Healthy Youth Act Sails Through House Education Committee
3/10/2009 - This morning the House Education Committee voted 32-21 to give a favorable report to the Healthy Youth Act. Currently state law requires schools to offer abstinence-only education. The bill would help more students get accurate information about pregnancy and disease-prevention by giving parents the choice of abstinence-only education and abstinence-based comprehensive sex education. A member of the Healthy Youth NC coalition, Equality NC applauds this step forward. The bill now moves to the House Health Committee for consideration.
Rep. Bob England is the lead sponsor of the Healthy Youth Act
"Abstience-only policies are failing North Carolina teens. We believe every young person deserves complete, accurate information about how to protect themselves from disease if and when they become sexually active, and this bill is an important step in the right direction," said Ian Palmquist. "Telling lesbian, gay, and bisexual teens that their only option is to abstain until marriage in a state that denies them the option of marriage is completely unrealistic and puts lives at risk."
Speaking for the bill were Rep. Bob England, Rep. Susan Fisher, Rep. Winkie Wilkins and Rep. Alma Adams, the primary sponsors. Rep. Paul Stam and Rep. Marilyn Avila spoke out against the bill. Today's committee vote fell along party lines.
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