 |
IN FOCUS: ARTICLE |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Teaching Homophobia: Abstinence-Only Sex Education Programs
by Cindy Kuzma, 03.13.07
About one-third of LGBT students at schools with abstinence-only programs reported that they actually missed school in the past year because they didn't feel safe. |
|
There are lots of problems with so-called abstinence-only sex education programs. Studies show that they teach inaccurate medical myths, they don't provide information about safer sex, and they aren't effective at preventing unwanted pregnancies or reducing teens' risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) has identified yet another negative aspect of these programs — they might make school more dangerous for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ ) students. As part of GLSEN's most recent National School Climate Survey, 1,732 LGBT students age 13 to 20 from all around the country filled out a questionnaire. LGBT students who attended schools with abstinence-only programs
- were more likely to have been verbally harassed
- were more likely to have missed school in the past year because they felt unsafe
- had fewer supportive faculty or staff members
- were less comfortable talking one-on-one with adults at school
Why don't abstinence-only programs work for LGBTQ students?
Reason Number One
Abstinence-only programs don't provide information that LGBTQ students need about sex and relationships.
Steven, 19, says that the abstinence-only program at his high school just seemed like a way for teachers and staff to avoid talking about sex. Since most states don't allow same-sex marriages, telling lesbian and gay students to abstain until they are married is hurtful and doesn't really make sense. "They don't really care if you're having sex, they just say, 'You should wait until you're married.' And they don't care about your safety if you are having sex," Steven says. "For me, I still can't get married. I'm hoping that it will happen in my lifetime, but it's probably not going to happen soon."
Abstinence-only programs don't give details about using condoms or protecting against HIV/AIDS and other STIs. "The lack of sex education is not helpful in any way," says Catherine, 22, who has attended Catholic schools with abstinence-only programs for 16 years. "Concerned parents and teachers think they're sheltering children from harsh realities, but they're holding back information that could be life-saving to them someday."
Reason Number Two
Abstinence-only programs open the door to harassment.
Steven, like many of the teens who answered the GLSEN survey, frequently endured harassment at school. "When I was in high school, I don't think I went a day without hearing the word 'fag,' or 'that's gay,'" he says.
In the survey, about one-third of LGBT students at schools with abstinence-only programs reported that they actually missed school in the past year because they didn't feel safe there (compared with about 23 percent in schools without abstinence-only programs).
According to Joe Kosciw, research director at GLSEN and one of the authors of the survey report, all students need positive role models they can relate to. By excluding LGBTQ issues and images from discussions about normal and healthy sexuality, abstinence-only programs can push these students to the social margins. "It's important for students to have a voice, and if they think there are misrepresentations or if there is something in the curriculum that they want and aren't getting, they should feel empowered to talk to school personnel about what is important to them and what they want to learn," says Kosciw.
Reason Number Three
Abstinence-only programs promote discrimination by adults, too.
As the survey shows, abstinence-only programs also make it less likely that LGBTQ students will have an adult they can confide in — something that's important for all teens. At abstinence-only schools, 11 percent of LGBT students reported that they had no teachers or staff members who were supportive (vs. 8.5 percent of those in other schools), and only 36 percent of LGBT students at abstinence-only schools had more than six supportive adults at school (compared with 54 percent in other schools). At some schools, including one in Okeechobee County, Florida, school administrators cite abstinence-only policies when they turn down students' requests to form Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs).
Becca, 15, says the dean of her abstinence-only school told her it didn't matter that she was gay as long as she didn't "flaunt" it. About a month later, "the dean comes up to me and tells me it's getting around more and a parent had complained about it," she says. "So now she's calling my mom and is scheduling a meeting to talk about my 'problem.'" Becca is so miserable that she actually hopes she'll get kicked out of school.
What Can LGBTQ Students and Allies Do?
If your school has an abstinence-only sex education program, it can be tough to speak up about LGBTQ rights. However, harassment and threats should be reported to school officials or the police. You can also check out organizations like GLSN, OUTMINDS , and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network for helpful hints on ways to make your voice heard. |
|
|
|
Printable Version
Email this page