provide resources to women who otherwise have no outlet. In 2006, state-funded family planning services including Title X helped American women avoid nearly 2 million unwanted pregnancies, in turn preventing a number of abortions (Wikipedia).

(Source: Guttmacher Institute)

Many women in the United States are not covered by Medicaid, nor are they inclined to afford healthcare packages, and Title X has aided these women tremendously. The Guttmacher Institute reports that 15% of all women who obtain birth control prescriptions, contraceptive supplies or birth control check-ups are taken care of by Title X-funded facilities. Of course, since Title X is a positive (and very crucial) program that provides access to contraceptive use and other sexual health concerns, this coincides with the warped mentality of the destructive religious right. In 2011, religious Republican intolerance for Title X and those that it serve grew to a boiling point when they proposed that all $327 million would be cut from funding the program (Wall Street Journal). Republicans have long sought to eliminate the Title X program infinitely, targeting necessary facilities such as Planned Parenthood, in efforts to replace much-needed and life-saving resources with religious hypocrisy and death. The fact that right-wing conservative groups have supported the budget cuts to Planned Parenthood and similar clinics is not only an immoral attitude towards women's health, but ineffective at preventing abortions as well as detrimental to spending for the other health services provided to American women from these clinics.

LIVING WITH STDS

Aside from the chance of becoming pregnant at the wrong time, a lack of real sexual education leaves many minors with sexually-transmitted diseases, and no answers. According to TeenHelp, out of the 19 million individuals that transmit a sexual disease, a good 9.1 million of them are teenagers. Another startling fact - and another result of religion-infused sex education - is that only a mere 42.8% of teenage women have even discussed STDs or testing with a health care professional. With pressure from uptight parents and a Church-fueled school board, many teens feel the need to hide their sexual curiosities and are left with no knowledge of the possibilities or dangers of unprotected sex. Planned Parenthood states that half of all teens do not feel comfortable discussing sexual issues or concerns with their parents.

Of course, not all STDs are curable or treatable, and many teens do not realize this truth until it is too late.

HPV

Human papilloma virus, or HPV for short, is the most commonly contracted STD by teens and adults according to the CDC. Many people have no idea that they are living with the condition, as it sometimes shows no visible or detectable symptoms at all. On the other hand, some people with HPV will develop visible (and contagious) warts in their genital areas or on other body parts. Since the disease can go for extended periods of time unnoticed, even up to a year or more, many cases are left untreated until it is too late. When HPV is ignored or untreated for too long, it can lead to various forms of cancer, including cancers of the cervix, anus, vagina, and penis (Wikipedia). The passing of HPV cannot always be prevented with condom use, as the infected area may range to

other parts of the body, including the thighs.

Gardasil is an FDA-approved vaccine that has been proven to dramatically decrease the chances of developing sexually-transmitted strains of HPV. Though the vaccine is not effective against existing infections, it is still recommended that people living with HPV get the vaccine to prevent the contraction of other strains of the virus. It has been shown to protect against vaginal, cervical, penile and anal cancers when administered properly and early. Though some middle schools and high schools have rightfully been administering the vaccinations on school property, some parents do not agree that it should be offered as an option. It is not a state requirement to offer the vaccine, but in the areas where it has been approved for teen use, it has shown to be greatly effective.

Following HPV, the second-most frequent STD contracted by young adults is herpes (CDC). Though HPV, in some cases, can be cured in early stages, there is absolutely no cure for herpes. It is a lifetime condition that, at most, can only be treated. Like many other sexually transmitted diseases, herpes will more than likely show no symptoms when contracted. Nearly 30 million people in the United States are living with herpes, and roughly 500,000 new cases develop annually - most likely due to the fact that it is so often unknowingly spread (Herpes Clinic). Herpes simplex is highly contagious and can easily be spread through either oral or genital contact (WebMD). Individuals with herpes may either develop visible cold sores on the lips or around the mouth, or harsh sores in the genital area. Many teens may have the disease and not be able to figure it out soon enough to spare any potential partners, due to the fact that most do not feel comfortable discussing sexual issues with parents, let alone health experts. In cases of genital herpes, prevention is possible with the proper use of condoms, but is not always guaranteed.

