Feminist Majority Foundation: working for women's equality
Feminist News
Feminist Career Center
Take Action Online
Special Features
Feminist Calendar
Feminist Online Store
Feminist E-Mail Alerts
Donate to the Feminist Majority
Help Afghan Women
Sister Site: www.FeministCampus.org
Reproductive Rights
Women & Policing
Global Feminism
Emergency Resources for Women
Breast Cancer Center
Women & Girls in Sports
Feminist Research Center
Arts & Entertainment
Feminist Site Reviews
About FMF
Donate to the Feminist Majority Foundation
FMF Campaigns & Projects
For the Press
 

FREE Feminist EMail Alert
     

 

Feminist Daily News Wire
July 31, 2008

Abstinence-Only Funds Spent on Crisis Pregnancy Centers in KY

The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) published a report Tuesday on abstinence-only-before-marriage program funds in Kentucky. The report reveals that Kentucky received over $3 million in federal funding last year, but that the state continues to have high rates of teen pregnancy and HIV prevalence among African Americans.

Kentucky allocated the funding between local health departments and crisis pregnancy centers. Eleven of the 16 health departments use fear- and shame-based curricula, according to the report. SIECUS reports that the birth rate in Kentucky is almost 20 percent over the national average of 41.1 per 1,000 pregnancies. From 2005 to 2006, the teen birthrate in Kentucky rose 3.6 percent above the national average.

Kentucky has a statistically low prevalence of HIV compared to other states. However, the prevalence of HIV among African-Americans in Kentucky is staggering. African-Americans comprise 7 percent of the Kentucky population yet make up 34 percent of the new cases of HIV each year, according to a SIECUS report.

According to RHRealityCheck, Southern states receive over half of all monies appropriated to abstinence-only-before-marriage programs. In fiscal year 2007 Southern states received approximately $85 million for these programs.

SIECUS Vice President for Public Policy William Smith voiced his discontent with these policies, "It is time for Kentucky to join many other states in refusing this failed experiment of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. As long as funds are going to these programs that place ideology over what the evidence says works, young people and other underserved groups in Kentucky are going to continue to suffer," according to a SIECUS press release.

Media Resources: RHRealityCheck, 7/30/08; SIECUS Report, July 2008; SIECUS Press Release July 2008

Feminist.org: Your daily source for the feminist perspective on national and global events.

If you liked this story, consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Feminist Majority Foundation! Your contribution helps support the Feminist Daily News Wire.

Subscribe to the Feminist Daily News Wire

  

 

Get Feminist Email Alerts and Take Action!

Also In the News

7/10/2009 Afghanistan Amends Controversial Shia Law - Afghanistan's Justice Ministry yesterday released a revision of the controversial Shia law that legalized rape within marriage, among other provisions. . . .

7/10/2009 Senate Moves on Permanently Banning Global Gag Rule - The Senate Appropriations Committee passed an amendment to the foreign aid appropriations bill yesterday that would permanently ban the Global Gag Rule. . . .

7/10/2009 Irish Women Challenge Abortion Ban - Three Irish women are challenging Ireland's abortion ban in the European Court of Human Rights. . . .

 
   


Donate | About Us | Search | Shop | Home

© Copyright 2007, Feminist Majority Foundation