GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL REQUIRING COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION
For Immediate Release
Monday, May 14, 2007
NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado
Contact: Kathryn Wittneben
Office: 303.394.1973, ext. 12
kwittneben@ProChoiceColorado.org GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL REQUIRING COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION Ritter Fulfills Promise to Support Policies to Prevent Unintended Pregnancy DENVER (May 14) – Governor Bill Ritter Jr. today signed into law House Bill 1292 (Todd, Windels), Responsible Sex Education. “With his signature today, Governor Ritter sent a powerful message that Colorado’s youth deserve to receive scientifically and medically accurate information so they can make informed, responsible choices when it comes to their personal behavior,” said Kathryn Wittneben, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado. “The Responsible Sex Education law is a critical measure that puts prevention first in our public policies: By ensuring our young adults have access to accurate information about how to prevent unintended pregnancy and the spread of dangerous diseases like HIV/AIDS or the human papillomavirus, we can empower young people to make choices that lead to healthy lives, healthy relationships, and healthy communities.” Sponsored by Representative Nancy Todd (D-Aurora) and Sue Windels (D-Arvada/Westminster), HB 1292 requires schools that provide sex education to develop curricula that align with certain standards, including ensuring content is based on scientifically and medically accurate information, teaching that abstinence is the only proven way to prevent unintended pregnancy or the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, discussing the health benefits of using contraception, and understanding how to avoid making or being the target of unwanted sexual advances or harassing behavior, among other things. “NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado applauds the General Assembly and Governor Ritter for demonstrating true leadership in advancing the health of Colorado women and their families by enacting this important measure,” Wittneben said. “For too long, Colorado has lacked uniform standards that ensure young women and men get the information they need to act confidently, responsibly and respectfully in their intimate relationships. HB 1292 will help ensure our youth have the tools necessary to make important choices throughout their lives.” NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado (NPCC) is the political action arm of the pro-choice movement in Colorado. NPCC has more than 30,000 supporters statewide and works to develop and sustain a constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive health choices, including preventing unintended pregnancies, bearing healthy children and choosing legal abortion. ###
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