Victory in St. Lucie: Local Planned Parenthood Applauds School Board Members

West Palm Beach, FL—Planned Parenthood of Greater Miami, Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast would like to applaud the St. Lucie County School Board members for approving the Get Real About AIDS sex education curriculum last night.

“Teenagers need to know how to protect themselves against unintended pregnancy and HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. They need the right information to make responsible decisions,” said Lillian Tamayo, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood Greater Miami, Palm Beach and Treasure Coast. “This is a step in the right direction. Let this set the example for all the school boards in Florida.”

Evaluations of comprehensive sex education programs show that these programs delay the onset of sexual activity, reduce the frequency of sexual activity, reduce the number of sexual partners, and increase condom and contraceptive use. In addition, these programs do not encourage teens to become sexually active.

American teens need honest, accurate information to help them both postpone sexual activity and to protect themselves if they become sexually active. It is irresponsible to withhold information from teens that can protect them from unintended pregnancy and dangerous diseases--and that may just save their lives.

According to a recent University of Florida study, the state currently has NO statewide standards for teaching sex education. We need statewide standards so all teens learn the facts about sex from trusted responsible sources. “Planned Parenthood encourages parents to contact their local school board members and urge them to adopt comprehensive sex education across the state of Florida,” says Tamayo.