University of Florida Study Shows Current Sex Education is Failing Our Youth

On November 5th, the University of Florida released a study confirming what we already knew - it is time for Florida to replace ineffective abstinence-only programs with medically-accurate, age-appropriate comprehensive sex education.  Teens need and deserve responsible sex education that includes information about abstinence, AND about protection from diseases and pregnancy. 

YOU CAN HELP!  Sign the petition telling our legislators that the time has come for statewide standards so all teens learn the facts about sex from trusted and responsible sources.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Support Comprehensive Sex Education

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Yes! I support medically-accurate, age-appropriate comprehensive sex education in the classrooms. Teens need and deserve responsible sex education that includes information about abstinence, AND about protection from diseases and pregnancy.

Please ensure that teens have the information necessary to make responsible decisions by agreeing to co-sponsor the Healthy Teens Act.

Signed by:

Campaign Launched:
November 05, 2007


Background Information

Did you know? 

  • Florida has the 6th highest teen pregnancy rate with 48,440 teenage pregnancies annually.
  • Florida has the 2nd highest annual HIV infection rate with 4,960 new AIDS cases in 2005 and 100,809 cases overall.

  • In 2005, 47% of female high school students and 54% of male high school students in Florida reported ever having had sexual intercourse.

  • In 2005, 12% of female high school students and 21% of male high school students in Florida reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners.

  • And in 2006, Florida had 121,791 reported cases of sexually transmitted infections other than HIV/AIDS.

Without comprehensive sex education in the classrooms, Florida's teens are at a greater risk for unintended pregnancies and contracting sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS. 

Teens need and deserve responsible sex education that includes information about abstinence, AND about protection from diseases and pregnancy.

 

While we all hope that teens will wait to have sex, half of Florida teens have intercourse before they graduate high school. We need comprehensive sex education so even if a teen chooses not to wait they’ll still know how to be safe.