National Opponents of Comprehensive Sexuality Education

This fact sheet contains a list of diverse national organizations that oppose comprehensive sexuality education. It is designed to provide a brief overview of each organizations’ mission and position on sexuality education, as well as the relevant resources each produces. All quotations are from the organizations’ own published materials or websites.

This list is not exhaustive, and there are many more state and local organizations with similar missions. For lists of these organizations by state, please visit the SIECUS State Profiles at www.siecus.org/policy/states/index.html.

Mission Statement

“The Abstinence Clearinghouse serves as an association for the abstinence community. The Clearinghouse is a non-profit educational organization that promotes the appreciation for and practice of sexual abstinence through distribution of age-appropriate, factual and medically-accurate materials.”[1]

Key People

Leslee J. Unruh, Founder and President
Dr. John Diggs, Medical Abstinence Council
Kimberly Martinez, Executive Director

History

“The Abstinence Clearinghouse officially became operational in 1997. It was formed to provide a central location where materials and training to effectively convey the abstinence-until-marriage message could be provided.”[2]

Sexuality Education Position

“Abstinence-until-marriage is much more than ‘just say no.’ It is reality-relationship education. Building healthy relationships is key to the overall message of abstinence until marriage. Unhealthy relationships have medical and emotional consequences. Understanding relationships and how to build them (developing true intimacy) is key to character issues of respect, honor and commitment. Understanding sexual progression is also necessary in order to establish boundaries in relationships. Abstinence-until-marriage education teaches the elements and skills needed in a healthy marriage.”[3]

Position Statement on Masturbation
“Abstinence Clearinghouse believes the focus of the marriage union is a shared intimacy between two people, a husband and a wife. The arousal response in individuals is the most easily trained response in the human body. Sexual self stimulation along with fantasy or pornography can actually train a person to bond to pictures, objects, ect., and may eventually leave the person unable to respond sexually to a real person. Sex therapists consider masturbation the first stage of sexual addiction for sex addicts. This practice should not be encouraged as a “safe” sexual practice."[4]

Position Statement on Homosexuality
“Abstinence Clearinghouse believes that emotional intimacy is an innate need for all people, but sexual activity does not replace true intimacy. Friendship with another person of the same sex is healthy, but does not need sexual activity to validate its importance. Research shows the homosexual lifestyle is not a healthy alternative for males or females. The male and female body are not anatomically suited to accommodate sexual relations with members of the same sex. Sexual practices in the homosexual lifestyle are considered very dangerous for disease, infection, ect. This lifestyle should not be encouraged as healthy or as an equal alternative to marriage.”[5]

Position Statement on Images in Educational Materials “Abstinence Clearinghouse believes it is unnecessary to use graphic images to teach age-appropriate sexuality education or abstinence education. Neurochemical science affirms all imagery is real to the brain whether the setting is scientific, educational or pornographic. Diagrams of internal organs are acceptable, but images or pictures of external genitalia in any form, whether diseased or healthy, can be determined [sic] to the health of young men and women’s minds."[6]

More position statements available at http://www.abstinence.net/blog.

Sexuality Education Resources & Activities

The Abstinence Clearinghouse produces numerous videos, cd’s, books, and brochures on sexual health and abstinence including Abstinence Clearinghouse Directory of Abstinence Resources and Abstinence Survival Kit (ASK!). In addition, “the Clearinghouse also houses the only Sex, Love and Relationship Store in the country, where posters, books, jewelry, pencils and numerous other items are available for purchase.”[7]

Additional Information

President Leslee Unruh is also the President and Founder of the Alpha Center, a crisis pregnancy center, which was housed at the same location as the Abstinence Clearinghouse. The Alpha Center provides abstinence programs (including Lady in Waiting and The Bride Wore White) to churches and schools, pregnancy testing, postabortion counseling, parenting classes, a speakers bureau, medical agency referrals, relationship counseling, a resource library, and sponsors events such as God, Mom & Me Teas, and the Memorial for the Unborn.

Unruh was also one of the leading proponents of and lobbyists for the South Dakota abortion ban that was signed into law by the governor, but failed to pass as a statewide ballot initiative in 2006.  For more information see: www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/abortion-access/leslee-unruh-6248.htm.

Mission Statement

“The American Family Association exists to motivate and equip citizens to change the culture to reflect Biblical truth.”[8]

Key People

Donald Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
Tim Wildmon, President

History

Founded as the National Federation for Decency in 1977, it became the American Family Association in 1988.

