Act
In The Culture
Issues
Campaigns
Support
About
Advocates For Youth
Who was robbed at this year's Oscars?
Avatar for Best Picture
Gabby Sidibe
Up in the Air for Adapted Screenplay
Anna Kendrick for Supporting Actress
Fantastic Mr. Fox for Best Animation
Johnny Weir! Still bitter.

You must be logged in to vote.
You must be logged in to vote




My Sistahs - A webite by and for young women of color
Youth Resource - A website by and for lgbtq youth
Advocates for Youth - A website for parents, health professionals and educators
AmbienteJoven.org 
Blog - Amplify your voice
About Me:
I work at Advocates for Youth!

Monday, March 1, 2010 at 9:39:00 AM EST
Rating:

I just want to make sure everyone on the East Coast knows about Momma's Hip Hop Kitchen - happening this Saturday!

Here is the word from its cofounders.  For those who don't know,  co-founder Kathleen is a longtime member of the Young Women of Color Leadership Council at Advocates for Youth!


Momma’s Hip Hop Kitchen, Volume 3: "Back to Our Roots"

Join us Saturday, March 6th, for what's sure to be an amazing event!!!

Momma’s Hip Hop Kitchen (MHHK) is a concert, platform and showcase of socially conscious female artists focused creating awareness on the impact of Environmental Injustices and Educational Inequalities on women of color.
MHHK Volume 3, Back to Our Roots, will be honoring International Women’s Month by bringing together educators, students, environmentalists, djs, emcees, b-girls, poets, visual artists, dancers, healers, pastors, organizers and activists to collectively express our solidarity with women’s rights!

We hope that you can join us at this free and family-friendly event. Local organizations and businesses focused on these and/or related issues are encouraged to participate by tabling or simply attending.

When and Where: Saturday, March 6th, 2010 @ the Hostos Center for Arts and Culture 450 Grand Concourse (at 149th St.) Bronx, NY (Main Theater)

Time: 2-5pm

This event is FREE and open to all ages.

For more information about the event, please visit our website @ http://www.mhhk.org or email hiphopkitchen@gmail.com. Organizations interested in tabling can register here. >Cookin' up a storm!
-Kathleen and Lah


Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 7:58:00 AM EST
Rating:

Hey folks, I just wanted to pass along this opportunity!


My name is Stacy Buchanan, Project Marketing Coordinator for The WGBH Lab (lab.wgbh.org).  I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself, and a new project that we have started that I’m hoping will be of interest to the youth that participate in your program.

Quick background on us:  The WGBH Lab is a space for filmmakers and media makers of all kinds, to connect, interact, watch, create, and collaborate on work. Our most successful outlet is our Open Call series (http://lab.wgbh.org/open-call), in which where we partner with an influential team, create a compelling theme, invite media makers to submit completed video shorts in relation to this theme, and choose potentials for future PBS broadcasts.

In our latest Open Call, we’ve partnered up with MASTERPIECE Classic, and have launched The Video Diary Project (http://www.thewgbhlab.org/masterpiece), inspired by The Diary of Anne Frank. We’re asking young media makers (ages 13 and up), to submit video diaries telling us about their lives – specifically areas where certain aspects of intolerance may be involved. How have they overcome being bullied or disrespected for the way they look, think, or for what they believe in – that kind of stuff.  Portions of the diaries submitted may be selected for broadcast on MASTERPIECE Classic’s PBS airing of The Diary of Anne Frank on April 11th, 2010.  

Do you think that you could help us spread the word on this event to your teen participants? Amplify is such a great resource and outlet for teens – we would love to hear their stories.  We have a hard deadline of getting video diaries in by March 8th, in order to be considered for broadcast.  Video diaries will also be accepted until the end of May for a separate PBS broadcast component.   In the meantime, please visit us at: http://www.thewgbhlab.org/masterpiece to learn more about the project (and us), and I do hope to hear from you soon!


Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 12:12:00 PM EST
Rating:

Hi everyone, I am just passing along this opportunity to be interviewed for NEA Today magazine!

