The majority of Ohioans support comprehensive sex education programs, and yet, when Governor Ted Strickland proposed a budget that would reject abstienence only until marriage funding, our Ohio Representatives added in $1 Million ($500,000 each year) in taxpayer money to fund the programs that aren't working to reduce teen pregnancy in our state.

The anti-choice extremists who can't even support arming our students with facts to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections and who favor dangerous abstienence only until marriage programs laced with fallacies and religious doctrine have been busy lobbying their elected officials.

Now is the time for the majority of Ohioans to stand up and be heard. Please contact your Ohio Senator, who is reviewing the proposed budget now. Let them know that you want them to reject abstinence only programs in favor of comprehensive sex education funding.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a member of your district, a supporter of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio, and a concerned taxpayer, I am writing to you today to ask that you reject abstinence only until marriage funding in this year's budget.

A recent poll, conducted by Quinnipiac University, shows that 71% of Ohioans support an "Abstinence-Plus" approach to teaching sexuality education, an approach that integrates promotion of abstinence for school-aged youth with education on contraceptives and condoms.

The study went on to find Ohioans support Governor Strickland's position to reject abstinence only funding by a significant margin of 51% to 40%. Among Ohioans with children in public schools, the percentage of Ohioans supporting the Governor's decision increases to 53%, with only 38% in opposition.

I urge you to represent the majority of Ohioans who favor medically accurate, comprehensive sex education and to reject budget provisions that would provide for abstinence only funding.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 16, 2007