The Utah legislaturehas passed an abstinence only sex education bill stressing sex should only happen between married, straight couples. They think the best place for Utah students to learn about any other kind of sex is from each other their parents.
Discussions on contraception and homosexuality are banned even if the student asks about it. They think comprehensive sex ed is best left for camp cabins at home with their parents.
Republican state Sen. Stuart Reid says,”To replace the parent in the school setting, among people who we have no idea what their morals are, we have no ideas what their values are, yet we turn our children over to them to instruct them in the most sensitive sexual activities in their lives, I think is wrongheaded.”
Reid thinks that Utah students from the 8th to 12th grade should discuss their most sensitive sexual activities with anyone but their parents.
Some lawmakers are speaking out. Republican Rep. Francis Gibson says, “I would hope as we make this decision, that we won’t think if we say abstinence only, that fairy dust will have been sprinkled and that teen pregnancy will no longer be a problem.”
He says that the abstinence only curriculum aren’t producing results in terms of lowering STD’s or teen pregnancy rates. Democratic Sen. Gene Davis voted against the bill saying, “I believe knowledge is the most important aspect in anyone’s lives. A child needs the right and correct answer.” The bill, HB363, passed through the senate with a vote 19 to 10 and is headed for Governor Gary Herber’s desk. Maybe if we just don’t talk about him signing it he just won’t do it. Yeah, that makes sense.
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