Life’s Silver Linings, Inc.

The Sex Information Education Council of the United States, the Center for Disease Control and agencies and organizations working with them, are influencing health education curriculum state by state. Their comprehensive sexuality education guidelines undermine the values and rights that have long been the fabric of strong American families.

he Center for Disease Control’s Division of Adolescent and School Health has entered into a New Cooperative Agreement with SIECUS (Sex Information Education Council of the United States).

The June/July 1994 issue of SIECUS Report states:

“SIECUS will be developing several projects designed to promote comprehensive sexuality and HIV/AIDS education as a priority in the nation’s schools–SIECUS will hold regional conferences for state and local education and health leadership–Ideally, state AIDS education coordinators and the professionals responsible for health education, sexuality education, drug abuse prevention, and multicultural education will all come to the table to discuss sexuality education as it relates to their particular areas–These regional conferences will provide an opportunity for professionals to develop the skills necessary to effectively integrate sexuality into substance abuse prevention, multicultural education, and HIV/AIDS education–SIECUS maintains extensive information about state curricula and guidelines–SIECUS will develop an individualized summary of each state program. These summaries will address both the HIV/AIDS prevention and the sexuality curricula/guidelines, as well as the state infrastructure to support these programs–and will offer specific recommendations and strategies for improvement–SIECUS will develop guidelines for states in the curricular areas that are most frequently omitted. Based on research SIECUS has done, these topics will include presenting balanced messages about abstinence and safer sex, condoms and other STD/HIV prevention methods, alternatives to intercourse and low-risk noncoital sexual behaviors, sexual orientation.” [1]

“Balanced” according to whose values? According to the 10th Revised Edition of a book titled Contraceptive Technology 1980-1981 “Sex without intercourse encompasses a broad continuum of activities from holding hands, hugging, kissing, petting, and dancing to mutual masturbation, oral-genital sex, and the use of stimulating devices such as vibrators.”[2]

The following is a sampling of quotes from SIECUS’ Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education K-12

For ages 5-8:

“Both girls and boys have body parts that feel good when touched (page 11), sexual intercourse occurs when a man and a woman place the penis inside the vagina (page 12), touching and rubbing one’s own genitals is called masturbation (page 32), masturbation should be done in a private place (page 32), individuals and families have different values (page 25).”

For ages 9-12:

“Homosexual love relationships can be as fulfilling as heterosexual relationships (page 15), sexual intercourse provides pleasure (page 12), a legal abortion is very safe (page 39).”

For children ages 12-15:

“All states, except Utah, allow minors to obtain contraception without parental consent (page 47). People should use contraception during sexual intercourse unless they want to have a child (page 12). The local health department can usually refer people to agencies for help with specific problems and issues (page 30). Homosexual couples behave sexually in many of the same ways as heterosexual couples (page 15). Masturbation, either alone or with a partner, is one way a person can enjoy and express their sexuality without risking pregnancy or an STD/HIV (page 33). Values should be freely chosen after the alternatives and their consequences are evaluated (page 25).”

For children ages 15-18:

“Some people use erotic photographs, movies, or literature to enhance their sexual fantasies when alone or with a partner (page 35). For most people, sharing a sexual experience with a partner is the most satisfying way to express sexuality (page 33). Some common sexual behaviors shared by partners include kissing, touching, caressing, massage, sharing erotic literature or art, bathing/showering together, and oral, vaginal, or anal intercourse (page 33). Some people continue to respect their religious teachings and traditions but believe the same views are not personally relevant (page 48). Affirm one’s own sexual orientation and respect the sexual orientation of others (page 11). The telephone number of the gay and lesbian switchboard is 1-212-777-1800 (page 16). There is no evidence that erotic images in the arts cause inappropriate sexual behavior (page 49).” [3]

(Remember Mr. Bundy? He was the man executed by Florida for sex crimes. He said he started out reading erotic magazines and progressed from there.)

