f human sexual activity in the United States. This "information" clearly is not true. The vast majority of Americans begin having sexual relationships before marriage. 74 million American adults are classified as single because they have delayed marriage, decided to remain single, are divorced, or have entered into gay partnerships (McIlhaney). The majority of these adults are involved in sexual behavior and most of them would take offense at students learning this new federal "standard." The claims of abstinence-only programs are based on neither science nor human experience. "Most young people engage in sexual relationships without negative physical, social, or emotional consequences, and most teen-agers who have intercourse do so responsibly" (Haffner). It is time for those afraid of their own and other's sexuality to stay out of young adult's beds.Teenagers are sexually adults and are not to be "protected" from their own desires. Some abstinence-only supporters say that teens are not ready for sexual intercourse. How can they make one-size-fits-all decisions for so varied a population on such an incredibly personal matter? Perhaps the only reason some feel that teens are Trinchieri 14unprepared for the natural advent of their sexuality is that we simply do not prepare them for it."Much of the current curricula give students the impression that sexual expression is reserved for adults; minors engaging in sexual activities are "playing with fire." Fluidity of sexual expression, the language of sexual intimacy, and the creativity of human sexual response are sorely missing in traditional sexuality education programs" (Elia).This projection of sexuality, as something that is very, very bad for adolescents, will only lead to future sexual dysfunction. Because adolescents are only told "No, no, no!" whether they are 12 or 18 from these abstinence-only groups, sexuality becomes viewed as dirty, unwanted, and unnatural. It is n...
