Don't Agonize, Organize...

I stole the title for this post from BAC, over at Yikes. I don't think she'll mind.

So, after feeling wilty for a while, I got mad and swirled into action.

This is me, calling congress about the impending increased funding of ineffective, amoral abstinence-only education programs.

With friends like these, who needs conservative Republicans?

James Wagoner, of Advocates for Youth, says it so well, at RH Reality Check:

"Today, the House Democrats will waltz into the mark-up of the Labor HHS Subcommittee and proudly present a bill that puts their stamp of approval on domestic abstinence-only-until-marriage programs—an ideological boondoggle that threatens the health and well-being of America's youth.

The most appalling aspect of this sell-out is that that the Democrats will not only fully fund the worst of the failed abstinence-only-until-marriage programs—they'll give them a $27 million increase—the first in three years!

Shame on Congressman David Obey for brokering this "deal;" shame on Congresswoman Nita Lowey for agreeing to it; and shame on those other Democrats on the Appropriations Committee who have already promised not to offer any amendment that would cut funding for abstinence-only programs and thus "upset" the deal.

In one inglorious motion, the Democrats have sold the health and well-being of young people down the proverbial drain, delivered a public slap in the face to evidence-based public health, and made a mockery of their "prevention first" message.

Consider this irony. The first domestic policy the Democrats will endorse on the prevention front will be to fund abstinence-only-until-marriage programs for young people up to the age of 29! ..." read more; it's worth your time

"Now is the time for advocates to hold these Democrats accountable. It would be the height of hypocrisy to go mute when this kind of damage is done to young people because "our friends" are in power."

TAKE ACTION!

Sigh...and a CALL TO ACTION

This is how I feel, having heard that Congress appears poised to increase funding for domestic abstinence-only education, despite a recent report showing that it is ineffective and deprives our youth of life-saving information about prevention of unintended pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

I agree with what this commenter at the RH Reality Check blog says about the democrats:

"They are trying to dodge responsibility for capitulation on the war in Iraq, but they have just capitulated on one of the easiest issues to deal with in the Culture Wars."

TAKE ACTION HERE !

I love it when they overreach!

When the federal governent funds abstinence-until-marriage for 19-29 year olds...they almost make it too easy to mock them! Although, Advocates for Youth did a spectacular job with this ad.




The "pet your dog, not your date" stuff is for real. You could (if you wanted to) actually purchase a t-shirt (at new, reduced prices!) that says "Pet your dog, not your date" from the Abstinence Clearinghouse (sorry, no linky).