Kate Walsh: Abstinence-Only "Not Working"

Cites One-In-Four Teen Girl STDs Rate In U.S. As Proof Fed-Sponsored Sex Ed Needs Broadening

(CBS)  Actress Kate Walsh is pushing for federal sex education programs to teach strategies beyond abstinence-only.

Walsh, who played a doctor on "Grey's Anatomy" and stars in its spin-off, "Private Practice," is a member of the board of advocates of Planned Parenthood, and went to Capitol Hill Thursday to take part in a congressional briefing on sex education.

She's been lobbying for sex ed to include birth control and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

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Photos: Meet Kate Walsh

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On The Early Show Friday, Walsh told co-anchor Julie Chen, "Abstinence-only is not working. It's a $1.5 billion program over the last ten years that has, quite frankly, failed. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) reported that one-in-four teenage girls (in the US) between the ages of 14 and 19 are infected with STIs (sexually transmitted infections), and that, to me, is appalling and shameful. And in the age of information, these women are just not getting adequate information."

Walsh says there's urgent need for a change in the way sex ed funds are appropriated: "In addition to abstinence, which is fine, there just needs to be a comprehensive sex education program, and we can't be relying on, you know, private foundations or parents or, you know, teens' peers to be educating each other. We really do need government help on this.

"It's a shame to me that we spend money on educating our kids on history, math, science, English literature, and we can't educate them sexually. And it's proof in these statistics. It's just shameful to me that, in our country, that these young women are being infected because they honestly just don't have the information.

"Abstinence is one aspect of sex education," Walsh continued, "but it is not the complete aspect. And to expect, I think, everybody to remain abstinent, it's like asking them not to grow. It's like we don't ask people to not try out for sports. We don't ask people to stop learning. It's just a natural human process, and we need to be educating people. If abstinence-only did work, we wouldn't be seeing these kinds of statistics. We wouldn't be seeing these young women suffering like this."

[llamaduck-2009]

It''s sad that this has to be said. Walk into a high school for five minutes; half of them are sexually active, and half of that group have no idea what STDs are.

[jo531-2009]

I agree. Spending 1.5 million dollars on abstience-only *** education is a scandal. I would like to see them held accountable, statistically-wise, that it is working. Of course, we know it is not. Prove how the money spent is making a difference.

So, how do we turn this thing around? Texas has been the #1 state for teen pregnancy for ove 20 years! Yet, they do not want *** education or planned parenthood. Girls younger than 14 are being pressured by girls their age to have ***. "We all do it. Why not you?" Boys can be labeled *** offenders for the rest of their lives for having consensual *** with a minor. No one tells them that there is an age for consensual *** and an age, where one is too young to have theier consent counted. Boys can go to prison. Girls can have babies. Both can have STD''s forever. Quite like feral cats, it only takes one to infect a community.

Myth: Does *** education actually promote sexuality? Why does the University of Utah have such a high teenage pregnancy rate? Because they are taught to only trust Morman boys. Why do southern parents want their children to get married right out of high school? So they don''t get pregnant outside of marriage? Why are parents against *** education? You tell me, because I don''t know. Maybe it is related to the denial of global warming. Someone please help us!

[jo531-2009]

Remember 1 out of 4 girls between 14 and 19 have STDs. Go to the grade schools and middle schools to see who is necking in the halls and parking lots, not just the high schools.

[azcagirl]

1.5 million, really? How much money does it really take to tell kids not to have ***? I could understand if the money was being spent on contraceptives or testing but that much money to tell them no? Are you effing kidding me?

[azcagirl]

1.5 million, really? How much money does it really take to tell kids not to have ***? I could understand if the money was being spent on contraceptives or testing but that much money to tell them no? Are you effing kidding me?

[Marie Zarankevich]

Anyone who still thinks that telling your kids not to have *** will prevent them from getting HIV should go slap their father for not having had the wits to use a condom. Think of it as a retroactive self-abortion. Honestly, get real people. Remember when you were that age? Urges can be far stronger than ANY teaching can counter. Think R-E-A-L-I-T-Y.

[grammata-2009]

in addition to the important concerns already posted, it is notable that Kate Walsh equated having ***, presumably in the age bracket of 14-19, with "grow"ing, "learn"ing, and "sports." An endorsement of *** like that certainly complicates the very problem.

[johnstossel]

I couldn''t practice abstinence if I had Kate Walsh!!!

[mimisview]

My two teenage daughters are getting abstinence only education in HS in AZ. They tell me that as part of their "education" they are being taught that "condoms don''t work." I think this fact explains the high rate of STDs - when the abstinence fails, these kids don''t think it''s worth bothering with condoms. What a national disgrace!

