Warning: This article contains sexually explicit information that some readers may find offensive.
Christian Action League
Tuesday, the Christian Action League reported via an Urgent Action Alert that the Senate Mental Health and Youth Services Committee was calendared to consider SB 88 – The Healthy Youth Act (Sex Ed Bill) on Wednesday at 12:00 noon. That meeting was cancelled.
The Christian Action League also reported it was rumored that there would be an attempt in Committee to remove the changes the House made to the measure which made a bad bill a better one. In its original form, HB 88 provided for a two-track system where parents could choose between Abstinence until Marriage or Comprehensive Sex Ed, but Comprehensive Sex Ed would supplant Abstinence as the new standard for grades 7 – 9. The legislation amended and passed by the House, however, allowed parents at the beginning of the school year to choose between three options: Abstinence, Comprehensive or “neither,” with “neither” as the new standard by default. The Christian Action League has since confirmed some Senate members are pushing for the new standard to be changed back to Comprehensive Sex Education.
Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League noted: “Even though the constituency that makes up the Christian Action League could never give its blessing to a form of sex ed that we are convinced will do more to breed promiscuity than protect the health of our youth, nonetheless, perhaps one of the redeeming qualities of the measure passed by the House was that it didn’t supplant Abstinence with Comprehensive Sex Ed as the standard by default. Instead it made “neither” the standard, placing the decision for sex education – not with lawmakers or school administrators – but entirely with parents. Until or unless parents chose the curriculum they preferred for their child, the child would be sent to “neither” Abstinence nor Comprehensive Sex Ed. What can be appreciated about this approach is that in a matter as value-laden as sex education, the State is not saying one approach is necessarily superior to the other. Instead, what is being said is that the State is leaving this value-laden decision about sex-ed squarely with parents.”
Comprehensive Sex Education as the new standard by default would be a great set-back for sex education in North Carolina. The differences between Abstinence until Marriage and Comprehensive Sex Ed are fundamental.
Abstinence, which is the current standard, teaches:
- a mutually faithful monogamous heterosexual relationship in the context of marriage is the best lifelong means of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS
- abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain means of avoiding out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases when transmitted through sexual contact, including HIVAIDS, and other associated health and emotional problems
- abstinence from sexual activity is the expected standard for all school age children
- techniques and strategies are presented to deal with peer pressure and positive reinforcement
- reasons for remaining or becoming abstinent from sexual activity are presented
- explains the positive benefits of abstinence and the risks of premarital sexual activity
- the information provided when taught correctly is scientifically, biologically, and pathologically accurate
According to the National Guidelines Task Force, Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (2004-2006), in Comprehensive Sex Education children as young as 12 years old may be taught:
- gender identity may change over the course of a lifetime
- children may have a mother, a mother and a father, two mothers, two fathers, or any other combination of adults who love and care for them
- masturbation, either alone or with a partner, is one way people can enjoy and express their sexuality without risking pregnancy or an STD/HIV
- some sexual behaviors shared by partners include kissing; touching; talking; caressing; massaging; and oral, vaginal or anal intercourse
- people may have different ideas about what constitutes abstinence, from no sexual contact of any kind including kissing, to only abstaining from sexual intercourse, and all points in between
- a legal abortion is very safe
- having a legal abortion rarely interferes with a woman’s ability to become pregnant or give birth in the future
“The differences between Abstinence and Comprehensive Sex Ed classes are considerably more profound than just whether or not kids are exposed to information about condoms. There is so much more to it than that. Even though that’s the way the debate is often framed,” said Rev. Creech. “The differences in approach and the messages given are irreconcilable. I think when most parents really know what Comprehensive is about, they don’t like it.”
Concerned citizen Christians are urged to keep watching their emails for Urgent Action Alerts on this issue. The Senate could take up the measure anytime.