Let’s Talk About Sex (Ed)


NEA Today wants to hear from students from around the country who have ideas about sex education in their schools. Describe the sex ed program at your school, and explain why you think it does or does not work for teenagers. What would you change and why? We want to hear from all perspectives – those in favor of abstinence only programs, those in favor of comprehensive sex ed, and anything in between. We’ll consider all responses and follow up with some of you for an interview for the magazine. This story will be your turn to tell American educators what you think!

You can send emails to clong@nea.org or leave a comment on this entry.


Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 8:37:00 AM EST
Rating:

From Time Magazine

The legal case that gay-rights activists feared to see is about to get under way in a federal courtroom in San Francisco. For the next several weeks, plaintiffs will argue that the U.S. Constitution forbids states from restricting marriage to one man and one woman. The case has brought together some of the most powerful appellate attorneys in America, but has divided gay-rights lawyers and legal scholars who fear that even if successful, the case could set the issue on a collision course with a less-than-sympathetic U.S. Supreme Court.

And, of course, activists are pretty sure the Supreme Court is not going to recognize a right to same-sex marriage - and their ruling will set a bad precedent for the coming decades in the fight for equal marriage rights.

I am very interested to know what Amplify readers think about this.   Should the plaintiffs have waited? 

I don't know where I stand on this but I have to say I am feeling the one lawyer's pain here:

 "...No one urging us not to proceed could or would say when would be a good time to bring this case."

He's right - it does feel like the country/courts won't be "ready" for the lawsuit anytime soon. Do you think that justifies the plaintiffs proceeding with the case? 


Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 8:31:00 AM EST
Rating:

We won't be posting any new columns between now and January 4, so I wanted to leave you with this year-end roundup - a favorite column selected by the author, and a favorite column selected by me!

By press time I had not heard from Bianca Laureano, author of Media Justice, as to her favorite, but mine is Communal Survival:  Holding Each Other Accountable and Healing, for its thoughtful discussion of a "scandal" in hip hop.

L. Michael Gipson, author of Music and Musings, selects American Idol:  Killing Pink Dreams as his fave of the year.  I had selected True Blood:  Race, Sex, and Notes to Alan Ball because of its much-needed commentary there, but I'm also going to highlight this elegy to E. Lynn Harris - such a sad loss for 2009.  Check out his work on SoulTracks, too.

Eric Jost, author of Culture Voyeur, selects Take Pride in Pride as his favorite.  I pick The New Masculinity, which explores far-right attacks on gender equity.

And Yes Means Yes author Jaclyn Friedman selects Round is a Shape as her favorite, while I loved Let's Talk About Casual Sex, Baby.

Check out all their columns and their other work, linked to above!  Chime in with your faves as well!


Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 8:22:00 AM EST
Rating:

Happy holidays everyone!  Between now and January 4, you may notice a bit less action on Amplify's front page - staff will be on vacation!

I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect for a moment on the past year.  Amplify officially launched on Jan 1, 2009, and since then I have gotten to know so many of you by your amazing writing and unique points of view.  It has been such an honor!  From Amplify's front page bloggers to the young people in our state and country campaigns, from peer educators to those of you who have found a home on the site outside your work with Advocates for youth,  I've seen so much great work and committment to improving sexual health and rights.

I am looking forward to an exciting 2010 and I hope you are too!  Have a happy and safe new year!


Emily


Friday, December 11, 2009 at 11:23:00 AM EST
Rating:

First and foremost I want to urge everyone to call Speaker Pelosi's office today and urge her to demand that funding for abstinence-only programs be removed from the health care bill! 

And check out James Wagoner's blog for a rundown on the possible next steps in the health care reform process.

You've been reading about some of this in AFY_Mimi's blog:  right now a summit on climate change is going on in Copenhagen.  Advocates for Youth along with other reproductive health and rights groups have signed onto a declaration of support for a just and sustainable world.  Climate change disproportionately affects women and youth, and Advocates for Youth supports culturally competent approaches which provide all people with the education and access to services they need to support efforts to combat climate change.