[taddles-2009]

"in addition to the important concerns already posted, it is notable that Kate Walsh equated having ***, presumably in the age bracket of 14-19, with "grow"ing, "learn"ing, and "sports." An endorsement of *** like that certainly complicates the very problem.

Posted by grammata at 12:12 PM : Mar 28, 2008"


At what age do girls become sexually mature? I believe it''s 12. Taking the "head in the sand" approach to sexuality is simply ignorant and foolish. If you want to reduce teen pregnancy, if you want to reduce teen STD''s, then you must inform and educate. Trying to stop teens from experimenting with *** is a fools errand as has been amply demonstrated by the failed "abstinence only" programs advocated by the Bush administration.

[taddles-2009]

"1.5 million, really? How much money does it really take to tell kids not to have ***?

Posted by azcagirl at 11:55 AM : Mar 28, 2008"


For a nation wide program that is so little money as to be laughable.

[taddles-2009]

"They tell me that as part of their "education" they are being taught that "condoms don''''t work."

Posted by mimisview at 12:32 PM : Mar 28, 2008"


That''s not abstinence only, that''s called propaganda. You wonder why your kids end up pregnant with STD''s the schools are teaching them lies.

[cin103159]

Where are these "abstinence-only" programs? In California health education is presented both in middle school and high school. Also condoms are available in some school nurse%u2019s offices and other methods are free at PP. I volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center where we see young girls who have multiple pregnancy tests, pregnancies and abortions in addition to STI%u2019s. When asked about health education they say there was a class but either they didn%u2019t pay attention, don''t remember, were too embarrassed to ask their partner to use protection or seek it themselves, or just think they are immune.
Agreed abstinence-only is not enough; however, telling kids not to have *** is like telling them not to play sports or continue learning is ludicrous; neither has such potentially dangerous results (infection, pregnancy, infertility, cancer, death). We should be teaching them a physical relationship is wonderful at the appropriate level of maturity and course in a relationship. Teens don''t become active to fulfill physical needs but emotional needs; they have *** to feel loved, actually producing the opposite effect. Since they are not mature enough for a lasting committed relationship, after the crush ends the teen feels even worse, needing even more love and acceptance and the cycle continues. Information and protection also need to be readily available, but I believe it isn%u2019t so much that it isn%u2019t being presented but HOW it is being presented and by whom.

[csebbie]

It''s horrible that the world has come to the point where celebrities are pushing *** education on us. It is not the government''s job to teach people about ***. Health class can be used to teach about STD''s and the like, but the act of *** and what it''s for should be taught by the parents.

Granted, not all parents today are teaching their children right from wrong either, and that''s where the problem lies. The issue isn''t that abstinence only education isn''t working, it''s that children are not being taught right from wrong in the home, or in school. They''re taught to just do what feels good and learn from their mistakes. THAT''S how STD''s are getting spread, not because of a "failed" government program that was set up to fail from it''s inception.

I also am offended that Walsh referrs to girls aged 14 to 19 as "women." 18 and 19-year-olds are barely women, but 14 to 17 are surely not. They''re children. Why should the government be teaching CHILDREN about ***? Unreal!

Asking a person not to try out for sports cannot be compared to ***. It''s apples and oranges! Sports are games, *** certainly is not. The only thing I can assume is that Walsh, and other people from "Planned Parenthood" some mind their own children having *** at age 14 and have no problem with the emptiness that these children are left with when that purity is robbed from them by mis-education that says it''s okay to act on your sexual urges.

[cin103159]

Just because girls'' bodies become sexually mature at around age 12 does not mean they are emotionally and physically ready for a sexual relationship.

Condoms DO fail; nothing is 100% except abstinence. THAT is what is being taught.

Notice Ms. Walsh does not address the issue of unwanted pregnancies how young women are suffering from its disastrous results. Could it be because she is representing the world''s largest abortion proponent?

[csebbie]

cin103159 has hit the nail on the head! These children are not emotionally equipped to handle being active sexually. I remember when I was a teenager I wanted to so badly, but I''m glad I didn''t. I was not prepared to handle the emotional and spiritual ups and downs that comes with an active sexual lifestyle while you''re a child.
Parents need to teach that *** should only be for marriage. If parents teach right from wrong in the beginning, teen pregnancy and STD''s will go down drastically. THere will ovbiously still be children who do not listen, or don''t care, but the problem is we have 1 in 4 girls between 14 and 19 with STDs. If that statistic is true, that means many more are sexually active. This is NOT GOOD NEWS!