One member of the SIECUS National Guidelines Task Force who authored SIECUS’ Comprehensive Guidelines for Sexuality Education was a St. Louis teacher. This same teacher was also a member of Missouri’s Comprehensive Health Writing Committee who authored Comprehensive Health Competencies and Key Skills for Missouri Schools K-12. [4]

Additional authors of SIECUS’ Guidelines For Comprehensive Sexuality Education K-12 included representatives from the following entities:

- “Three representatives from Planned Parenthood

- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation

- Nation School Boards Association

- Two representatives from SIECUS

- New York University

- Three Independent Sexuality Education Consultants

- Centers for Disease Control

- New Jersey Medical School

- Irvington, New Jersey Public Schools

- Westport, Connecticut Public Schools

- American School Health Association

- American Medical Association

- National Education Association’s Health Information Network

- Indiana University”

SIECUS’ National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education is a coalition of national organizations which have joined together to assure that children and youth receive comprehensive sexuality education. The New Cooperative Agreement between SIECUS and the Center for Disease Control’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) will fund the activities of the National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education.[5]

SIECUS’ position statement on sexually explicit materials states “When sensitively used in a manner appropriate to the viewer’s age and developmental level, sexually explicit visual, printed, or on-line materials can be valuable educational or personal aids, helping to reduce ignorance and confusion and contributing to a wholesome concept of sexuality.”

Through SIECUS’ five-year Cooperative Agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) it will develop several projects designed to promote comprehensive sexuality and HIV/AIDS education as a priority in the nation’s schools. These projects include regional conferences, state curricula and guidelines for HIV/AIDS education, state infrastructure to support these programs, recognition of model programs, and teacher preparation and training. SIECUS is developing state curricular guidelines to include areas that SIECUS research has shown to be most frequently omitted. These include safer sex, condoms and other prevention methods, low-risk noncoital sexual behaviors and sexual orientation, and alternatives to intercourse. [6] “Sex without intercourse encompasses a broad continuum of activities from holding hands, hugging, kissing, petting, and dancing to mutual masturbation, oral-genital sex, and the use of stimulating devices such as vibrators.”[7]

SIECUS expects to have its goals implemented by 1999. The grant states that the Teacher Preparation Report was reviewed by William Yarber Ph.D., incoming president of the SIECUS Board of Directors and professor of Health Education at Indiana University. SIECUS is the educational arm of the Kinsey Institute housed at Indiana University. Our nation’s sex education is based on Kinsey’s research detailed in a book titled Kinsey, Sex and Fraud by Dr. Judith Reisman and Edward Eichel. This book reveals Kinsey’s use of pedophiles who manually manipulated children, measuring how many orgasms they would have in a 24-hour period. He also performed other criminal acts during his “research.”

The Readers’ Digest carried a revealing article titled “Sex, Lies and the Kinsey Reports.” The article states that “American culture shifted under the impact of the Kinsey Reports. Many of Kinsey’s findings were based on flawed methods, and some are outright false.”[8]

The SIECUS/CDC grant states that with the support of the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health, a gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth working group met to discuss ways of disseminating information on gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth to DASH grantees (one of which is Missouri’s State Department of Education) and other interested youth service workers and educators. The grant also lists “seventeen DASH-funded nationals” which are providing ample opportunity for this collaborative effort.[9]

There are four CDC/DASH HIV/AIDS curriculums that target different populations as “Programs That Work.” They emphasize learning about contraceptive products, researching prices and descriptions, avoiding unprotected sex, locating and contacting clinics, etc. Abstinence is given a patronizing pat. These programs are implemented locally through the Center for Disease Control’s Cooperative Agreement (grant) with the State Department of Education (DESE) which implements SIECUS’ goals at the state and school district level through the State Department of Education’s HIV/AIDS office.

Missouri’s New Cooperative Agreement between the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the CDC mirrors the federal grant between the CDC and SIECUS. DESE’s grant makes reference to an HIV/AIDS training center called Health Adventure Center, Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, the Missouri School Improvement Program, Missouri Students At-Risk (MOSTAR) Conference, Comprehensive School Health Conference, Missouri Peer Helper Association, Caring Communities initiative, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Grant, University Extension, Early Childhood, Missouri Department of Health, Missouri Education Center, Programs That Work (Reducing the Risk by ETR), Missouri Comprehensive School Health Coalition, state collaboration on assessment, and the Student Standards Health Education Project. “DESE anticipates a round of regional workshops with the Missouri School Boards Association” to promote the programs associated with the DESE/CDC AIDS (sex education) grant.

