Letter: Teen Pregnancy

May 6, 2009, The Miami Herald

Wednesday is the eighth annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and a reminder that our country and our state can do better. The U.S. teen birthrate has increased for the second year in a row. An estimated 750,000 American teens become pregnant each year. Florida's teen-pregnancy rate is the nation's sixth highest. <!--break-->

Florida's teen-birth rate also increased for the first time in 15 years and is 3 percent higher than the national average. Yet there are no statewide standards for sex education in Florida. Our teens get their information from peers or ineffective abstinence-only programs. A report by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States and the Healthy Teens Campaign found that abstinence-only programs in Florida provide inaccurate, outdated information, reinforce gender stereotypes and rely on fear and shame-based tactics to discourage sexual activity.

Florida teens need and deserve responsible sex education that includes information about abstinence and about protection from diseases and pregnancy. The Legislature owes it to our youth to pass the Healthy Teens Act.

LILLIAN A. TAMAYO, president/CEO, Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast, Inc., Miami