[sharncedar]

She ppay a doctor on TV - gosh we better listen to her

[sharncedar]

I guess they got the STD''s through abstinence. We better teach them to fool around, to prevent more STD''s. Glad we are getting advice from a real TV doctor, gosh she must be pretty smart.

[horton242]

The large sums of money spent on abstinence-only education are outrageous. I just wanted to clarify that we have actually spent $1.5 BILLION, not million on ineffective abstinence-only programs. These programs just don''t keep our kids safe.

[horton242]

The large sums of money spent on abstinence-only education are outrageous. I just wanted to clarify that we have actually spent $1.5 BILLION, not million on ineffective abstinence-only programs. These programs just don''t keep our kids safe.

[horton242]

The large sums of money spent on abstinence-only education are outrageous. I just wanted to clarify that we have actually spent $1.5 BILLION, not million on ineffective abstinence-only programs. These programs just don''t keep our kids safe.

[vadersdad-2009]

Teaching kids about *** and condoms does not make kids have ***. Kids are going to have *** and they need to know condoms are 99% effective in preventing pregnancy and the transmittal of STDs. Anyone who believes 14 and 15 year old kids are not thinking about *** is not thinking rationally. Wake up America and teach your kids so the government doesn''t have to!

[element51]

It is quite clear from some of the posts here that some of you just don''t get it. While I agree that it is the parents responsibility to teach their kids about s*x the unfortunate truth is that very few do. It amazes me that people are so afraid of talking openly about s*x that they would oppose teaching about it in schools. And the arguement that at 14 to 17 they are still "children" is way off base. Todays kids know about s*x at an early age and although they know about the act they do not realize the responsibility that comes with it. It is the religious right that opposes this type of education and then screams the loudest because kids are doing it anyway. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing and until we have the courage to face up to the situation and start teaching the kids the truth this problem will not go away. Don''t you think it''s almost embarrassing that we have censor the word s*x just to talk about the problem?

[jon2012-2009]

I guess they got the STD''''s through abstinence. We better teach them to fool around, to prevent more STD''''s. Glad we are getting advice from a real TV doctor, gosh she must be pretty smart.
Posted by SharnCedar at 01:18 PM : Mar 28, 20

Try to find data to show that these abstinence-only programs do reduce incidence of STDs. If we are talking about results, that''s the only thing that matters--evidence. $1.5 billion is quite a sum. Maybe you want to say it''s buying a lot of good morality, whatever that means. Well then, where''s your data?

[element51]

Some of you have made remarks about Kate Walsh and Planned Parenthood being a bad thing. I think one even went so far as to claim that Planned Parenthood was just set up to promote abortion. Not true. While it is true that abortions are done that is not the sole purpose of Planned Parenthood. There are many women who cannot afford to go to a clinic and get pap smears and mammograms and other tests that are provided by Planned Parenthood. And many cannot afford birth control pills or other contraceptives that are provided. Not to mention education about their own bodies. Some of you make it sound as though every woman who goes to a PP clinic is advised and pushed into getting an abortion. Again, not true. Many chose to have their babies and the only place they can get medical care is at a PP clinic. Being opposed to abortion is good...no one in their right mind wants abortions but clinics or not it will happen. Don''t be so quick to condemn until you know the facts. To make abortion illegal again is not going to stop them. Education is the key to reducing the need for them. Let''s not go back 50 years when women were bleeding to death in back alleys.

[oscarez]

A lot of the $1.5 billion program was funneled into Churches and other religious organizations by the the George W. Bush Administration. This is called back door funding of religion with our tax dollars.

[fibonacci_]

This is what you get, Christians, in a country where people are too prudish too allow the word s*ex to be written in this forum. We are almost as prudish as the Muslim world.

[fibonacci_]

Wow - that woman is a person who really gets it and lays down the line.

[yongamerica]

So the religious doctrine of one President should not be the basis of ssexx education? How many other mistakes has this man made? Bush will not allow federal funding for sexeducation other than to say no.

mmmmm, ssexx is bad, mkay? Isn''t that right Mr. Hat?

[cin103159]

I do not see any negative comments about PP in the comments and do agree they provide great women''s health resources to low-income women; however, it cannot be ignored that PP is the largest provider of abortions in the US if not the world. Ms. Walsh, who is on the board at PP, seems to advocate and even encourage teen sexual behavior while not addressing the issue of unwanted pregnancy and abortion at all.

The so-called religious right does not oppose s*ex education but rather the education that encourages them to participate in it!