During one State Comprehensive School Health Conference the CDC approved program called Reducing the Risk (RTR) was shown to be successful in increasing the use of condoms and contra­ceptives in teens OTHER THAN those ALREADY SEXUALLY ACTIVE-so much for “success.”

It would be worthwhile to read the Washington Times October 9, 1995, article titled “Teen Pregnancies Higher In States That Teach Condom Use.”

Peggy Brick, a SIECUS president, wrote “Healthy Foundations” a sexuality education program for preschools and child day care centers. The “Healthy Foundations” video titled “Teachable Moments” was/is provided through the University of Missouri/St. Louis’ Continuing Education-Extension. The trainers were Planned Parenthood employees. The “Crucial Early Years” early childhood annual conference is participated in by many including area colleges, hospitals, school districts, child care providers, parents, clergy, etc.

SIECUS is reaching ALL of us. Grassroots families and schools are at the mercy of those who do not share the classical traditional family values on which our nation was founded, but who are instrumental in the “health” standards schools and families are to meet. The values embodied in SIECUS and The Kinsey Institute are being imposed through Goals 2000, the national health standards, the New Standards Project and state assessments. Students must meet certain health outcomes to graduate. School districts must meet “health” standards and outcomes in order to be accredited and funded.

One member of the National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education is the National School Boards Association (NSBA). The NSBA was asked, “How does the NSBA view its affiliation with SIECUS and its Guidelines?” and “Does the NSBA feel its association with SIECUS’ Guidelines is representative of school boards across the nation?” The National School Boards Association’s response was:

“The benefit of the guidelines is that they can stimulate broad-based community discussion and result in consensus about the scope of the school district’s sexuality education program that reflects community needs and values.

“Regarding the National Coalition, NSBA believes that the very diversity of the Coalition membership is beneficial because it enables the perspective of local school boards to be shared beyond the traditional education audience.” [10]

Members of the National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education reads like Who’s Who in health and education reform, the radical population controllers, and the homosexual movement. Membership includes:

The Alan Guttmacher Institute

American Counseling Association

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

American Association of School Administrators

American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists

American Association on Mental Retardation

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

American Home Economics Association

American Library Association

American Medical Association

American Nurses Association

The American Orthopsychiatric Association, Inc.

American Psychological Association

American Public Health Association

American School Health Association

American Social Health Association

Association for the Advancement of Health Education

Association for Sexuality Education and Training

Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception

Association of Reproductive Health Professionals

Association of State and Territorial Directors of Public Health Education

Astraea National Lesbian Action Foundation

Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues

B’Nai B’rith Women

Catholics for a Free Choice

Center for Population Options

Child Welfare League of America

Children’s Defense Fund

Coalition on Sexuality and Disability, Inc.

Commission on Family Ministries and Human Sexuality

National Council of the Churches.

ETR Associates

Girls, Inc.

Getrick-Martin Institute for Gay and Lesbian Youth

The Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality Alumni Association

The Latina Roundtable on Health and Reproductive Rights

Midwest School Social Work Council

National Abortion Rights Action League

National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education

National Association of Counties

National Association of County Health Officials

National Association of School Psychologists

National Coalition of Advocates for Students

National Council on Family Relations

National Council of State Consultants for School Social Work Services

National Education Association Health Information Network

National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities

National League for Nursing

National Lesbian and Gay Health Foundation

National Medical Association

National Mental Health Association

National Native American AIDS Prevention Center

National Network of Runaway and Youth Services

National School Boards Association

National Urban League

National Women’s Law Center

Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.

Sex Information and Education Council of the U.S.

Society for Adolescent Medicine

Society for Behavioral Pediatrics

Society for Public Health Education, Inc.

Society for the Scientific Study of Sex

Unitarian Universalist Association

United Church Board for Homeland Ministries

United States Conference of Local Health Officers

United States Conference of Mayors

University of Pennsylvania

Y.W.C.A. of the U.S.A.” [11]

SIECUS’ guidelines and goals are reflected in the state’s HIV/AIDS program. This program is funded through the New Cooperative Agreement between the State Department of Education and the CDC. The SIECUS philosophy is also implemented in school districts through the State Department of Education’s school reform efforts. School improvement plans implement Part G of Goals 2000 titled “Office of Comprehensive School Health Education.” This section allows the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to act as a liaison for related activities of the Department of Health and Human Services to expand school health education research grant programs.

