Blind Prophecy

Yesterday, President Bush made another speech praising abstinence until marriage sex-ed programs. For the first time, there may be statistical data to prove that abstinence programs are not effective and might actually encourage the spread of STDs. A study held over 6 years followed people who signed pledges saying they wouldn’t have sex until marriage. Some of the results:

• 99 percent of non-pledgers and 88% of pledgers have sex before marriage. Wow, a whopping 12% effectiveness in abstinence only training. Let’s sink billions of dollars into this proven strategy.

• 28 percent of female non-pledgers were tested for STDs in the previous year, compared to 14% of female pledgers. Well, we all know the best way to prevent the spread of disease is by remaining blissfully unaware of whether or not you have anything.

• Statistically, there was no important difference between the STD rates among pledgers and non-pledgers. Okay, so all the people who supposedly aren’t having sex are just as likely to have sexually transmitted diseases as people who are have sex… Never trust anyone no matter how innocent and virtuous they may act!

• 59 percent of males who did not pledge abstinence used a condom during sex; only 40% of male pledgers used a condom. Um, yeah…

• The study also found that in communities where at least 20% of adolescents pledged, the STD rates for everyone combined was 8.9% In communities with less than 7% pledgers, the STD rate was 5.5%.

So in summary, the kids who are being taught abstinence until marriage are almost as likely to have premarital sex, are much less likely to get tested for STDs, less likely to use condoms, and STDs continue to spread at the same fucking rate!

Wake up, America, and take off the fucking blinders! These stupid abstinence until marriage sex ed programs are in many ways less effective at preventing the spread of dangerous diseases. Let’s concentrate on teaching people to use latex barriers every time and we might actually slow the spread of life-threatening STDs.

Filed under: livejournal by Jere Keys