Why do parents have to give consent for a minor to have a tooth pulled but not to allow drugs (hormones) to be administered and surgical procedures performed on their minor children? Although

[element51]

cin103159...Can you point to one, just one, *** education program that tells kids to go out and have s*x? The purpose of education is to give kids the knowledge that they need in order to protect themselves in the event that they do have s*x. That is totally different than telling them that it is OK to do it. Abstinence only programs are good as far as they go and should not be abandoned but they do not go far enough. Many women come to Planned Parenthood not fully aware of how the got pregnant and totally without a clue as to how to prevent it. I''m an old man now but I remember how when I was a kid I thought about s*x 24-7. And back in those days we did not have the exposure to se*ual images that kids have today. The media constantly shoves it in their faces and then we don''t teach them how to take care of themselves. This whole thing is like the crazy uncle in the attic. We all know he''s there but we don''t talk about him.

[cin103159]

To quote Ms. Walsh "we don''t ask people to not try out for sports. We don''t ask people to stop learning. It''s just a natural human process". I did not say that kids are "told" to go out and have *** but they are "encouraged" to do so by programs that teach them it is inevitable/unavoidable. In my previous comment I also alluded to the fact that I see teens who are unknowledgeable about the male and female reproductive system. When health education was first offered to my children parents'' were invited to preview the material, so I did. When I came to the meeting there was no one to present the material because no parent had ever expressed interest. Maybe we should be focusing on the parents, not the kids.

[element51]

cin103159...How about if we just agree to disagree? I would like to thank you for keeping your comments civil and rational. It''s not that I totally disagree with you and the truth is that we are probably closer in what we actually want. I want to see a reduction in STD''s and unwanted pregnancies just as you do. Thank God my kids are adults now and we never had to deal with any of this stuff. I always answered the kid''s questions honestly and started having conversations with them as soon as they were old enough to comprehend. Thank you for our discussion and I wish only the best for you and yours.

[cin103159]

Element51, I agree to disagree and that we have the similar destinations, just traveling different routes. I too appreciate the respectful intelligent exchange and wish blessings on you and yours.

[prosperine-2009]

Don''t you find it ironic that in an article about s.e.x that CBS uses the word in the article, but bleeps it out in the blog?

[gmond]

When I was in school, *** education included learning about intercourse, reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases, and was taught as a fact of life, with no imposition of morality. It is frightening to think of entire generations of kids growing up thinking *** is nothing but a dirty word, i.e., the fact that I can''t even type it in this board.

[jankebenz]

Abstinence is the only way to prevent pregnacy and or contracting std''s.There is no failure rate, the only
failure is not heeding the warnings and having seks anyway.It''s an age old problem, no amount of seks ed will prevent the inevitable, if ones persists in crossing the borders of how it was meant to be. Save it for a life long committed marriage.

[dcd915]

Whats the shame in our society as well as many others is that fear is such a de-motivator. We''re afraid to talk about something so important for fear we''ll show our ignorance. If we taught girls that getting *** is not proof of love but rather a celebration and that it affects the brain chemically maybe we''ll make a difference. Instead we make and watch movies and tv shows that glorify the shallowest views of sexuality. Sad..

[dremn1]

If the existing *** education is not working according to the Bush Bashers on this site then explain the following:

From better *** education to frank discussion of responsibility, fewer teens are having *** and those who do are doing it more safely. Randall Pinkston reports.

(CBS/AP) Fewer high school students are having *** these days, and more are using condoms. The teen birth rate has hit a record low.

Taken from the current article on cbsnews

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/13/health/main3055111.shtml?source=related_story

[newsterl]

... is the only way to prevent pregnacy and or contracting stds.There is no failure rate, the only
failure is not heeding the warnings and having seks anyway.

if ones persists in crossing the borders of how it was meant to be. Save it for a life long committed marriage.

Posted by jerkaboner"

You right wings must really hate s3x or something, theres no such thing as a committed marriage- 50% end in DIVORCE, and most people have gone through MULTIPLE divorces- doesnt matter if you are married, committed or not- HIV doesnt descriminate and theres loads of men and women in marriages who play around on the side.

Marriage is nothing less than Govt control over your assets, minors, taxes, inheritance, property, real estate and wills- that is why you are required to pay a LICENSE FEE, so the state collects money off it for doing nothing.

Abstinence is pretty dam BORING, and there''s plenty of medical papers published about the BENEFITS of s3x- the man''s organ was meant to be USED thats why testes produces a constant daily supply of seme.n- it doesnt run dry or out. If its not used that stuff has to go somewhere and THAT is where you start finding prostate problems and urinary tract infections.

Neutered dogs by the way have a much greater risk/rate of prostate CANCER- the prostate continues to produce fluids which just stagnate.