School reform (also referred to as a School Improvement Plan) is implemented with tax dollars (public funds) as well as funds from partnerships created with businesses, and philanthropies at the federal, state and local school district levels. These moneys for which we are so eager, is the “applesauce” that helps to swallow the “pills” (programs) distributed by the members of SIECUS’ Coalition to Support Sexuality Education and include: contraception to minors without parental consent, socialistic health reform, family planning (population control), and comprehensive health guidelines we would otherwise reject. What was “voluntary” yesterday has become mandatory today in order to obtain or retain the funding school districts have become accustomed to receiving.

The American Red Cross has also entered into a “Cooperative Agreement” with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention relative to HIV/AIDS education and prevention.[12]

The Minnesota Department of Education produced a booklet titled “Alone No More Developing a School Support System for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth.” It did so “through a grant to the Minnesota Department of Education AIDS/HIV/ STD/UP Prevention Program from the US DHHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Comprehensive School Health Education to Prevent the Transmission of AIDS/HIV.

“This resource is recommended for use in school settings by teachers, school boards, school administrators and student service personnel. This resource has been reviewed and approved by the Minnesota Department of Education Federal Review Panel for HIV prevention in the school settings.”[13]

Alone No More quotes Minnesota Statute 363.12 as stating “It is the public policy of this state to secure for persons in this state, freedom from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services and education–because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, and age.”

Alone No More suggests that curriculum “Outline the essential concepts to be included across subject areas such as sexual identity development, list topics in all subject areas in the current curriculum where concepts need to be modified so they are inclusive of the issues pertaining to gay, lesbian and bisexual youth, for example dating relationships, family members, advocacy hotlines. Determine which subject areas should integrate essential concepts and specific accurate information about sexual orientation-health education, personal and family life sciences, social studies/civics. Determine opportunities in all subject areas to contradict negative messages and integrate the contributions of gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals, such as in English literature, science, art, music, social studies, etc. (See appendix E.”)

The book continues with the following quotes:

- Be clear that learning information about sexual orientation in the classroom - specifically homosexuality - is not recruitment or permission for experimentation.

- Use inclusive language. Talk about friendships or partners, not exclusively boyfriend/girlfriend inferring only heterosexual relationships.

- Encourage positive learning opportunities about homosexuality.

- Let gay, lesbian and bisexual teenagers know that they are ‘okay’.

- Know the referral agencies and counselors in your area.

- Gay/lesbian hotlines can provide access to professional persons and agencies that are qualified to help.

- Examine your own biases. You need to remain a neutral source of information and support.

- Be informed. Most of us are products of a heterosexist/homophobic society that has been paralyzed by misinformation and fear. You cannot be free of it by just deciding to be free, read reliable resources and talk to qualified persons.”

The book goes on to provide a “Checklist for Assessing Workplace Homophobia/Heterosexism.” The checklist lists 19 areas to be rated yes, no, or unsure. Included are:

- Whether sexual orientation is included in an antidiscrimination policy, staff orientation and volunteer training, advertising services and job openings in the gay/lesbian media,

- Forms for student/client completion which take into account “diversity of households, including homes with partners of the same gender,”

- Referring to “partners” rather than husband, wife, spouse, or boyfriend and girlfriend,

- Inservices on gay/lesbian issues,

- We have gay/lesbian material such as magazines and newspapers in our waiting room or school library,

- We have contacts and make referrals within the gay, lesbian and bisexual community,

- If the organization makes financial or in-kind donations, some of them are to gay/lesbian/bisexual causes and organizations

- If I were a gay, lesbian or bisexual student, I would choose to be open about my sexual orientation at this school/agency.”

Appendix H lists library materials on gay, lesbian, bisexual issues for children, adolescents and for educators and student service staff on counseling issues relative to homosexuality.

Is there any doubt that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Disease Control is using your tax dollars to support homosexuality?

Imagine the “outcome” of lawsuits filed for “hate crimes” against those who have the audacity to celebrate their Judeo-Christian cultural diversity which considers homosexuality to be an abomination before their God? How is the safe passage of these families’ children (who also pay school taxes) protected in school and the workplace?