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178606 Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs and their Impact on LGBTQ Communities

Monday, October 27, 2008: 3:30 PM

Catherine E. Morrison, MPH , Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), Washington, DC
William A. Smith , Public Policy Office, Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US (SIECUS), Washington, DC
Audio (mp3) recording Multimedia recording
Background: The federal government funds abstinence-only-until-marriage programs at the expense of comprehensive, scientifically based sexuality education. Newer policies geared towards the promotion of heterosexual marriage further stigmatize LGBTQ youth. Compounding the issue, research shows LGBTQ youth are more vulnerable to harmful behavior, harassment, and discrimination at school than their heterosexual counterparts.

Purpose: This presentation will detail those discriminatory policies and abstinence-only-until-marriage curricula. To counter these programs, strategies to promote proactive policies free of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity are included.

Methods: The Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage and Community Based Abstinence Education programs provide monies based on a strict 8 point definition of “abstinence education.” A series of case studies will be presented from both funding streams which highlight the discriminatory nature of these programs towards LGBTQ youth.

Discussion/ Results: Discrimination towards LGBTQ youth cannot be tolerated. Educators and policymakers need information on the harmful abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and their impact on LGBTQ youth. Educators, parents, and families can help advocate for proactive policies to ensure the health and well being of all youth.

Learning Objectives:
To gain a basic knowledge of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and marriage promotion policies and how these programs discriminate against LGBTQ populations. To gain knowledge of how recent reports and evaluations on abstinence-only-until-marriage policies can be used to advocate for comprehensive sexuality education at the state and local levels. To develop advocacy skills to educate the community to address policies related to LGBTQ youth and comprehensive sexuality education.

Keywords: School-Based Programs, Sexuality

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Currently serve as State Policy Coordinator at The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) and hold a Master of Public Health in Health Policy.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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