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Florida received $6,930,070 in federal funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Fiscal Year 2003.1
Florida Sexuality Education Law
Florida law states that in order for high school students to graduate, they must receive one-half credit in "life management skills" in either ninth or tenth grade. This course must include instruction in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the benefits of sexual abstinence, and the consequences of teen pregnancy.
School boards may decide to allow additional instruction regarding HIV/AIDS. Such instruction may include information about "means used to control the spread of acquired immune deficiency syndrome."
All instruction and course material must:
- a) Teach abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the expected standard for all school-age students while teaching the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage.
- b) Emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity is a certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and other associated health problems.
- c) Teach that each student has the power to control personal behavior and encourage students to base actions on reasoning, self-esteem, and respect for others.
- d) Provide instruction and material that is appropriate for the grade and age of the student."
Parents or guardians may choose to remove their children from any or all this instruction. This is referred to as an "opt-out" policy.
See Florida Statute, Title XLVIII, Chapter 1003, Section 46.
Recent Legislation
The Florida legislature does not carry bills over from one session to the next. Related 2003 and 2004 bills are listed. Florida's legislative session ended on April 30, 2004.
Bills Extending Requirement of Community Health Education Die, 2004 Session
Florida law currently requires that schools teach comprehensive health education which includes, among other things, concepts of family life, and sexual abstinence. House Bill 1047 and Senate Bill 2534, both introduced in March 2004, would have required that such education be taught at every grade level, pre-kindergarten through eighth grade for at least one semester.
Both bills died at the end of the legislative session.
AIDS Education Bill Died, 2004 Session
Senate Bill 1424, introduced in March 2004, would have required the Department of Education to award grants to public school districts to implement school-based AIDS educational activities. Criteria for selection for the competitive grants would have been based, in part, on program objectives, target population, outcome measurement, teen sexual health statistics in the area, and qualifications of personnel.
The bill died with the end of the legislative session in May 2004.
Events of Note
Florida Pulls AIDS Education Pamphlets with Bible Messages
April 2003
In early April 2003, the ACLU asked Florida health officials to end their distribution of pamphlets entitled A Christian Response to AIDS because the pamphlet included Biblical passages. The pamphlets were designed to encourage Christians to help and accept people with HIV/AIDS. They do not discuss HIV/AIDS prevention.
In a letter to the Florida Department of Health, the Director of the ACLU of Florida wrote "while the state must respond to this public health crisis and find ways to stop the spread of the AIDS virus, the state must base its message on…medical and scientific information, rather than advocate a particular Christian set of beliefs. Sectarian messages are inappropriate for agencies of the state."2
In response to the ACLU's complaints, the Florida Department of Health decided to pull the pamphlets from distribution. At his Senate confirmation hearing in mid-April, the health secretary said the brochure was inappropriate for an agency funded by taxpayers. "This kind of pamphlet is not consistent with our current mission," he said.
The pamphlet has come under criticism in other states where it is also used. In March 2003, Pennsylvania officials removed the brochure from their state Health Department web site after the ACLU complained.
School Votes to Add "Sexual Orientation" to School Policy
March 2003, Palm Beach, FL
In late March 2003, the Palm Beach County School District voted five to two to add "sexual orientation" to the school board's anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies that cover students.
This is the third time the proposal has come before the school board during a 12 year period. In the past, the school chose to maintain a general policy that didn't specify gays and lesbians as a protected group.
In the weeks leading up to the meeting, a vocal group of opponents started a letter-writing campaign that warned that adding "sexual orientation" to the school policy would "promote the idea that homosexual and other bizarre sexual behaviors are acceptable, respectable, and healthy."3
Supporters of the policy argued at the meeting that gay and lesbian students suffer bullying and intimidation in school every day and that adding "sexual orientation" to the anti-harassment policy will give it more teeth.
Most board members agreed with this proposal. One board member commented, "I received numerous calls and e-mails about this, and those who called expressing opposition to it are the ones who made the case for me that it is necessary. It was frightening to me to hear their cold words."4
Teacher Fired for Demonstrating Condom Use to Class
January 2003, Collier, FL
A high school health teacher in Collier County, FL, was recently fired after students in his class demonstrated how to put on a condom by using a banana. Classroom lights were low and Christmas music played in the background as his students conducted the demonstration. In addition, he had certain students assume the role of "sex therapists" and answer other students' questions about sexuality-related issues.