HEPATITIS C VIRUS

Another devastating result of unprotected sex is the transmission of the deadly hepatitis C virus. It is the most common of blood-borne infections in the United States (American College of Gastroenterology). Though this virus is mostly contracted through the practice of sharing needles, blood transfusion, or other exposure to infected blood, the risk of passing it on is still present when having sex without protection or with numerous partners. It can sometimes be passed from infected mother to child during childbirth, which has lead many organizations in the country to support the screening of young women who are hoping to conceive. One of many various strains of hepatitis, the C virus attacks the liver, and then leads to severe inflammation. If the virus remains untreated for too long, the inflammation can lead to complete liver failure and possibly death (Medicine Net). This disease will not always reveal its symptoms, if any at all, to the carrier. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that there are nearly 30,000 new cases of hepatitis C annually in the United States alone. Additionally, it is believed that there are between 8,000 and 10,000 reported deaths in the United States each year resulting from hepatitis C (Right Diagnosis). There is currently no cure.

While it is widely known that the main cause of hepatitis C infections is the use of shared needles among drug users, there is not enough national support in the United States to embody the practice of needle exchange programs. Needle exchanges are government-funded operations that offer clean, sterile needles to drug users to reduce the urge to share needles between users. Congress has been obstructing any progress toward establishing these programs as staple health care facilities since 1988. The program has already met success in outside countries, with the first needle exchange program being established in Amsterdam in 1984 (HCV Advocate). There is no doubt that such a practice is effective in lowering the spread of both hepatitis C and HIV - both of which are incurable (Avert). Sickeningly close to the religious argument about how condoms supposedly promote wild, careless sex among teens, needle exchanges have faced much religious opposition stemming from the claim that supplying clean needles will provoke people to use illegal drugs. This makes no sense, due to the fact that free will does exist. Unfortunately, drug use will occur no matter who protests about it, just as teens will naturally be curious about sex - no matter how they are educated about it.

SEXUALLY-TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND CANCER

Children and teens instructed about sexual health (or lack thereof) under religious tactics and abstinence-only programs are at risk not just for pregnancy, treatable infections or life-long diseases, but are made prone to death from cancers. As stated before, some STDs, if left untreated, can ultimately lead to cancer of the prostate, cervix, and other sexual organs. Rather than properly instruct teens about the availability and use of condoms and birth control, the Church would rather carry on in the false belief that preaching about abstinence will save people from poverty, immorality and diseases like HIV/AIDS. The Catholic Church has argued that condoms are not at all effective in the prevention of HIV and AIDS, stating that the AIDS virus is significantly smaller than the average sperm cell, and therefore easier to spread through the material (Wikipedia). So, they are implying that by teaching abstinence, that people will suddenly forget about sex and no longer need condoms - simultaneously lessening their chance of contracting a deadly disease. Very effective!

The incurable human papilloma virus, HPV, is not only the most frequently transmitted STD is the United States, but is susceptible to evolving into cervical cancer if left untreated. According to The National Cancer Institute, HPV strains 16 and 18 are responsible for nearly 70% of all cervical cancer cases. HPV that is untreated has also been shown to develop into anal, oral and penile cancers. In addition, individuals who have both genital herpes (simplex-2) and HPV are doubly prone to developing cervical cancer (WebMD). Men who have had the common STD trichomoniasis, another infection that often shows no symptoms, are more prone to developing prostate cancer later in life (WebMD).

Continuing to resist comprehensive sex education, especially when it comes to STDs and prevention, is literally a life-or-death issue in this country.

HIV, AIDS, AND RELIGIOUS OPPOSITION TO PROGRESS

(Chart via Lahash International)

Though preventative resources, funding, and knowledge are spreading, the fight against HIV/AIDS is still facing much resistance from the religious right. Since Christian politicians and educators are widely against the teaching of contraceptives or condom use, this vital information is being left out, and ultimately allowing an epidemic of ignorance to continue to kill millions of people worldwide. Some Roman Catholic churches openly shame condom use even between heterosexual partners, and deny that condom use is a valid protection against the spreading of HIV. Protestants also agree with this bizarre notion, stating that promoting the use of condoms as a means of HIV prevention is encouraging people to go and have copious amounts of premarital sex. Orthodox Jews also describe an invisible link between sexual "immorality" and HIV (Wikipedia) , as if the disease is supposed to be some sort of designated punishment from God himself for sexual people.

