Lambda Legal Responds to Testimony by Former Surgeon General Carmona on Abstinence-Only Education: Politics Trumps Truth

(New York, July 11, 2007) — Today, Lambda Legal's Deputy Legal Director, Hayley Gorenberg, responded to comments made by former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona about how politics trumped truth regarding the efficacy and scientific validity of abstinence only education:

"Lambda Legal has long held the position that abstinence-only education is dangerously misleading and has advocated for those in charge of educating the next generation to listen to the nation's chief medical experts about what is best for the health of our nation's youth.  Yesterday, former Surgeon General Richard Carmona said what we have been saying all along – abstinence-only education is 'scientifically incorrect.'  Not only does it teach fallacies about the transmission of HIV, which endangers public health and contributes to the stigma that Lambda Legal's HIV Project battles daily, but it also denies the existence of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people by telling youth that sexual activity outside marriage is dangerous and wrong when marriage is often denied to LGBT people.

"We urge that as our next chief medical officer is chosen, those directing the education of our nation's young people will listen to science rather than continuing this harmful program, which has consistently failed our youth and wasted hundreds of millions of dollars.  Lambda Legal also encourages the Senate Health Committee to seek a successor who holds science and sound medicine above all else.  We must not have as our nation's 'top doctor' anyone who allows politics or prejudice to guide his or her medical beliefs." 

In 2002, Lambda Legal launched a campaign called "Tell Me the (Whole) Truth," to educate the LGBT and HIV communities about the shortcomings of abstinence-only education programs.  In 2007, Lambda Legal's HIV Project released a report on the state of HIV stigma and discrimination.

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Contact: Jackie Yodashkin T: 212-809-8585 ext. 229; E: jyodashkin@lambdalegal.org

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.