Sexuality Education Position

“Parents, we cannot afford to misjudge sin’s potential. Training should begin early. Boys must be taught to care for their eyes and mind. Girls must understand how easily they can become the object of pursuit—and that by lowering their standards and raising their skirts, they only fuel the imagination and drive of the opposite sex.”[9]

Sexuality Education Resources & Activities

The American Family Association publishes numerous articles, action alerts, and news summaries including the Agape Press News Summaries which are distributed daily via a listserv. These resources often focus on sexuality education. Some examples include the online article “My Adventures in Wonderland” and the “Action Alert: Pornography Awareness Week 2001: Series One: It’s About Sex.”

Mission Statement

“The mission of CWA is to protect and promote Biblical values among all citizens— first through prayer, then education, and finally by influencing our society—thereby reversing the decline in moral values in our nation.”[10]

Key People

Beverly LaHaye, Founder and Chairman
Wendy Wright, President
Matt Barber, Policy Director for Cultural Issues
Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, Executive Director and Senior Fellow of the Beverly LaHaye Institute (research arm of Concerned Women for America)

History

Founded in 1979 by Beverly LaHaye.

Sexuality Education Position

“We need to return to the time tested and honored principles of teaching virtue, selfrespect, self-control, responsibility, commitment, love, and marriage. By teaching our teenagers to say no to sex outside of marriage, we are giving them a chance to say yes to their goals and dreams. Concerned Women for America is committed to helping see those dreams become realities.”[11]

“Modern sex education curricula have already been proven misguided and inadequate. How much more disease, death and social disintegration do we have to encounter before we return to time-honored and tested principles? It’s time for the message of sexual purity to be sounded in the United States once again. Concerned Women for America is calling upon all legislators, parents, and educators to promote abstinence throughout this nation.”[12]

Sexuality Education Resources & Activities

Concerned Women for America produces numerous fax alerts, e-mail newsletters, videos, and press releases. (http://www.cwfa.org/library/_familyvoice/) These resources often focus on sexuality education and related topics. The following is a list of selected publications and resources.

On-line Articles

• “Sex Educators Not Telling Whole Truth”
• “SIECUS States Abstinence Program ‘Denies Life-Saving Information’”
• “New Welfare Law Backs Chastity”
• “SIECUS’s Prescription for Herpes?”

Additional Information

CWA opened the Beverly LaHaye Institute: A Center for Studies in Women’s Issues. “BLI, the research arm of Concerned Women for America, was established in May 1999 in recognition of the need for an organization solely devoted to conducting quality research on women’s issues from a conservative, faith-based perspective.”[13]

Mission Statement

“Eagle Forum’s Mission is to enable conservative and pro-family men and women to participate in the process of self-government and public policy making so that America will continue to be a land of individual liberty, respect for family integrity, public and private virtue, and private enterprise.“[14]

Key People

Phyllis Schlafly, President
Jessica Echard, Executive Director

History

Founded in 1972 by Phyllis Schlafly.

Sexuality Education Position

“We oppose and deplore the dumbing down of the academic curriculum through fads such as Outcome-Based Education and self-esteem courses, and we oppose liberal propaganda in the curriculum through global education and Political Correctness. We support parents’ rights to guide the education of their own children, to protect their children against immoral instruction and materials, and to home-school without oppressive government regulation. We oppose federal control of the public school classroom through Goals 2000, School-to-Work, national tests, or national standards. Eagle Forum was a primary factor in passing the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, and we strongly support its enforcement to protect children against psychological testing without parental consent….”[15]

Sexuality Education Activities/ Resources

The Eagle Forum produces a number of regular publications including the Phyllis Schlafly Report, the Phyllis Schlafly Column, Eagle Forum Capital Alert, and Eagle Forum Court Watch, as well as the “Phyllis Schlafly Live Radio Show.” These resources often focus on sexuality education. Eagle Forum also produces publications specific to sexuality education such as A Student’s Guide To Nosy Questions That Your School Should Not Ask You. The following is a list of selected articles that discuss sexuality education and related topics.

On-line Articles

• “New Sex Ed Guidelines Offer Moral Alternative to SIECUS”
• “Parents Reject Explicit Sex Education, Poll Shows”
• “Sex Questions on Illinois Test Cause Uproar”
• “Gay Agenda in Schools Riles Parents”
• “Abstinence-Until-Marriage Programs Grow in Popularity”
• “Modern Sex: Liberation and Its Discontents”

Additional Information

Eagle Forum also has local chapters that have historically participated in school board elections and sexuality education controversies.