Unnatural, Christian views of sex are killing people left and right. In America, the problem persists as right-wing conservative groups continue to fight against scientific, proven methods of HIV prevention in lieu of a strict religious education that completely avoids the discussion of condoms, and instead focuses on a very diluted sense of morality. By preaching to people about remaining chaste and warning them not to have sex for the sake of God, they are not helping anybody, they are simply continuing a war on civilian lives by refusing to grasp the truth. The religious right in America is twice as criminally guilty for this HIV murder spree, as they have made successful efforts to import their twisted, hateful views on sexuality to outside countries, namely Uganda, for example (The Body). Here in the states, legislation promoting the battle against the diseases has dealt with much opposition, a great deal of which was upheld by the Bush era (The Guardian). An administration highly influenced by the Christian right, Bush blocked proposals for AIDS combative legislature, highlighting issues with its condom distribution as well as the mention of needle exchange programs. Though the religious opposition is still alive and well, President Obama is positively in support for updated and effective policy against HIV/AIDS, and is working to circulate more open views of the disease and its prevention worldwide (The White House).

TWO U.S. SURGEON GENERALS IN SUPPORT OF COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED,
AND POLITICAL OPPOSITION

When there is more support for sex rights and comprehensive sex education coming from the right-wing than the liberal left, that is a huge red flag that something must be wrong nationally. Generally, those who politically oppose any type of sex-positive legislation are among the conservative right. However, even those on the uptight right can sometimes put their religious reasoning aside enough to support healthy developments in sex education and legislation in regards to the sex industry. One famous conservative who dedicated his time, energy and political power to increasing the nation's education about sexual health and prevention methods was former U.S. Surgeon General, Everett Koop. Though he was, at one point, a rising figure in the Christian pro-life movement, he switched gears and generated attention from both sides when he publicly fought for AIDS awareness and real sex education.

Koop, a pediatric surgeon, served as the 13th Surgeon General of the United States from 1982-1989. Though he was nominated by Reagan and originally opposed by many liberal health groups, Koop would become one of the most important voices in power for issues like AIDS, HIV and abortion. Koop served as the Surgeon General at a time when HIV was first starting to catch the attention of American health officials and simultaneously killing off a rising number of civilians. In 1986, Koop was authorized to release a report on AIDS. Two years later, in 1988, he made the decision to mail information about AIDS to every household in America, regardless of what his colleagues had to say about it. This was one of the largest mailings in United States history, and also the first time that explicit, comprehensive information about sex had been circulated to the public. Though it was a valiant effort to open people's eyes to the dangers of AIDS, it offended a number of people on a lot of different levels. Of course, Koop's conservative colleagues were angered at the fact that the information contained descriptions of condom use, and again raised the argument that this would result in widespread promiscuity (National Library of Medicine). The information Koop circulated may not have been completely polished or fool-proof, but the most important thing is that it introduced sheltered American minds to the reality of the disease that has been allowed by the religious right to kill its people.

In his same 1986 report on AIDS awareness, Koop made a truthful, vital statement about the need for revamped sex education, and the dangers of the closed-minded system: "There is now no doubt that we need sex education in schools and that it [should] include information on heterosexual and homosexual relationships," he wrote. "The need is critical and the price of neglect is high. The lives of our young people depend on our fulfilling our responsibility (NNDB)."

Koop was obviously a firm believer in comprehensive sex education, much to the dismay of the Administration. He was a religious man himself, but did not deny the science behind proven causes and methods of prevention for AIDS and other transmitted diseases. His documentation on AIDS may have not been perfect, but what it did offer to people was a clear-cut, wide-open view of sex, protection, and consequence, with no filter or moral censorship. Koop knew that in his fight against this disease, and given his superior position, it was necessary to put his own beliefs of sex and morality on stand-by to focus on distributing the best (and most comprehensive) information possible to inform American citizens of how to protect themselves. He provided a balance between religion and science that more politicians and individuals in power need to practice to beat this disease.

After Koop's legacy, one surgeon general did not receive much praise for her efforts to bring public awareness to matters of sexual health and drug use. Joycelyn Elders, who served as the U.S. Surgeon General from 1993 to 1994 under the Clinton administration. Her role as general did not last very long, as she was ousted by conservative groups for her frank discussion of sex and her efforts to distribute contraceptives in public schools (Wikipedia). Elders was known for having and promoting very natural views of sex, masturbation, and recreational drug use, all of which put a huge target on her back in the eyes of conservative America. However, it wasn't just the Republicans who wanted her forced out of her position, but criticism came from certain Democrats as well. As Clinton and his administration shifted to more conservative views, the open-mindedness of Elders was seen as a threat - enough of a threat to remove her from her position (New York Times).