Read the Declaration (PDF)


And finally, I thought this story was a perfect example of why the Great American Condom Campaign is needed.   What a baffling, disturbing policy and what a ridiculous response to the anonymous condom distribution attempt. (All emphasis mine)


 

Residents in Aquinas Hall, Meagher Hall, and Cunningham Hall woke up to some early Christmas presents last Friday morning. The floors of their dorms had been strewn with Fantasy latex condoms. The condoms were randomly thrown about the dorms. Some also had messages taped to them which read: "PC is rated one of the LEAST sexually healthy schools in the country. Use a condom!"

Resident assistants collected the condoms and filed reports with the Office of Residence Life. The condoms were then delivered to the Office of Residence Life, where they were disposed of.

"We're a Catholic college," said Steven Sears, Ph.D., dean of Residence Life. "We stay in line with Dominican Teaching. It's against our Catholic teachings." In accordance with its Catholic mission, Providence College does not allow the Center for Health Services or the Office of Residence Life to provide the student body with condoms.

According to Kevin Butler, dean of Student Conduct, there is no set punishment which any guilty student or students would receive if caught. "It's a violation of College policy to hand out anything without permission," said Butler.

...Last week there was slight controversy concerning SHEPARD's sponsorship of free HIV testing by AIDS Ocean State. The organization was not going to come to campus because it would not have been able to tell students that if they are sexually active the best way to prevent the contraction of HIV is to use contraception, such as a condom, during sexual intercourse.


Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 7:51:00 PM EST
Rating:

(By James Wagoner, President, Advocates for Youth)

This week, the Senate voted AGAINST using health care reform to restrict women’s access to abortion coverage.  By a vote of 54 to 45 – and after weeks of grassroots pressure from across the country – the Senate delivered a striking victory.

And it wouldn’t have happened without you.

We’ve sent an enormous number of email these past few weeks – so thank you for bearing with is, and for all you have done to help reach this point.

In the last few weeks, you have:

  • Sent 5,395 letters to Congress
  • Made thousands of phone calls to your Senators
  • Organized events and helped raise awareness on over 100 college campuses


And on December 2, more than 1,200 activists came to DC to lobby their legislators in person. 

Momentum is on our side – call Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office today. 
 

Call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak with Speaker Pelosi’s office.  Tell her staff:

“We are counting on Speaker Pelosi and progressives in the House to remove the Stupak Amendment from the final health care reform bill.

As the House leadership begins to work with the Senate on the final bill, we need Speaker Pelosi to pressure her Senate colleagues to remove the $50 million in funding for abstinence-only programs from the final legislation."

For details on the possible next steps in Congress on health care reform, click here.
 


Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 2:30:00 PM EST
Rating:

A few Advocates for Youth staffers have shared some informatiom about the Fiscal Year 2010 federal budget and how it might impact young people and sexual and reproductive health and rights.  I thought I would pass on their work!  Thanks to Marcela Howell, Donald Hitchcock, and Brian Ackerman.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiatives

Congress allocated $114.5 million toward teen pregnancy prevention initiatives that are medically accurate, age-appropriate, and discuss abstinence as well as contraception. These new funds will fall under the purview of the newly established Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

The appropriations bill eliminates all existing funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.  Unfortunately, this new program focuses on just teen pregnancy prevention, and is not inclusive of HIV/STD prevention.

Funding for Family Planning

The Title X program , which funds family planning initiatives, received a $10 million increase for a total of $317,491,000.  This matches the increase in the President’s FY 2010 budget, the final House bill, and the Senate committee mark, but still clearly falls short of adequately funding the program. 

District of Columbia:  Abortion Access

As you probably know, the District of Columbia's budget is decided not by its local government but by the federal government. The new budget eliminates a ban on the District of Columbia’s use of locally-raised tax dollars for medically necessary abortion care for low-income women.  The elimination of the ban means that DC can make its own decisions about whether or not to use local funds for abortion.

District of Columbia:  Needle Exchange Programs

Despite extensive evidence that needle exchange programs help reduce HIV rates in a community and do not increase drug use, a rider had been added to the budget banning the District of Columbia from using local tax dollars to fund these programs. That rider has been removed.

