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 Abstinence Funds Chopped, Ryan White Money
Upped
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: June 21, 2007 - 7:00 pm ET
(Washington) A controversial federal program
that stresses abstinence outside heterosexual marriage has been chopped by $28.
million.
Previously, under the Republican Congress, the
federal government spent about $50 million annually on abstinence-until-marriage
education.
Participating states then provide $3 for every $4
they get from the federal government. Eight states decline to take part in the
grant program.
Critics have repeatedly said they don't believe
the programs are working.
In April a Mathematica Policy Research study
found that students who participated in sexual abstinence programs were just as
likely to have teen sex as those who did not. (story)
Critics also have said the programs isolate LGBT
youth.
"We
urge the Senate to maintain these funding cuts for abstinence education and
instead fund HIV prevention based on science and proven effectiveness,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe
Solmonese.
The
bill also provides approximately $31 million in additional funding for the Ryan
White CARE Act, including $25 million for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program.
"The
additional funding for the Ryan White CARE Act, while welcomed, unfortunately
does not make up for the years of neglect these programs have been forced to
endure over the past many years,” said Solmonese.
"HIV/AIDS
remains a crisis in our nation, especially among communities of color.
Although this is an important first step in turning around the pattern of
funding cuts, we urge the Senate to consider providing an additional increase
for Ryan White so that those on the front lines of the epidemic can meet the
significant need for lifesaving services."
©365Gay.com 2007
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