The Clinton administration specifically treated Elders as if she was spreading misinformation or putting children in danger. Elders, who was fired by Clinton over a phone call, said that it was a compilation of her realistic comments on sex that caused her to lose her position, not just one statement. The comment that pushed the hypocritical envelope for the Administration was one regarding the teaching of masturbation and condom use to elementary school children. During a discussion about AIDS prevention, Elders was asked about why she believed masturbation should be talked about with children, and how it could avert them from more dangerous activities: "I think that it is something that's part of human sexuality and it's part of something that perhaps should be taught," Elders explained. "But we've not even taught our children the very basics. And I feel that we have tried ignorance for a very long time and it's time we try education (Los Angeles Times)."

You'd think that Elders had announced that she believed in unprotected, mass orgies between schoolchildren the way that people responded so harshly. This woman believed in educating people about sex in order to benefit their lives and the overall sexual health of a nation, and not wasting any more time entertaining mindless approaches that only keep youths at risk. As a presidential candidate, Bill Clinton spoke pretty openly about addressing AIDS, stating that children "should be told in blunt, clear, but sensitive terms how people get AIDS and how to avoid it (Act Up NY)." So, as soon as a surgeon general is appointed who believes in comprehensive sex education and the saving of children, she is fired?

The fact that both Koop and Elders received scrutiny for their efforts as opposed to applause and support is truly sickening. These individuals were not supporting some kind of sexual free-for-all mentality, in which health doesn't matter. Both surgeon generals took on a natural, helpful view of sexual matters, and were treated as if they were poisoning the minds of young America. In reality, their efforts are the kind we need in order to save lives. Preaching abstinence only education and telling kids to wait for marriage is not going to reduce the amount of STDs transmitted, nor will it do a thing to ease the rising numbers of unplanned teen pregnancies or HIV contractions. The only thing that will save America's youth is comprehensive sex education that does not teach them to be reckless, but simply aware of what they are doing, and the possibilities that surround unprotected (and even protected) sex.

SICKENED SEX EDUCATION IN AMERICA

In the United States, sex education in public schools is an absolute nightmare. Seeing as this country has the highest teen pregnancy rate out of any developed country of the world, it is obvious that the current system is not just failing people, but endangering them. In 2010, it was discovered in a study by the Guttmacher Institute that the teen pregnancy rate reversed its decline in 2006, at the time when the Abstinence Only campaign was at a peak in the United States (Wikipedia). The religious right is achieving the complete opposite of its supposed goal to keep teens "safe" from sex, and is literally killing people with its insistent fight to teach youths to wait until marriage as opposed to the facts about pregnancy and STDs. What is worse is that the liberal left, which supposedly stands for human rights and the protection of people, is just as guilty when it comes to promoting and funding the fight against comprehensive sex education. Since the 1970s, the liberal establishment has been equally engaged in promoting an anti-sex, hypocritically pristine agenda that has been obstructive on the road to progress for sex rights. Clinton, who is obviously a sexual man himself, continued during his presidency to increase government spending on the promotion of abstinence-only sex ed. He increased the spending in 2000, and any state receiving federal funding was subject to following very the strict, misleading guidelines of biased, abstinence-only education (International Planned Parenthood Federation).

A study of federally funded abstinence-only school education programs pointed out that a startling 80% of curricula financially supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services contained false or misleading information about sexual health, including misinformation about the risks of abortion, the effectiveness of contraceptive methods, and religious beliefs as scientific fact (Advocates for Youth). Teachers around the country are permitted to teach sex education from a biased point of view, whether it is religiously biased, or otherwise edited based on student demographics. An article by the Huffington Post lays out in detail the horrors of abstinence-only education in America, as well as other forms of reproductive education that fall short in educating our youth. The realities are frightening, and they will only continue to grow worse if conservative views from both liberals and right-wingers are not removed from educational policy.

