Abortion Still Divides, But Condoms, Sex Education Are Widely Supported

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

We may still be a divided nation on abortion, but a new survey by the YWCA in conjunction with the National Women's Law Center shows we're less divided than one might expect on issues such as contraception, access to it for low-income Americans, and on sex education.

"Counter to conventional wisdom, a recent survey of 1,000 self-identified Republican and Independent voters shows that a substantial majority support a reproductive health agenda, including increased access to contraception.

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of Republicans and Independents favor legislation that would make it easier for people at all income levels to obtain contraception, and 70 percent favor legislation that would help make birth control more affordable. More than 60 percent of fundamentalist/evangelical Protestants favor these proposals....

Only 8 percent of Republicans and Independents think the government should support abstinence-only education. A strong majority of Independents (76%) and Republicans (62%) believe the government should support comprehensive sex education programs that include information about abstinence, as well as information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases."

Incoming GOP Chair Michael Steele (referenced in my earlier blog today) should take note and move the party forward accordingly.

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By Bonnie Erbe