Protect women. Oppose abstinence only education.
Here is the letter I wrote to President Obama:
President Obama,
First, if you don’t have time to read this. (likely) Then please look here: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/2/13/132853/662/547/697109
You have a record of supporting age-appropriate sexual education and you work efforts on that front have been admirable. I’m asking you now to take a vital step toward a healthy society that has a real respect for women and their sexual independence. I’m asking you to stop all funding for abstinence only education. This is, first of all, not education. These programs chronically misinform or under-inform America’s youth about the realities of sex but most importantly they perpetuate a dangerous culture that tends to blame the victims of rape because of the unreasonable association between virginity and virtue. This association is taught in many abstinence only programs and I encourage you to review such programs, if necessary, as part of an effort to eliminate their federal funding.
Allow me to explain this connection. When young people are taught that a girl’s virtue is largely dependent on her virginity then it instantly becomes justifiable to look down on her for being or having been sexually active. This scorn has several negative effects on her life but perhaps the most severe is the view, common among many, (please pardon my language here) that a slut can’t be raped.
Rape is not uncommon in this society and the occurrence of rape is only increased when we accept, much less promote, any view which categorically calls into question a woman’s virtue. Our government has no place advocating and funding this barbaric values system. Please put a stop to it.
Sincerely,
Cyranicles
