Hearing on Abstinence-Only - Siegel's Testimony

The Oversight Committee holds a hearing, "Domestic Abstinence-Only Programs: Assessing the Evidence" Federally-funded abstinence-only programs require the exclusive teaching of abstinence until marriage and prohibit teaching about condoms or other contraceptives — other than to discuss failure rates. These programs have received over $1.3 billion in federal funding over the past decade. Medical and scientific experts, as well as youth educators, will testify regarding the public health evidence of the effectiveness of abstinence-only programs and of more comprehensive programs. Max Siegel, Policy Associate at the AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth, and Families, gives testimony on his experience with abstinence-only programs as a gay youth.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Democrats
• Congress
• Abstinence
• Only
• Oversight
• Committee
• Hearing
• Henry
• Waxman
• Max
• Siegel

[IKillBabyKittensLOL]

Poor guy.

[NightHawkBomber001]

@MatsPT How is heterosexual or homosexual life style destructive? Are you suggesting that Bisexuality is the way to go?

[NightHawkBomber001]

@MatsPT A comprehensive sed ed program would teach about responsible sexuality. Talking about the advantages and dangers of sex, Different forms of sex. Give accurate information on contraceptives. And would defiantly mention abstinence as an option. One of many, rather than the only option.

Kids who get the abstinence only talk, are usually unaware of contraceptives so when they do fail the program they might also get a baby or STD as a parting gift too.

[NightHawkBomber001]

@MatsPT Actually My school had an Abstinence only policy so I am very familiar with it.

They said “if you have sex, there is a huge risk of getting and STD or Pregnant” followed by “Condoms are not 100% effective nor is birth control” And concluded with “Since it is a sin, and there is a huge risk don’t do it”

The whole point of the abstinence program is to stop teens from having sex. This does not work, so it is indeed a fault of the program.

[MatsPT]

@NightHawkBomber001 "The issue is that most who go through the program don’t follow it"

Then the problem is with them not with the program. You can't blame the program for things that the program doesn't teach. Abstinence doesn't teach against sex. Abstinence teach in favor of RESPONSIBLE sexuality. If you are sexuality promiscuos, then don't blame the abstinence program that you didn't follow for the consequences of your destructive lifestyle. Heterossexuals or homossexuals.

[NightHawkBomber001]

@MatsPT The issue is that most who go through the program don’t follow it. And since abstinence only programs  teach against sex and often don’t mention protection adequately yes the program is partly to blame

[sergiomats]

@k2113ra I would advise them to leave the homossexual practice, since it is unhealthy and auto-destructive. That's why many nations don't accept blood given my homossexual men. If he didn«t undesrtand the necessity of using a condo, then he shouldn't have hade homossexual sex. WHy didn't he follow the ABS program, and remained chaste, as he was taught? His AIDS is *his* own doing.

Man up, Siegel.

[k2113ra]

@sergiomats So what would you advise that gay men do? Remain abstinent their entire lives? That's clearly not realistic. That is the flaw in the abstinence-only program. Furthermore, he states he wanted to use a condom but did not fully comprehend the necessity of doing so because the education program didn't teach him how to have safe sex. Pay attention to what he says before you demonize him.

[sergiomats]

@k2113ra The fact that he cannot marry doesn't anul the *fact* that he caught AIDS because *he* decided to have sex without protection. ABS programs say "Don't have sex until you marry". He had sex before marriage. then his AIDS is *his* fault. If he had followed the program, he would never have caught AIDS. Talk about making your bed and not wanting to sleep over it. Grow up, Siegel.

[k2113ra]

@MatsPT Wrong. He could never follow the program because he cannot marry, unless you think that he should never engage in sexual activity, there was nothing he could do to prevent getting HIV based on the knowledge he received in that program.