International Family Planning Funding

International funding for  reproductive and sexual health was set at $648 million, including $55 million for UNFPA (the United Nations Population Fund) - the highest level ever for reproductive health.
  • Summary: Read a summary of the Health and Human Services Appropriations in the FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Bill here.
  • Bill Text: Read the legislative text for the Health and Human Services Appropriations in the FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Bill here.
  • Joint Explanatory Statement: Read the "Joint Explanatory Statement" for the Health and Human Services Appropriations in the FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Bill here.
 


Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 8:36:00 AM EST
Rating:

The school district of Alameda, California has been in the news because of its elementary school curriculum about bullying prevention.  

The problem with the curriculum:  its Lesson 9 teaches that some people have same-sex parents and that those students should not be bullied.

Without even the usual lip service to their caring for the sinner but not the sin, anti-gay activists have cried "Indoctrination!"  One activist said parents don't want their kids being "bombarded" with "pro-homosexual messages" at school.

Others say it's just too early to learn these lessons; when the lesson was introduced a conservative blogger called it  "The end of the innocence" - a particularly disturbing formulation as it implies that learning not to taunt and bully other children is the equivalent of teaching them The Joy Of Gay Sex.

Here's the AP on a book that is a part of the curriculum:

The book, "Who's In A Family," contains pictures of families headed by grandparents, single parents and gay parents, among others.

Wait, so this book shows....actual families?  Like, pictures of people in families?  And one of them has a grandma, and one has two dads or two moms?  ....  I don't feel my innocence slipping away.

The lessons are needed:

From Fox News:

Some parents like Carrie Brash said the curriculum is necessary to combat bigotry that was already rearing its head among even young children, who were bullying her daughter in school.

Brash said her daughter had to endure taunting chants of "Lesbian, lesbian, your mom's a lesbian," from kids in school.


Sadly, the pressure of the Homophobe Lobby got to the school board, and they agreed to phase out Lesson 9 and replace with a more generic bullying curriculum that includes discussions of several kinds of bias.  That's one step toward ending bullying, but according to GLSEN's report on orientation-based bullying in schools, is nowhere near as effective as policies and curricula that specifically address GLBTQ issues.  Plus, the protestors are still not happy because the new lessons still acknowledge that GLBTQ people exist and experience discrimination.

Isn't anyone protesting these lessons ashamed of themselves?  They are arguing against a lesson that discourages bullying and teaches tolerance. Learning not to beat someone up or call them a name because they have lesbian moms is not "indoctrination," a "pro-homosexual message," or "the end of the innocence."  It's a matter of learning basic school conduct  and coexistence with others. 

Let's call things what they are.   At the root of this is the same thing that made a McDonalds manager think it was OK to call a teen job applicant a faggot.  It's the same root as the law in Uganda that could lead to execution for homosexuals and jail time for those who do not report them. It's not about HIV prevention in Uganda; it's not about states rights or whatever the hell is keeping the Employment NonDiscrimination Act from being passed; and it's definitely not about the safety of children. 

The root of it all is a basic belief that GLBTQ people don't deserve to be acknowledged, much less protected.  No matter how you dress it up, it leads to harassment and danger for GLBTQ people.  And anti-gay groups, no matter how Christian they claim to be, tacitly support this harassment and danger. They are just Fred "God Hates Fags" Phelps without the big yellow sign.


Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 9:13:00 AM EST
Rating:

Yesterday the Senate dropped the Nelson-Hatch Amendment to the health care bill, which would have prevented under the public plan the purchase of healthcare policies which cover abortion. This is a step toward ensuring equal access to abortion for all women.

However, against science, parents' wishes, and all logic, Senator Harry Reid has also introduced a provision which would restore funding for abstinence-only programs - those same failed, misleading, and homophobic programs for which President Obama ended funding in his federal budget.

Keep an eye on this space - we will update with how you can take action against this ridiculous step back into the Bush administration. 

Read about yesterday's actions on health care in the Washington Post


Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 7:53:00 AM EST
Rating:

Check it out, SafeSites!

UF student turns negative to positive with AIDS sculpture

In front of the Student Health Care Center on Tuesday, three letters reaching six feet tall stood in the grass underneath the trees.

The letters read “HIV.”

Students passing by the display stopped and stared at the wooden construction, first looking at the white letters, then glancing at the red “positive” sign next to the letters.

