Who says you have to have sex?! 

Choosing not to is your right! You can choose not to just for today or just for this month. You can choose to wait as long as you’d like to! It’s your decision. Choosing not to have sex doesn’t mean you won’t ever have sex. And when you do you’ll need information about contraception and condoms.

The Politics of Abstinence

Unfortunately, some far-right conservatives believe you should ONLY learn about the “abstinence-until-marriage” approach to sexuality. They believe students should be taught abstinence-until-marriage programs, which censor information about contraception and condoms; make moral judgments students may not share; stigmatize and shame students who have already had sex; and discriminate against GLBTQ students who cannot legally marry. They even believe we should export the abstinence-only approach to other countries, denying information and services to some of the most vulnerable young people in the world. These extremists are willing to sacrifice the health and rights of our generation. Choosing not to have sex is one excellent option. But it should be an informed, positive choice. We all have the right to all the information we need to make decisions about sex.

Blog it!

So what do you think about choosing not to have sex? Is it the right choice for you? Do you think TV portrays this issue fairly or accurately? Did you or would you go to a purity ball or make a virginity pledge? How has that worked out for you? Should your sex life be a political issue? Write a blog on choosing not to have sex.


Interested in this issue? Keep reading!

Contraceptive Access
Condoms
Sex Education
Abstinence-only-until-marriage Programs

HealthFacts: Choosing Not to Have Sex

Learn about choosing not to have sex as one option for young people. 

Do you have a question about choosing not to have sex?

Ask one of Advocates’ MySistahs or YouthResource Peer Educators!