Abstinence-Only Quote of the Day – Giving Up the Stickiness
An article in today’s New York Times describes the uncertain future of abstinence-only sex ed, reporting that
For the first time, however, Virginity Rules and 700 kindred abstinence education programs are fighting serious threats to their future. Eleven state health departments rejected abstinence education this year, while legislatures in Colorado, Iowa and Washington passed laws that could kill, or at least wound, its presence in public schools.
The priceless quote of the day comes from Eric Love, director of the East Texas Abstinence Program:
“You have to look at why sex was created. Sex was designed to bond two people together.” To make the point, Mr. Love grabbed a tape dispenser and snapped off two fresh pieces. He slapped them to his filing cabinet and the floor; they trapped dirt, lint, a small metal bolt. “Now when it comes time for them to get married, the marriage pulls apart so easily,” he said, trying to unite the grimy strips. “Why? Because they gave the stickiness away.”
Because they gave the stickiness away. This sounds suspiciously like Eric Keroack’s bit about women not being able to bond with their husbands if they have premarital sex. Nevermind that there’s no real evidence of this, not everyone wants to get married, and not all women are heterosexual and able to legally marry – might as well not educate those weirdos, right? Oh, and human relationships are as simple and uniform as a tape metaphor. Argh.
Runner-up quote of the day, from Texas abstinence promotion billboards: “No is where I stand until I have a wedding band.”
This bit pretty much sums up the abstinence-only agenda:
In northeastern Texas, advocates of abstinence education vow to fight for their mission because to them, it is not just a matter of sexuality or even public health. Getting a teenager to the other side of high school without viruses or babies is a bonus, but not the real goal. They see casual sex as toxic to future marriage, family and even, in an oblique way, opposition to abortion.
Ha, you know you’re in trouble when your slogan–”No is where I stand until I have a wedding band” sounds like a Georgia Satellites song–”No kissy, no huggy until I have a wedding band.”
Worse, I remember that song.
If anybody’s wondering, this is the song we’re referring to. It would make a good anthem for the abstinence-only folks – “Thats when she told me a story bout free milk and a cow/And she said no huggin no kissin until I get a wedding vow.”