The scarlet cross signified contracting the disease. Red Durex condoms lined the vertical facade so that passersby could take one, ultimately leaving just the “negative” sign by the end of the day.



Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 7:24:00 AM EST
Rating:

Neutral, that is!  The famous minister and author of  what I mentally call The Something Something Life (I truly can never remember the title.  The Fantastic Mister Life?  So You Think You Can Life?)  says he can't condemn the proposed Uganda law that would mean homosexuals could be put to death and those who do not out them, imprisoned.

The scoop via ThinkProgress:

Pastor Rick Warren — whom President Obama controversially chose to deliver the invocation at his inauguration — is now refusing to condemn Bahati’s bill, which has been endorsed by Ugandan pastor Martin Ssempa. Ssempa has been welcomed by Warren’s family and made appearances at his church. Newsweek reports that although Warren has distanced himself from Ssempa’s views, he won’t come out against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill:
"The fundamental dignity of every person, our right to be free, and the freedom to make moral choices are gifts endowed by God, our creator. However, it is not my personal calling as a pastor in America to comment or interfere in the political process of other nations."
On Meet the Press yesterday, Warren reiterated, “As a pastor, my job is to encourage, to support. I never take sides.” He has, however, said that abortion is a “holocaust” and pushed for the passage of California’s Prop. 8.
 
Funny how many "pro life" organizations are remaining mum on the law.  Anyone heard anything from Heritage Foundation?  Family Research Council? Concerned Women for America supported Uganda's anti-gay measures in 2007, and are remaining quiet now.   But they all have plenty to say about DC's same-sex marriage law.

Gross  Exodus International has condemned the Uganda law , and although that letter is annoying and putting "Former homosexual" under your signature is hilarious/pathetic, at least they are on record as being against punishing homosexuality with death. 

The bar is so low, folks.  Anyone else care to jump over it?


Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 8:27:00 PM EST
Rating:

Amplify’s front page is taking a break over the holiday weekend. In the meantime, don’t forget to visit The Hanger Project and send congress a message they can’t ignore.
 
 
We’ll leave you with this great selection of recent blog entries – and we’ll be back on Monday to kick off the World AIDS Day Blogathon!
 
Stupak - Aberration or Power Outage in the Pro-Choice Movement? – (By Advocates for Youth President James Wagoner) How does a pro-choice President and pro-choice House leadership end up moving a bill that seriously undermines a woman’s legal right to abortion? Has the political arm of the pro-choice movement been so co-opted by the Democratic Party that the pro-choice constituency is not just being taken for granted, but being taken to the cleaners on key legislative issues?

Ohio Prevention First Act Learn more about this important bill and take action to support it
 
Tyra: It May Not be Blackface, but its still OFFENSIVE. It’s true that what Tyra did on her show wasn't blackface in the most traditional interpretation... but you know what? It still pisses me off.
 
Getting Lucky? Distributing condoms on the late-night college shuttle
 
A Hanger???????   Lessons from a documentary created by youth in low to middle income countries
 
Thanks Giving thanks for what went right this year
 
Rihanna's Russian Roulette Is the song about suicide? Is she playing footloose and fancy free with a song that glorifies suicide? And as an artist doesn’t she have the right to cover a broad array of subjects, including the controversial?
 
For Your Entertainment - A discussion of Adam Lambert's AMA performance and the ensuing firestorm
 
 Stay Away From My Vagina! “In a perfect world women would say "no thanks" to these surgeries, pick their sagging labia up and throw them over their shoulders (okay, yeah, a little gross) and walk into the sunset (and, of course, at nighfall having awesome sex with whomever they choose). But alas, this is not the case.”
 
 Precious Outcomes – The movie Precious, and audience and critical reaction to it
 


Monday, November 23, 2009 at 9:53:00 AM EST
Rating:

Amplify and Advocates for Youth have been vigilant in keeping the public informed of attempts in Congress to turn back the clock and limit access to abortion. 

And, some of the Public is not amused!  We've received so many charming responses to our emails and blogs - it seems like we just have to share.

Please note:  asterisks were not employed in the original emails!