The above map is just one shred of disheartening information about the status of sex education in our country. In the red-colored states, there is no law requiring sex education, so one can only imagine the type of information (or lies) that a student might learn about sex in one of these locations. Some of the same marked states above, including Texas, state that if sex education is provided by the school system, it mist include information on abstinence, but not a thing about contraception. That explains why in 2008, Texas, a mainly conservative, Bible-belt state, was ranked number 3 out of 51 states as having the third-highest rate of teen pregnancy in the country (Office of Adolescent Health).

The majority of our states do not require medically accurate education about sex or HIV, meaning that the majority of our youth is at major risk not just for unplanned pregnancies and harmful STDs, but also death. It comes as no surprise, seeing as many politicians and religious groups would rather deny the effectiveness of condoms in the prevention of HIV than to actually teach kids how to use them - and how a condom could possibly help save their lives.

SEX EDUCATION ABROAD

When it comes to being outride prude about comprehensive sex education, the United States is on a plane all its own. Religion has managed to contort realistic views and teachings of sex to the point where our country has become outright delusional about healthy sex education. In most other developed countries, the talk about sex is not guarded or watered down for young minds that need to know. European countries have been known to have a more realistic, sex-positive view than most other countries. In the United Kingdom, students begin learning about sexual health issues as early as elementary school, and most techniques are not sugar-coated and cleaned-up like they are in the States. In many schools, the real-life lessons start as early as age 5 (The Body). Classroom materials from the BBC have been described as "lewd," since the videos and lessons often expose adult sexual relationships with no filler. Much of the lessons are condom-based and fully comprehensive. Though many parents in this region are not fully supportive of the school system's raw approach at sex education (Daily Mail), the benefits can be proven in the statistics. No country is perfect, but it is clear that countries that practice comprehensive sex education end up with lower rates of unwanted pregnancies. The United Kingdom is in second place behind the U.S. when it comes to teen pregnancies, but the number is dramatically lower.

While comprehensive sex education certainly cannot be 100% fail-proof, it leaves teens and children much more knowledgeable and prepared for the events that may or may not occur in their teen years. In Australia, there is also a direct approach to sex education taught in elementary schools, secondary schools and colleges. Like the United Kingdom, condom use, protection, STIs and peer issues are covered thoroughly by instructors and the benefits have been obvious (Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society). The fact will never change that teens will naturally feel inclined to experiment and have sex well before marriage, but with extensive, uncensored sex education, school systems can at least continue to decrease the number of teenage parents and young minds left in the dark about their bodies.

HARMFUL TO MINORS? MORE LIKE DEADLY TO MINORS

The country's ignorance when it comes to the teaching of comprehensive sex education in public schools is not saving anyone. It is keeping people - especially the younger generations - in danger. Judith Levine, in her book Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children From Sex, illustrates the real hazards of hiding real sex education from young people. She weighs in on all of the most important issues when it comes to the backwards world of sex education in America, including AIDS awareness, abstinence-only teachings, abortion, gender, and statutory rape laws. Critics have slammed the book, insinuating that its main message is one of pedophilia, which could not be further from the truth. The overall theme of the book is a very healthy one, that the sexual lives of young people should not be condemned or treated as inhuman or immoral, and that America's youth deserves to know the truth about all sexual matters for the sake of their health.

After the sexual revolution of the 1960s and 70s, ideas about sex made a complete turn from being generally open-minded to being extremely constricted and somewhat prude. Though the revolution at that time was not necessarily a safe one (free love, excessive drug use, etc.), it did harbor open views about sex and even included the sexual education of young people. In the decades that followed, the Christian right managed to successfully change the minds of Americans and reverse the progress of positive sex education. The religious right has been tirelessly battling against comprehensive sex education, and instilling the poisonous method of abstinence-only sex ed in public schools. Levine acknowledges the role of religion in the anti-sex war in America, but also recognizes that it is not the only force at fault. Speaking on the matter, she said, "The right won, but the mainstream let it. Comprehensive sex educators had the upper-hand in the 1970s, and starting in the 1980s, they allowed their enemies to seize more and more territory, until the right controlled the law, the language, and the cultural consensus (Alternet)."

RESOURCES FOR TEEN PREGNANCY AND SAFETY

THE DANGERS OF ABSTINENCE-ONLY SEX EDUCATION

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STAY TEEN

PREGNANT TEEN HELP

RESOURCES FOR STD PREVENTION AND AWARENESS

TEEN SOURCE

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HERPES HELP

INFORMATION ABOUT HPV VACCINE

CONDOM USA [FREE CONDOMS]

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