March 25, 2008 Vol. 14. No. 9

In This Issue:

1. TAKE ACTION: Sex Ed Needs Your Voice
2. In The News: Parents Support Sex Ed in Minnesota
3. In The News: One in Four U.S. Teen Girls Has an STD
   
   

TAKE ACTION: Sex Ed Needs Your Voice

Contact Your Legislators Today!

Send an e-mail message of support for sex ed to your Representative and Senator today. We know that those who oppose sex ed legislation contact their elected officials often. This makes it even more important that legislators hear a strong message of support for this issue from us.

Click here to find your Representative and Senator.

E-mail addresses can be found at www.house.mn and www.senate.mn.

Suggested talking points:

• HIV is primarily spread through sexual contact therefore educating young people about sexual health, including abstinence, is critical.
• Sex education helps young people be safe and healthy. It provides information that Minnesota youth need to become responsible adults.
• The bill creates standards for medically accurate, age appropriate sex education for public school students in grades 7-12.
• Minnesota parents support and want sex education taught in public schools (view parent survey information at www.coalitionforsexed.org).
• Share with your legislator why this issue is important to you.
  

Sex Ed Legislation Update
Last week the Senate amended the Education Policy Omnibus bill (SF3001) to include sex ed. The House has passed HF0615 (the bill introduced in 2007) through K-12 Finance Committee and it should now move through two additional committees on its way to the House floor. Consistent language is found in both bills.

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In The News: Parents Support Sex Ed in Minnesota

The Healthy Youth Development Prevention Research Center at the University of Minnesota recently released their findings on support of sex ed among Minnesota parents. The research shows that parents support sex ed at very high numbers across religious, socioeconomic status, gender, age, race, and political orientation.

Click here to read the report.

See KARE-11's news coverage about the report here

Read Minnesota Public Radio’s coverage of the parent survey

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In The News: One in Four U.S. Teen Girls Has an STD

1 in 4 US teen girls has an STD according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Experts point to a lack of good sex education.

Click here to read the Associated Press article in the Star Tribune.

Listen to Minnesota Public Radio’s Coverage.

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Visit the HIV Action Network archive to see what you missed.

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For more information about what's of interest to you at the Minnesota State Capitol, visit the Web sites of our allies at OutFront Minnesota and Coalition for Responsible Sex Education .

The HIV Action Network email is published by the Minnesota AIDS Project every week while the Minnesota Legislature is in session, and bi-monthly during the rest of the year. It isavailable through the MAP web site mnaidsproject.org and through email list service. If you wish to receive the HIV Action Network email, visit our Join the HIV Action Network page, or contact MAP Public Policy by phone or email.

MAP Public Policy
Minnesota AIDS Project
1400 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404

612-373-2437
1-800-248-2437

public.policy@mnaidsproject.org

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Last Updated: Friday, April 4, 2008
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Content Notice: This site contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Since HIV infection is spread primarily though sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics. If you are not seeking such information or materials, please exit this Web site.