Colorado’s Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Industry and the Imperative for Real Sex Education
In recent years, Colorado has shown an increased dedication to improving the lives of its young people through ensuring that sex education provided in schools is comprehensive; however, abstinence-only-until-marriage programs are still prevalent in the state and continue to use fear- and shame-based tactics to spread misinformation and forward an ultra-conservative ideology. In an effort to inform Colorado‟s residents of both the gains made in the state and the challenges local schools districts still face to implement comprehensive sexuality instruction consistent with state law, The Healthy Colorado Youth Alliance and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) released a report examining Colorado‟s abstinence-only-until-marriage industry and the effect it has on Coloradan youth.
Read the Executive Summary
Read the Full Report
The Healthy Colorado Youth Alliance is a statewide coalition of community-based organizations representing educators, health care providers, local health departments, parents and individuals who are working to improve and increase access to quality and complete sexual health education, resources and services. For more information about what we do, check out this document with answers to frequently asked questions.
In 2009 the first report on the state of sexual health education in Colorado was written by Colorado Youth Matter, through the Colorado HIV and AIDS Prevention Grant, to help address questions from schools about effective programs and state law (HB07-1292). Questions persisted, and an update was done in 2011 with The Healthy Colorado Youth Alliance.
In an update to last year's report "Raising Expecations in the Rockies" this report outlines the important gains that Colorado has made to improve the quality of sex education delivered to young people and ensure that comprehensive standards are used to shape the sexual health curriculum administered in public schools.
In May 2007, Governor Ritter signed a set of standards for complete, comprehensive sexuality education into law (House Bill 07-1292, Concerning the Adoption of Science-Based Content Standards for Instruction Regarding Human Sexuality). The law says that a comprehensive approach to sex education is the most effective way to help students make responsible and healthy choices, reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and help prevent unintended pregnancy and abortion among young people.