At least one student complained about the teacher's class practices, prompting school officials to suspend the teacher. The teacher appealed to the Collier County School Board, and it reviewed his case at a public meeting.
"The information is so clear: he doesn't belong in the classroom," one board member said.5 "It's those kinds of demonstrations that we don't want in our schools," the school superintendent said.6 The teacher did not attend the meeting because his wife was in labor.
The teacher argued that he was never trained in the district's sexuality education curriculum and that he was unaware that condoms were not allowed in the classroom. He said that he based his lesson plans on the class health textbook which discussed condoms on four pages. He said that "it wasn't merely a demonstration of how to place a condom over a banana. But it was a role play simulating a situation students could find themselves in and help them act responsibly in such a situation."7
School administrators, however, fired the teacher saying that they did not need his teaching services anymore but that the decision was not necessarily due to his teaching practices. According to school district policy, the district can fire any teacher during his or her first 97 days of employment for any or no reason. The teacher had only started teaching in the district in late October 2003.
Florida's Youth: Statistical Information of Note8
- In 2003, 47% of female high school students and 56% of male high school students in Florida reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 45% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2003, 4% of female high school students and 13% of male high school students in Florida reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 10% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2003, 11% of female high school students and 21% of male high school students in Florida reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 11% of female high school students and 18% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2003, 35% of female high school students and 37% of male high school students in Florida reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 35% of females and 34% of males nationwide.
- In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 17% of females and 26% of males in Florida reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 30% of males nationwide.
- In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 59% of females and 72% of males in Florida reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 57% of females and 69% of males nationwide.
- In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 16% of females and 12% of males in Florida reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 30% of males nationwide.
- In 2003, 6% of female high school students and 4% of male high school students in Florida reported ever having been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant compared to 5% of female high school students and 4% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2003, 88% of high school students in Florida reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.
- In 2000, Florida's abortion rate was 33 per 1,000 women ages 15-19 compared to a teen abortion rate of 24 per 1,000 nationwide.9
- In 2001, Florida's birth rate was 48 per 1,000 females ages 15-19 compared to a teen birth rate of 45 per 1,000 nationwide.10
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida's Youth: Statistical Information of Note11
- In 2001, 41% of female high school students and 54% of male high school students in Ft. Lauderdale reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 43% of female high school students and 49% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2001, 3% of female high school students and 15% of male high school students in Ft. Lauderdale reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 9% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2001, 9% of female high school students and 22% of male high school students in Ft. Lauderdale reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 11% of female high school students and 17% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2001, 31% of female high school students and 36% of male high school students in Ft. Lauderdale reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 33% of females and 33% of males nationwide.
- In 2001, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 16% of females and 30% of males in Ft. Lauderdale reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 31% of males nationwide.
- In 2001, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 70% of females and 77% of males in Ft. Lauderdale reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 51% of females and 65% of males nationwide.
- In 2001, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 16% of females and 10% of males in Ft. Lauderdale reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 15% of males nationwide.
- In 2001, 4% of female high school students and 4% of male high school students in Ft. Lauderdale reported ever having been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant compared to 5% of female high school students and 4% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2001, 88% of high school students in Ft. Lauderdale reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 89% of high school students nationwide.
Miami, Florida's Youth: Statistical Information of Note
- In 2003, 45% of female high school students and 62% of male high school students in Miami reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 45% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2003, 2% of female high school students and 18% of male high school students in Miami reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 10% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2003, 8% of female high school students and 26% of male high school students in Miami reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 11% of female high school students and 18% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2003, 36% of female high school students and 39% of male high school students in Miami reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 35% of females and 34% of males nationwide.
- In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 12% of females and 18% of males in Miami reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 30% of males nationwide.
- In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 58% of females and 79% of males in Miami reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 57% of females and 69% of males nationwide.
- In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 9% of females and 5% of males in Miami reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 13% of males nationwide.
- In 2003, 10% of female high school students and 5% of male high school students in Miami reported ever having been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant compared to 5% of female high school students and 4% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2003, 84% of high school students in Miami reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.
Palm Beach, Florida's Youth: Statistical Information of Note
- In 2003, 45% of female high school students and 58% of male high school students in Palm Beach reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 45% of female high school students and 48% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2003, 3% of female high school students and 16% of male high school students in Palm Beach reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 4% of female high school students and 10% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2003, 10% of female high school students and 24% of male high school students in Palm Beach reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 11% of female high school students and 18% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2003, 36% of female high school students and 42% of male high school students in Palm Beach reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 35% of females and 34% of males nationwide.