Mission Statement

“The Family Research Council (FRC) champions marriage and family as the foundation of civilization, the seedbed of virtue, and the wellspring of society. FRC shapes public debate and formulates public policy that values human life and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family. Believing that God is the author of life, liberty, and the family, FRC promotes the Judeo-Christian worldview as the basis for a just, free, and stable society.”[16]

Key People

History

“The idea of the Family Research Council originated at the 1980 White House Conference on Families. Among the conferees, James Dobson stood out because of his rare combination of Christian social values and academic and professional credentials.... In 1983, the Family Research Council incorporated as a nonprofit educational institution in the District of Columbia; its founding board included Dobson and two noted psychiatrists, Armand Nicholoi Jr. of Harvard University and George Rekers of the University of South Carolina.”[17] Past presidents have included Gerry Regier, Gary Bauer, and Ken Connor.

Sexuality Education Position

“Teens are greatly influenced by the messages they receive about sex in school. Unfortunately, the majority of schools teach ‘safe sex’—-‘comprehensive’ or so-called ‘abstinence plus’ programs—believing that it’s best for kids to have all the information they need about sexuality and to make their own decisions about sex. Abstinence is downplayed while sexual activity and condom use are encouraged in these curriculums, because it’s assumed that children are eventually going to have sex.”[18]

The Family Research Council has also created talking points on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.  They can be found here: www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=IF06B01.

Sexuality Education Resources & Activities

The Family Research Council Produces numerous regular publications such as newsletters, books, and pamphlets, including Ed Facts, Culture Facts, Family Policy, Washington Watch, Insight, InFocus, Pocket Policy, and I.E. Teens Webzine. Many of these publications often focus on sexuality education. In addition the organization produces some publications devoted to sexuality education. The following is a selected list of such publications.

• Going the Distance (video, abstinence focused books and posters)
• Living It Out: A Teen’s Guide to Contemporary Issues

On-line Articles

• “Condoms Aren’t Completely Effective”
• “Safe-Sex Message is Flawed”
• “Abstinence Until Marriage: The Best Message for Teens”
• “Why the Sex ‘Experts’ Are Wrong”

Mission Statement

“To cooperate with the Holy Spirit in disseminating the Gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible, and, specifically, to accomplish that objective by helping to preserve traditional values and the institution of the family.”[19]

Key People

James C. Dobson, Ph.D., Founder and Chairman
Jim Daly, President and CEO
Linda Klepacki, Sexual Health Issues Analyst
Melissa Fryrear, Gender Issues Analyst

History

“Focus on the Family began in 1977 in response to Dr. James Dobson’s increasing concern for the American family.... From a two-room suite in Arcadia, Calif., Dr. Dobson began with radio—a 25-minute weekly program heard on only a few dozen stations. Focus on the Family has since become an international organization with more than 74 different ministries requiring nearly 1,300 employees.”[20]

Sexuality Education Position

“’Be fruitful and multiply.’ If sex were not enjoyable our species probably would not have fruitfully multiplied. Sex is a powerful drive, and for most of human history it was firmly linked to marriage and childbearing. Only relatively recently has the act of sex commonly been divorced from marriage and procreation. Modern contraceptive inventions have given many an exaggerated sense of safety and prompted more people than ever before to move sexual expression outside the marriage boundary. When adhered to strictly, marital fidelity has always protected individuals and society. This site is dedicated to calling society back to the sure and safe boundary of abstinence until and faithfulness within marriage.”[21]

“For most of the past several decades, liberal sex-education organizations such as Planned Parenthood and Sexuality Information and Education Council for the United States (SIECUS) have had a philosophical monopoly in public school sex-education programs. With the implementation of Title V of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, these groups saw an end to their monopoly. Title V allocated $250 million ($50 million per year for five years) for states to teach abstinence until marriage. SIECUS and friends have not been happy about Title V.”[22]

Sexuality Education Resources & Activities

Focus on the Family produces a wide variety of radio and television programs, books, videos, magazines (including Focus on the Family with Dr. James Dobson, Brio, Brio and Beyond, and many others), newsletters (including Family News from Dr. James Dobson), and e-mail action alerts. Over the past ten years, Focus on the Family has created a wealth of resources on sexuality education, including articles, reports, videos, and a curricula. The following is a select list of some of these resources:

Publications

• Questions and Answers on Sex Education
• Take Twelve: The Truth Behind 12 of the Most Common Arguments Made by Powerful “Safe-Sex” Organizations Against the Abstinence-Until- Marriage Message
• Pure Excitement / A Radical, Righteous Approach to Sex, Love and Dating

Articles

• “How to Teach Your Child About Sex”
• “Evaluating Your School District’s Sex Education Program”
• “Parents Are the Most Effective Deterrent”
• “Guidelines for Dating Teenagers: How much physical touch is okay”
• “Great ‘Sex’pectations”
• “What Exactly is ‘Mature Teen Sex’?”

