Senator Golden Supports Abstinence Education, Criticizes State Cut in Funds

Speaking at the recent Healthy Respect Medical Symposium in Brooklyn, New York State Senator Marty Golden said that the "crisis surrounding teen sexual activity" has serious negative effects on "our society, our culture and our future." Abstinence until marriage education programs such as Healthy Respect are performing a great service in bringing a positive and hopeful message to young people and giving them the skills to avoid the pitfalls related to teen sexual activity, he said. (Click here for full text of Senator Golden's remarks.)

Talking to Healthy Respect a few days after the September 17th medical symposium, Senator Golden commented on the decision of New York State to cut off more than $3 million dollars in federal Title V abstinence education funds. (See Healthy Respect's statement on this issue.)

"When was the last time New York State turned back money from the federal government?" Senator Golden said. "It's not that abstinence hasn't worked here in the state."

He said that the rejection of abstinence education funds was a politically motivated decision and not one based on the facts. "Abstinence education works and it must be promoted in our schools and our communities," he said.

Abstinence Makes a Difference

"It is estimated that each year, 750,000 teenage women become pregnant between the ages of 15-19, with teen pregnancy and abortion rates among the highest here in New York State, with 50 percent or more of teenage pregnancies resulting in abortion," Senator Golden said at the medical symposium. "Further evidence points to the fact the teens are at high risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease."

Efforts to promote abstinence serve two important purposes, he added. They help prevent teen pregnancy and all the negative outcomes it has for teens, newborns and society; and abstinence programs help stem the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

He also cited statistics that teenage mothers are one- third less likely to complete high school, and that only 1.5 percent of them have a college degree. Children of teen mothers weigh less at birth and suffer abuse or neglect at higher rates than other newborns. The sons of teen mothers are 13 percent more likely to be incarcerated later in life and the daughters are more likely to become pregnant as teens.

In promoting abstinence among teens, Senator Golden said, "We are taking a stand that society here in America, that life here in New York, that here in Brooklyn, we want to cultivate a culture that limits" teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. "Healthy Respect, through its programs, has spread this message, so we are making a difference and we must continue to do so."