- In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 17% of females and 31% of males in Palm Beach reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 30% of males nationwide.
- In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 61% of females and 74% of males in Palm Beach reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 57% of females and 69% of males nationwide.
- In 2003, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 19% of females and 12% of males in Palm Beach reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 21% of females and 13% of males nationwide.
- In 2003, 6% of female high school students and 5% of male high school students in Palm Beach reported ever having been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant compared to 5% of female high school students and 4% of male high school students nationwide.
- In 2003, 88% of high school students in Palm Beach reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 88% of high school students nationwide.
Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding
Florida received $2.2 million in federal Title V funding in Fiscal Year 2003. The Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage grant requires states to provide three state-raised dollars or the equivalent in services for every four federal dollars received. The state match can be provided in part or in full by local groups. In Florida, the state does not match this grant. Instead, sub-grantees match the federal funding. The state has allocated a separate $3.5 million from state funds for 2003, which is also contracted out to sub-grantees. Some sub-grantees receive money from both the federal and state funds.
Special Projects of Regional and National Significance-Community Based Abstinence Education (SRANS-CBAE) and Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) Grantees
There are nine SPRANS-CBAE grantees in Florida: Baker County Health Department, Bay County Health Department, Catholic Charities, Economic Opportunity Family Health Center, Empowering the Vision, Florida Christian College, Gold Coast Community Services, Pinellas Pregnancy Center, and Project S.O.S. There are four AFLA grantees in Florida: BETA Center Inc., Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Switchboard of Miami, and Urban League of Broward County.
The Pinellas Pregnancy Center is a crisis pregnancy center with the motto "we're in it for life." A link on its website called "abortion info." leads to information about secondary virginity and STDs but does not lead to any information about abortion. For actual decision making guidance, women are encouraged to call the center. The abstinence section of the website lists some reasons why teens have sex, including "pressure, curiosity need for love, drug/ alcohol influence, and rebellion." It also states reasons for abstinence, including "YOU are worth waiting for, it's an act of love, AIDS doesn't discriminate, some scars never heal, and self-control beats birth control."
Florida Christian College's website encourages college students not to have sex. The website starts with "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19." The site then lists statistics on STD and HIV infection.
Federal and State Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in FY 2003
Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Program Grantee
Length of Grant |
Amount of Grant Money |
Type of Grant (includes SPRANS-CBAE, Title V, and AFLA) |
Florida Department of Health
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/family/abstinence/index.html |
$2,200,000 federal/ $3,500,000 state |
Title V |
| ABST (Abstinence Between Strong Teens) |
$89,350 |
Title V sub-grantee |
Baker County Health Department
DUAL GRANTEE |
$84,000
$343,698 |
Title V sub-grantee
SPRANS-CBAE (Implementation Grant) |
| Catholic Charities, Diocese of Palm Beach |
$50,000 |
Title V sub-grantee |
| Central Florida Health Care |
$116, 125 |
Title V sub-grantee |
| Christian Care Center |
$98,833 |
Title V sub-grantee |
Empowering the Vision
DUAL GRANTEE |
$116,125
$156,297 |
Title V sub-grantee
SPRANS-CBAE (Implementation Grant) |
| Florida State University |
$450,000 |
Title V sub-grantee (Evaluation) |
Gold Coast Community Services
DUAL GRANTEE |
$100,000
$800,000 |
Title V sub-grantee
SPRANS-CBAE (Implementation Grant) |
| Hendry County Health Department |
$65,000 |
Title V sub-grantee |
| Kiss & Driscoll Advertising |
$300,000 |
Title V sub-grantee (Media Campaign) |
| Mary's Shelter |
$81,845 |
Title V sub-grantee |
| Orange County Health Department |
$116,125 |
Title V sub-grantee |
| Pierre Tousaint, Human Services Division |
$100,000 |
Title V sub-grantee |
Pinellas Pregnancy Center
DUAL GRANTEE (United Students for Abstinence/ Pinellas Pregnancy Center)
http://www.pregctr.net |
$100,500
$223,642 |
Title V sub-grantee
SPRANS-CBAE (Implementation Grant) |
Project S.O.S.