Audio Tapes

• Role Modeling Integrity for Your Children Panel
• Why Purity Matters
• Containing the Fires of Passion / The Global AIDS/HIV Epidemic

Videos

• Sex, Lies, and the Truth
• Life on the Edge (Video Set including The Myth of Safe Sex)

Curriculum

• No Apologies... The Truth About Life, Love and Sex

Booklets

• Five Reasons You Need the “Piece of Paper”
• Let’s Talk About Sex
• Behind the Headlines: Selling Sex: You Won’t Believe What They Want to Teach Your Kids

Additional Information

Focus on the Family also set up the Physicians Resource Councils, which are still active in many states.  The Physicians Resource Councils are groups of conservative Christian physicians that volunteer to provide counsel on medical issues, as well as make referrals to crisis pregnancy centers. 

Focus on the Family also runs Love Won Out, a ministry that “exhorts and equips the church to respond in a Christ-like way to the issue of homosexuality. And to those who struggle with unwanted same-sex attractions, we offer the Gospel hope that these desires can be overcome." [23]

Mission Statement

“Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute— a think tank—whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.”[24]

Key People

Edwin J. Feulner, President
Robert Rector, Senior Research Fellow, Domestic Policy Studies
Patrick Fagan, William H.G. FitzGerald Research Fellow in Family and Cultural Issues
Rebecca Hagelin, Vice President, Communications and Marketing
Christine Kim, Domestic Policy Analyst (Welfare, Marriage and Family, Abstinence)

History

The Heritage Foundation was founded in 1973 “…to move national public policy in a conservative direction, primarily by working with Congress and its staff.”[25]

Sexuality Education Position

“With millions of dollars in sex-education programs at stake, it is not surprising that the groups that have previously dominated the arena have taken action to block the growing movement to abstinence-only education. Such organizations, including the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), Planned Parenthood, and the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL), have been prime supporters of ‘safe-sex’ programs for youth, which entail guidance on the use of condoms and other means of contraception while giving a condescending nod to abstinence. Clearly, the caveat that says ‘and if you do engage in sex, this is how you should do it’ substantially weakens an admonition against early non-marital sexual activity.”[26]

“Real abstinence education is essential to reducing out-of-wedlock childbearing, preventing sexually transmitted diseases, and improving emotional and physical wellbeing among the nation’s youth. True abstinence education programs help young people to develop an understanding of commitment, fidelity, and intimacy that will serve them well as the foundations of healthy marital life in the future.”[27]

Sexuality Education Activities/ Resources

The Heritage Foundation produces numerous publications, articles, lectures, conferences, and meetings on a variety of topics, including sexuality and abstinence, welfare reform, marriage and illegitimacy, tax reform, social security, foreign policy, school vouchers, and public education. The following is a select list of publications on issues related to sexuality.

On-line Articles

• “Selling A Dangerous Lie”
• “Sex Education — By the Book”
• “Undermining Abstinence”
• “Teens Can Be Responsible”

Reports

• The Harmful Effects of Early Sexual Activity and Multiple Partners Among Women: A Book of Charts
• Adolescents Who Take Virginity Pledges Have Lower Rates of Out-of- Wedlock Births
• Comprehensive Sex Education vs. Authentic Abstinence: A Study of Competing Curricula
• Teens Who Make Virginity Pledges Have Substantially Improved Life Outcomes
• The Effectiveness of Abstinence Education Programs in Reducing Sexual Activity Among Youth

Mission Statement

The Medical Institute for Sexual Health (MI) is a nonprofit (501c3) medical, educational, and research organization. MI was founded to confront the global epidemics of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We identify and evaluate scientific information on sexual health and promote healthy sexual decisions and behaviors by communicating credible scientific information.”[28]

Key People

Joe S. McIlhaney, Jr., MD, Founder and President
Gary L. Rose, M.D., President/Chief Executive Officer
Patricia J. Sulak, M.D., National Advisory Board Member
W. David Hager, M.D., National Advisory Board Member
Dr. Thomas Lickona, National Advisory Board Member
Mary Elayne Glover Bennett, National Advisory Board Member

