Community reacts to Alabama abstinence-only education bill

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – The Alabama Senate last week passed Senate Bill 209, legislation that would require public schools to teach “sexual risk avoidance” to students.

The bill prohibits classes from providing information about contraceptive materials or teaching students how to access contraception.

Under the proposed curriculum, students would be taught to avoid all types of sexual content. Supporters argue the measure would help prevent teens from participating in sexual activity and enable them to make informed decisions about their health.

“It really helps to educate students on the risks of promiscuous or early sexual behavior and what those outcomes can be, and helps them make good decisions,” said Becky Gerritson, executive director of Eagle Forum of Alabama. “It’s just a very broad scope curriculum, and we’re very happy that it is moving forward.”

Opponents of the bill say the abstinence-only approach will cause more harm than good. They argue that comprehensive sex education, which includes information about contraception and safe sex practices, better serves students by providing them with all available options.

“You can tell teenagers all you want to not have sex, but they’re not necessarily going to listen to that, and I feel like the better approach to that is giving them a comprehensive sex education where they really understand the risks of whatever behavior they choose to do and they can understand how to engage in that safely,” said Srushti Sai Talluri, a University of Alabama at Birmingham public health graduate student.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, sexually transmitted infections rank as the sixth greatest current health concern in Alabama, with STI rates increasing every year, particularly among those aged 15 to 24.

Talluri emphasized that comprehensive education aims to give students the tools to make responsible choices rather than simply telling them what to do.

“The point of this education is not to tell students what to do or what not to do, but to provide them with all of the options so they can make an informed, responsible decision for themselves,” Talluri said.

Supporters of SB 209 counter that the curriculum they advocate teaches students about the risks of sexual activity to help them make good decisions that will benefit them into adulthood.

“We are trying to show them how risky behaviors can have great, detrimental effects all into adulthood,” Gerritson said.

Under current Alabama law and the proposed SB 209, parents would be able to opt their children out of sexual education if they choose. Sexual education is not currently mandated in Alabama, though students in grades 5-12 are required to learn about HIV and AIDS through their health classes.

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