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Utah Bill Bars Sex Ed Unless It's Abstinence-Only

Schools must drop instruction if they want to talk contraception: bill

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 24, 2012 3:52 AM CST

(Newser) – A bill passed by Utah's House of Representatives gives schools a choice: Teach sex education that's all about not having sex, or drop sex ed. The bill, which allows schools to skip sex education, and bars those that keep it from discussing contraception, was passed 45-28 after a heated discussion about morality, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. All 17 of the chamber's Democrats voted against it, along with 11 Republicans.

Attempts to water the bill down and make sex education abstinence-centered instead of abstinence-only were defeated. Asked what an abstinence-only sex education course would involve, the bill's sponsor suggested lessons on friendship, dating, and love, reports the Deseret News. "Why don't we just be honest with our children and tell them right up front that sex outside of marriage is devastating?" he asked. The bill now heads for the state Senate.

"We owe it to our sons and daughters and to their future partners not to stick our heads in the sand," a Democratic opponent of the bill said. (Shutterstock)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 55 comments

Antone123

Feb 25, 2012 1:56 AM CST

Utah,you have a short memory,of all palces that should embrace sex education it is Utah. The home of polygamy and child abuse . Utah this is the 21st century move into it. I can't believe the people of Utah would accept this. People take back your State House and join the 21st century.

oldgoat

Feb 24, 2012 5:54 PM CST

Yeah I love this abstinance only thought. Really works great.. Now they can go through and again start to believe that you can't get preg the first time. Let's not at least give them the option of actually learning about something that can change their life. Then when all these new babies start showing up and the states start having to support them and the right to life stand on the sidelines saying heck no I'm not going to adopt these bastard children we'll see how this all works out. Geeze we're going back a hundred years because of the nut cases. I'm sure that all these people kept their legs closed and in their pants before they got married right?

Sterling_Archer

Feb 24, 2012 5:41 PM CST

F*cking conservatives! Take your unhealthy attitude towards sex and shove it up your a$$. This is what happens when conservatives run things. Their ignorance f*cks harms everyone.

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Utah Bill Bars Sex Ed Unless It's Abstinence-Only

Schools must drop instruction if they want to talk contraception: bill

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education • sex education • Utah • abstinence-only

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