November 17, 2018
By Katherine Hignett
Stormy Daniels blasted the state of America’s sex education (click here) Thursday in a speech to the Oxford Union debating society.
The adult film actress—real name Stephanie Clifford—blamed a lack of shame-free advice for young people as being the cause of problems including unwanted pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
People that oppose “open and well-rounded sex education,” she added, “are fueling the very social problems they say they are trying to prevent.”
Daniels was speaking to an audience made up mostly of Oxford University students during an event entitled “Sex, Guns and Other Fluff: How Porn Can Set You Free.”
“Don't want abortions? Then help prevent unwanted pregnancies by teaching young people about their bodies in an honest, open and shame-free way,” she told the crowd.
“As a matter of fact, open, factual discussion about sex is the best way to prevent a whole bunch of social problems: STDs, assault, sexual dysfunction,” she said. “Maybe [even] having Donald Trump as president.”...
...Who Supports Sex Education? (click here)
Sex Education is widely supported by the vast majority of people in the United States. In Planned Parenthood’s most recent poll on sex education, 93 percent of parents supported having sex education taught in middle school, and 96 percent of parents supported having sex education taught in high school. The vast majority of parents support sex education in middle school and high school that covers a wide range of topics, including STDs, puberty, healthy relationships, contraception, and sexual orientation. Other national, state and local polls on sex education have shown similarly high levels of support.
Sex education is supported by numerous prestigious health and medical organizations including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Over 150 organizations are members of the National Coalition to Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education....
November 14, 2018
By Rekha Basu
...During a gubernatorial debate, (click here) Reynolds was asked what issue she would not compromise on. She answered, "Life.” Earlier this year Reynolds signed a law that makes most abortions illegal. The fetal heartbeat law, on hold pending a court ruling, bars abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. Now Maggie DeWitte, the spokeswoman for the Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders, says of their legislative priorities, “Our goal is to eliminate abortion, period.”
Let's look to the Dominican Republic, where abortion is illegal, period: Women and girls can be sent to prison for up to two years for inducing their own abortions. Medical professionals who perform them can get up to 20 years. Though prison is rare, according to an upcoming report by Human Rights Watch, the threats are effective in a country where nearly half of pregnancies are unplanned or unwanted. Women and girls interviewed by the nonprofit organization described being depressed, terrified, desperate, or trapped when they learned they were pregnant.
The worst affected are those from rural areas and of low income. The risks to life and health from illegal abortions are higher when the providers are underground. Abortion recipients told HRW of abuse, neglect and mistreatment by some providers. Some pregnant people use dangerous techniques to end their pregnancies such as denying themselves food or water. "One woman said she beat her belly with a concrete block," the report said. The country's public health ministry attributes 8 percent of maternal deaths to complications from illegal abortions or miscarriages. Twenty-five thousand women and girls seek medical attention for complications related to abortion or miscarriage each year....
The truth is the truth. There has been a reduction in teen pregnancy on a regular basis during the Obama years. There is no clear consensus as to the reason for the reductions, but, teens had access to information and contraception, including abstinence. Teens can make clear decisions to opt out of pregnancy when they have good and consistent information and not myths. This is the best path for women. Information and access to contraception. No one wants a woman or girl to face abortion, but, it has to be a part of the decisions women make. That is the facts.
CDC
Teen birth rates declined from 2014 to 2015 (click here) for all races and for Hispanics. Among 15- to 19-year-olds, teen birth rates decreased:
- 10% for Asian/Pacific Islanders
- 9% for non-Hispanic blacks
- 8% for Hispanics
- 8% for non-Hispanic whites
- 6% for American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN)
In 2015, the birth rate of Hispanic teens were still more than two times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic white teens. The birth rate of non-Hispanic black teens was almost twice as high as the rate among non-Hispanic white teens, and American Indian/Alaska Native teen birth rates remained more than one and a half times higher than the non-Hispanic white teen birth rate. Geographic differences in teen birth rates persist, both within and across states. Among some states with low overall teen birth rates, some counties have high teen birth rates.
Less favorable socioeconomic conditions, such as low education and low income levels of a teen’s family, may contribute to high teen birth rates. Teens in child welfare systems are at higher risk of teen pregnancy and birth than other groups. For example, young women living in foster care are more than twice as likely to become pregnant than those not in foster care....
