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Support the Healthy Teens Act
Florida's teens are at risk - thanks to ineffective abstinence-only programs that fail to provide our young people with the information they need to be healthy and safe.
A March 2009 study by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) and the Healthy Teens Campaign of Florida found that Florida’s laws concerning sex education for young people in public schools are woefully inadequate. Florida receives the 2nd highest amount of federal abstinence-only funding in the country – approximately $13 million.
Many abstinence-only programs in Florida provide inaccurate and outdated information, reinforce gender stereotypes, and rely on fear and shame-based tactics to discourage sexual activity. This is unacceptable.
Senator Ted Deutch (D-30) and Representative Keith Fitzgerald (D-69) have introduced the Healthy Teens Act (SB 220, HB 265). The Healthy Teens Act protects Florida’s teens by requiring that public schools receiving state funding provide comprehensive, medically-accurate, and age-appropriate factual information when teaching about sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, family planning, or pregnancy.
You can help. Tell your legislators to support the Healthy Teens Act!
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Support the Healthy Teens Act (SB 220/HB 265)
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I support efforts to ensure that all Florida teens receive comprehensive sex education. It is irresponsible to withhold life-saving information from our teens.
Florida teens need and deserve responsible sex education that includes information about abstinence, AND about protection from diseases and pregnancy. As a state, we cannot continue to invest in and promote abstinence-only programs that waste taxpayer dollars in the short-term and long-term. These programs have failed be effective in preventing unintended pregnancy and the spread of disease which wastes money now and costs the taxpayers later.
Our youth need comprehensive sex education that is age-appropriate, including the facts that help protect them from diseases that threaten their health. We need the Healthy Teens Act so all teens learn the facts about sex from trusted responsible sources.
Please protect the health and safety of Florida's teens by supporting the Healthy Teens Act (SB 220 by Sen. Ted Deutch (D-30) and HB 265 by Rep. Keith Fitzgerald (D-69)).
Sincerely,
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