By: James Wagoner
Date: 8 May 2009
Source: Advocates for Youth
President Obama released the first budget of his presidency which included the elimination of all funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programmes. Studies have shown that these programmes are ineffective despite the $1.5 billion the U.S. government has spent on them. Abstinence-only programmes often contain false or misleading information about condoms and contraception.
With this budget, President Obama fulfilled his campaign promises to return to science-based policies and to cut programmes that do not work. The question now is whether congress will follow through on this. As the budget process moves forward, it must be ensured that there is no "back door" route for these programmes to receive funding, and that support is built for comprehensive sex education that takes a holistic approach to the issues facing young people's sexual health.
