A new report this week tells us that "1 in 4 teenage girls have STDs." Let’s all take a moment to reflect on the continuing, life-altering, life-endangering consequences that abstinence-only programs continue to have on teenagers (you know, those future adults).

I like being thorough — having articles and links ready to make my point, laying it all out. But on this topic, at this point in time, is it really necessary for me to provide links to the countless articles and reports that have been done throughout the years that prove that abstinence-only education is a waste of time? Do I really need to tell you about the jump in teen pregnancy since Bush took office? Do you really need to be told that, even if teenagers delay having sex, eventually they need facts about their bodies, birth control, diseases, prevention, and consequences?

Last year a report came out that the rate of teen pregnancy had gone up for the first time since 1991. Does it take a genius to think that, gee, when Clinton was in office and high schools were giving out condoms for free, the teen birth rate went down, and with Bush in office tossing off the same old "just-say-no-condoms-don’t-work" crap, the teen birth rate has gone up? Are you seriously going to argue that?

Then came Harry Waxman’s comprehensive government report showing that abstinence-only teachings have cost 1.5 billion dollars and not had a single positive impact on teen sex lives.

Now we’re learning just how prevalent sexually transmitted diseases are among the teenagers who are going through life without medical facts, being told to not do it, yet battling their raging hormones, extremely sexualized media bombardment, and what they feel they want or need to do in their relationships. Some of them may in fact be technically virgins, but they’re performing other sex acts that expose them to diseases. And imagine — this report does not cover other, more serious diseases like gonorrhea or syphillis. This study also did not include teenage boys. And above all, this study did not cover the scarlet letters, the disease to end all diseases — AIDS. I truly do not want to know what such a study will show. And the next stop is AIDS. The diseases that they found in this study are either treatable or curable. AIDS is not. Even with all the medical advances that can prolong or improve life with HIV, there is no cure. It will kill you. It will affect your relationships in the future. It will endanger the life of the baby you may want to have. There’s no going back. Do we want to wait until we get to that point? Parents — can you hear me?

Do I sound angry? I am. I’m not a teenage girl. I’ve never had an STD. But damn it, this is an epic disaster in all our lives. A) Teenagers are being lied to or having facts withheld from them, facts that they need to lead stable, healthy, happy, responsible lives. B) This does not just affect teenage girls; it affects everyone — teenage boys, parents, their future children (if the STD does not rob them of their fertility first). C) This affects healthcare in our nation — negatively. D) This shows the irresponsibility and carelessness of our government, which continues to naively or cruely deny a thorough, comprehensive education. Reading, writing, ‘rithmetic, sex education — we use them all. Every day.

Do something about this. If you have a teenager, however uncomfortable, miserable, embarrassing, unpleasant it may be, it is your responsibility above all to educate your kids about sex. Hell, at the very least, if you cannot bring yourself to talk to them, give them books or printouts from legitimate sources, take them to doctors, something.

For those who do not have parents who care enough, know enough, or even exist, it then falls to our government and our teachers to give kids the facts they need — all of them. Yes, teach them to hold off — nobody wants young teenagers having sex. But if they cannot or will not abstain (and they won’t forever — they will reach adulthood, they will have relationships, they will get married), they need to know the facts to make the best decisions.

Everyone, with or without kids, can do something, too: contact your representatives. Tell them you think our children deserve better. Specifically, for those is Rhode Island, take action on Wednesday, March 19 at the state house. From the Planned Parenthood email:

Please contact the House Members of the Health, Education and Welfare committee to tell them that we need education programs in Rhode Island Schools that will keep teens healthy and safe by including information about abstinence as well as contraception, healthy communication, responsible decision making and prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

Join us at the Statehouse! Show your support for Comprehensive Sex Education and join us at the hearing.  Please contact Kristina Diamond or Jennifer Brister if you have an interest in preparing testimony for the hearing.

Health, Education and Welfare Committee Members:

Rep. Joseph M. McNamara, Chair
401-941-8319
mcnamara@rilin.state.ri.us

Rep. Peter T. Ginaitt, Vice Chair
401-732-2695
rep-ginaitt@rilin.state.ri.us

Rep. Arthur Handy, Secretary
401-785-8996
rep-handy@rilin.state.ri.us

Rep. Lisa Baldelli-Hunt
401-766-1679
rep-baldellihunt@rilin.state.ri.us

Rep. Grace Diaz
401-467-8413
rep-diaz@rilin.state.ri.us

Rep. Deborah A. Fellela
401-231-2014
rep-fellela@rilin.state.ri.us

Rep. Robert E. Flaherty
401-737-9385
rep-flaherty@rilin.state.ri.us

Rep. John J. Loughlin, II
401-625-9889
rep-loughlin@rilin.state.ri.us

Rep. Patricia A. Serpa
401-828-5687
rep-serpa@rilin.state.ri.us

Rep. Agostinho F. Silva
401-728-5473
rep-silva@rilin.state.ri.uss

Rep. Susan A. Story
401-245-5083
rep-story@rilin.state.ri.us

Rep. Raymond J. Sullivan
401-828-9207
rep-sullivan@rilin.state.ri.us

Rep. Peter N. Wasylyk
401-272-1854
rep-wasylyk@rilin.state.ri.us

Rep. Thomas Winfield
401-949-3356
rep-winfield@rilin.state.ri.us

The abstinence-only debacle has gone on long enough. It’s up to us to let our government, both local and national, know that it has to stop.  

Jennifer Leblanc