[newsterl]

It is frightening to think of entire generations of kids growing up thinking s3x is nothing but a dirty word, i.e., the fact that I cant even type it in this board.

Posted by gmond

It IS, and you see a few even these days calling the act ''doing the NASTY'', just that terminology alone tells you where their head is on this- ''doing the NASTY''... pathetic frigid people, and they learned that stuff from mom/dad who probably taught them s3x is DIRTY, a wife has her DUTY to her man, and its ONLY for having babies.

[newsterl]

It should also be noted that male dogs not used for breeding but are around females in heat will often develop a prostate infection or urinary tract infection, obviously there are negative side effects to NOT having s3x. Given the fact that many/most men over like 60 have prostate enlargement, urinary tract difficulties, dribbling etc around the same time they decide they are too ''OLD'' for s3x (or are widowers) that shows the negative side of it- you lose what you dont use.

[newsterl]

Don''''t you find it ironic that in an article about s.e.x that CBS uses the word in the article, but bleeps it out in the blog?
Posted by prosperine

Ironic but no surprise, what do you expect of a right wing controlled media who has numerous hyper links from articles- to the christian science monitor where they get many of them?

Remember- according to them s3x is ONLY for procreation, but now that we overpopulated the planet its time to STOP procreating before we procreate ourselves into oblivion.

[grammawhamma]

Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to a STD or an unwanted pregancy. The parents who don''t want their children taught anything about $ex because it will put ideas in their little angels head...will become grandparents at an earlier age.

And btw CBS it is stupid to bleep out the word $ex.

[keithle1]

Stay away from the *** unless you''re married & want kids. Use her other two orifices, gentlemen.

[newsterl]

"Because I dont want her to think that Ive given that which I prize the most in the world, my body, has been passed around to every other woman on the planet."

Since s3x doesnt leave any scars or marks, how would she know whether you are a virgin or had s3x with 4,563 other women and men?
Answer: she wont

" my hand, or other appendage,into your bag of cookies. Whos been there before me? Did they wash their hands first? Did they..

Your HAND??.. First, you take a BATH, that washes off any external ''yeccch'' that might be lingering months or years after her last encounter, second- since the body replaces every cell- you and she or he are not the same body you were a year ago. Third, if the dude wore a condom then the only thing left behind was microscopic particles of latex.

"Very important questions, "

Hardly

Oh, Yeah. I want the dirtiest skankiest ho that has ever walked the planet to be the mother of my children.
Posted by maxify55"

YOUR children? hmmm sounds more like she will be an incubator for YOUR children than anything else.
Dont worry, there is no cross-contamination, but when buying a USED woman who was divorced a few times before, better questions to ask is how come she couldnt stay married and how did she make that many mistakes in relationships, and do you REALLY want to chance it with HER being she failed 2-3 times before?
Lastly, can you afford the alimony and child support when you get the inevitable divorce?
Those are the better questions!

[newsterl]

"Drive your body like a rental car is your answer? "
Posted by maxify55"

WHy not? it doesnt last forever, 65 to maybe 80 years and then it turns to rotting meat in a casket or ash and smoke in a cremation, by that time it wont make any difference what you did to it, it has a limited life-span anyway like a car does.

[jankebenz]

newster!

You are exposing your childish and immature intellectuality by resorting to name calling. If you want to advance to a civil adult, then start acting like one. Then perhaps your posts would merit a reply

[newsterl]

ewster!

You are exposing your childish and immature intellectuality by resorting to name calling. If you want to advance to a civil adult, then start acting like one. Then perhaps your posts would merit a reply
Posted by jerkaboner

I don''t address religious rightwings or bigots with anything less than they deserve, especially when one of them uses terms like animal rapist, or posts false information about a previous post and calls them a liar per;

"Whos LYING??? Check out your own post below
"I faced death while giving birth",
If your not a female ,what are you?
Can we now trust anything you say?. You are exposed!
Posted by jerkaboner"
----------------
The text you claimed I posted about MYSELF that you said conflicted with previous posts (thereby calling me a LIAR) came copy/pasted from the bottom of the article here and was NOT about me;

http://www.evilbible.com/common_lies.htm

QUOTED PER:
"My father is an atheist and served during..." "...while giving birth.."

Whether I get a reply to my posts or not is of no concern to me, I dont post to garner replies, I post to publish my opinions and viewpoints.

[newsterl]

"Then perhaps your posts would merit a reply
Posted by jerkaboner"

There is absolutely no reply or response that you could ever make to any of my posts that I would want- I consider you and rick nothing less than puppets on a string for the religious reich who come here and other forums to spam for gezus, and it''s no better than that idiot who comes in here every day with multiple new accounts solely to post about his dating sites.