DUAL GRANTEE |
$116,125
$631,830 |
Title V sub-grantee
SPRANS-CBAE (Implementation Grant) |
| Putnam County Health Department |
$90,000 |
Title V sub-grantee |
| River Region Human Services |
$110,000 |
Title V sub-grantee |
| Tampa Metropolitan YMCA |
$81,000 |
Title V sub-grantee |
| Washington County Health Department |
$116,125 |
Title V sub-grantee |
| Bay County Health Department |
$131,000 |
SPRANS-CBAE (Implementation Grant) |
| Catholic Charities |
$99,963 |
SPRANS-CBAE (Planning Grant) |
Economic Opportunity Family Health Center
2001-2004 |
$698,169 |
SPRANS-CBAE (Implementation Grant) |
Florida Christian College
http://www.fcc.edu |
$798,417 |
SPRANS-CBAE (Implementation Grant)
|
| Beta Center Inc |
$225,000 |
AFLA |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County |
$225,000 |
AFLA |
| Switchboard of Miami |
$225,000 |
AFLA |
| Urban League of Broward County |
$172,054 |
AFLA |
Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Coordinator
Terrye S. Bradley
Florida Department of Health
Family Health Services
4025 Esplande Way 105A
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 245-4466
Florida Organizations that Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education
ACLU of Florida
4500 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 340
Miami, FL 33137
Phone: (305) 576-2336
http://www.aclufl.org
Florida Association of Planned Parenthood Affiliates
317 East Park Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 201-0516
http://www.floridachoice.org
Florida NOW
Phone: (850) 656-0012
http://www.flnow.org
Florida Women's Consortium
3150 Holiday Springs Blvd., Bldg. 8
Margate, FL 33063
http://www.floridawomensconsortium.com
National Women's Political Caucus of Florida
P.O. Box 531198
Miami, Florida 33153
http://www.nwpc-centralflorida.com
Republican Pro-Choice Coalition, Florida State Chapter
P.O. Box 30503
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420
Phone: (561) 493-8880
http://www.rpcc.org/FL
Florida Organizations that Oppose Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Family First
P.O. Box 2882
Tampa, FL 33601
http://www.familyfirst.net
Florida Right To Life (Florida Affiliate of National Right to Life Committee)
3336 Edgewater Dr.
Orlando, FL 32804-3742
Phone: (407) 422-7111
http://www.frtl.org
Newspapers in Florida
Bradenton Herald
Donna Wright
Medical/Health Writer
102 Manatee Ave.
W.Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: (941) 745-7049
Miami Herald
Kathy Foster
Medical/Health Editor
1 Herald Plaza
Miami, FL 33132
Phone: (305) 376-3668
Orlando Sentinel
Robyn Suriano
Medical/Health Reporter
633 N. Orange Ave.
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: (407) 420-5487
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Maggie MiilleLabor Reporter
801 S. Tamiami Triangle
Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: (941) 957-5375
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
John Rhodes
Medical/Health Editor
200 E. Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954) 356-4527
St. Petersburg Times
Medical/Health Editor
490 1st Ave. S.
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 893-8111
References
- This refers to the fiscal year for the Federal Government which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2003 begins on October 1, 2002 and ends on September 30, 2003.
- D. Royse, "Civil Liberties Group Urges Florida to Recall AIDS Pamphlets with Biblical Passages," Associated Press (Tallahassee, FL), April 4, 2003.
- K. Miller, "School Board OKs Protection for Gay Students," Palm Beach Post (FL), March 25, 2003.
- Ibid.
- Associated Press, "Florida School Board Fires High School Teacher Who Gave Condom Demonstration," January, 31, 2003.
- "Sex Education Teacher Fired Over Banana Lesson," Ananova, January 31, 2003.
- "Florida Teacher in Trouble Over Condom on Banana," Ananova, January 15, 2003.
- Unless otherwise cited, all statistical information comes from: J. Grunbaum, et. al., "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 2003," Surveillance Summaries, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 53, no.SS-2, May 21, 2004, pp. 1-95. Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs/.
- U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics: Overall Trends, Trends by Race and Ethnicity and State-by-State Information, (New York: Alan Guttmacher Institute, February, 2004). Available online at http://www.guttmacher.org.
- A. Papillo, et.al., Facts at a Glance, (Washington, DC: Child Trends, February, 2004).
- J. Grunbaum, et. al., "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance - United States, 2001," Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 51, no.SS-4, June 28, 2002, pp. 1-64. Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/yrbs/. Ft. Lauderdale did not participate in the 2003 YRBS.