History

“The Medical Institute for Sexual Health is a nonprofit and nonpartisan educational organization founded in 1992 by obstetrician/gynecologist, Joe S. McIlhaney, Jr., MD to confront the global epidemics of non-marital pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease with incisive health care data.”[29]

Sexuality Education Position

Both adults and adolescents need to know that although risk reduction strategies (ie, condoms and contraceptives) may partially reduce the burden of adverse outcomes in a population, they leave individuals at significant risk. In contrast, abstinence education teaches risk avoidance strategies that help adolescents to each achieve their human right to the ‘highest attainable standard of health.’" [30]

In the United States, children do not ‘need’ reproductive health services, nor do they need condoms to protect them from STIs and pregnancy.  Rather, children need adults who will protect them from predators. [31]

Sexuality Education Resources & Activities

The Medical Institute for Sexual Health creates and distributes a number of publications and resources including brochures, videos, posters, and public service announcements all of which are related to sexuality education. The following is a list of selected publications.

• Integrated Sexual Health (Report)
• Sexual Health Today Slide Presentation/Notebook
• National Guidelines for Sexuality and Character Education
• Sex, Condoms & STDs: What We Now Know
• Abstinence vs. “Safer Sex” Sexuality Education: A Comparison
• Sexual Health Updates (quarterly newsletter)
• Teen STD Brochures
• Sex Is Not A Game Video
• Guidelines for Sexual Health Education K-12” and “STD Wizard (interactive online tool)

Additional Information

Dr. McIlhaney has served on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) and he is currently serving on the Advisory Committee to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [32] 

NATIONAL ABSTINENCE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

1701 Pennyslvannia Ave., NW, Ste. 300
Washington, DC 20006
202/248-5420 (phone)
202/580-6559 (fax)
www.abstinenceassociation.org (website) 

Mission Statement

"The NAEA exists to serve, support and represent individuals and organizations in the practice of abstinence education.”[33]

Key People

Valerie Huber, Executive Director
Bruce Cook, Chairman of the Board of Directors (Choosing the Best)
Scott Phelps, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors (Abstinence & Marriage Education Partnership)
Anne Badgley, Member of the Board of Directors (Heritage Community Services)
LeAnna Benn, Member of the Board of Directors (Teen-Aid)
Joneen Mackenzie, Member of the Board of Directors (WAIT Training)
Mary Anne Mosack, Member of the Board of Directors
Gary Rose, National Advisory Board Member (Medical Institute for Sexual Health)
Shepherd Smith, National Advisory Board Member (Institute for Youth Development)

History

The National Abstinence Leadership Council (NALC), comprised of leading abstinence providers from across the country, gathered during the fall of 2006 to discuss current and future needs of the abstinence education field. As a result of ensuing discussions, these leaders voted to form NAEA as a 501(c)(6) membership association as a means of accomplishing long term strategic goals for the field of abstinence. As a 501(c)(6), NAEA is able to offer unique member services for abstinence education organizations, educators and providers, including unlimited lobbying on behalf of abstinence education.”[34]

Sexuality Education Position

Since the 1970s, American taxpayers have spent billions on contraceptive education. In return, we have gotten increases in teen sex, teen pregnancy, and millions of teens infected with STDs — some of which are incurable or even fatal.”[35]

Abstinence programs offer a holistic approach, teaching teens how to build healthy relationships, increase self-worth and set appropriate boundaries in order to achieve future goals. Abstinence education shares the realities of sexually transmitted diseases and the best way to prevent them. Accurate information about contraception is provided, but always within the context of abstinence as the healthiest choice. The realistic limitations of condoms are shared but without the explicit demonstration and advocacy that characterizes ‘comprehensive’ programs.”[36]

Sexuality Education Resources & Activities

The National Abstinence Education Association produces numerous press releases, articles, talking points, and advocacy documents for its members and affiliates, as well as for policymakers on the state and national levels.  The content of these resources focuses exclusively on maintaining and increasing funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.  The following is a list of selected publications and resources.

On-line Articles

• “Straight from the Source: What so called ‘Comprehensive’ Sex Education Teachers to America’s Youth”
• “Abstinence Education vs. Contraception Sex Education Funding Comparison”
• “Abstinence Education Works!”

Additional Information

Executive Director, Valerie Huber was the former abstinence education coordinator for the Ohio Department of Health.  The Board of Directors and National Advisory Board consist of a number of well connected abstinence-only-until-marriage advocates who run organizations that produce abstinence-only curricula and advocate for more funding.  The National Abstinence Education Association is also a 501(c)(6) membership association, which allows them to do unlimited lobbying on behalf of abstinence-only programs.