Starting with the basics:

shut the f*ck up
And this one, where the person doesn't seem against "murder" per se, since they think our moms should have committed it, but they find it fiscally irresponsible:
So you want congress to aprove the bill so that women can murder their children for free? I don't htink so, I am NOT paying for irresponsible baby murderers. ...Maybe your mother should have aborted you. 

 
To this one, seemingly sent to us from a gangster movie set in the 1930s:
....You can suck an egg.

 
And this one which I actually kind of like:
DO NOT EXPECT ANY DONATIONS I QUIT YOUR GARBAGE RAG.

A) We weren't asking, but OK  B) Garbage rag!  That is IMAGINATIVE.

But those were just appetizers for this the main course of crazypants caps lock:

More...


Friday, November 20, 2009 at 9:54:00 AM EST
Rating:

Check out a great article article about the Great American Condom Campaign SafeSite at Murray State University in Kentucky.

Bartley said she was motivated to enter the contest because of  the recent removal of family planning services at Murray State’s Health Services, as well as the conservative tone of the region.

 “You see a lot of anti-abortions campaigns on campus, but nothing that tells you how you can help out,” she said. “They had those negative images surrounded by fences and cops, and it was just a negative scene. I think what we’re doing will stir up some happiness on campus.”

 While Bartley said she does not consider herself an activist, she thinks family planning is important to every college campus.

 “A lot of people depended on the family planning services for their birth control, and even though this is a small campus, I feel like there are so many benefits to it,” she said.

 

Read the rest of the article


Friday, November 20, 2009 at 9:28:00 AM EST
Rating:




Yesterday Mahayana wrote about theten year old who won't say the Pledge of Allegiance until GLBTQ people have equal marriage rights.    Last night The Daily Show covered the story.  BONUS:  Love the t-shirt the young man is wearing in the newsclips!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Gaywatch - Peter Vadala & William Phillips
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes
Political Humor Health Care Crisis


Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 11:41:00 AM EST
Rating:

I am writing a sample blog at a training with the South Carolina YAN!


It is a project of Advocates for Youth and New Morning Foundation.

Here is a picture of some youth activists!



Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 12:29:00 PM EST
Rating:

For those who haven't heard, I'm really excited to announce that Amplify's sister youth activism sites YouthResource and MySistahs have been beautifully redesigned and have new features, including "sharing" the blogging and interactive features of Amplify.

Both sites have offered information and advice on sex, sexuality, relationships, and life in general, from youth to youth, for the better part of a decade, and we are delighted to be able to see their writing on Amplify as well as their home sites.  So, check out YouthResource and MySistahs ,  and ask your questions!

And, in case you missed it:  You may remember the couple that was roughed up and arrested for kissing near the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, and the subsequent protest events around the nation.  Stephen Colbert took it on last week:




The Colbert Report
Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Nailed 'Em - Mormon Church Trespassing
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating


Friday, November 6, 2009 at 11:28:00 AM EST
Rating:

An independent expert panel recommended comprehensive sex ed programs, finding that they help reduce risky sexual behavior, unprotected sex, and STIs.

"There is sufficient evidence that comprehensive risk reduction efforts are effective," said Randy Elder of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Like so many experts before them the panel did NOT recommend abstinence education, finding that there just isn't evidence to prove that it works.  

Advocates for Youth's president James Wagoner welcomed the findings, saying:
"At long last, evidence and common sense have returned to public health policy," said James Wagoner of Advocates for Youth, a Washington-based group. "The task force report endorses the comprehensive approach to prevention that includes condoms and birth control. We should be spending taxpayer dollars only on evidence-based programs."
 
Yet incredibly, some legislators still believe taxpayer dollars should be spent on failed, harmful programs!  Congress is still deciding whether or not to continue funding for abstinence-only programs.  Let your Senator know that you won't stand for this waste of money.

Meanwhile, the abstinence clowns continue to do what they do best:  lie.
"If you compare the statistical significance of outcome measures related to sexual activity and sexual intiation the data is better for the abstinence education program than the comprehensive program," said Valerie Huber of the National Abstinence Education Association.

What measures?  What data?  Studies and reviews have shown repeatedly that honest, accurate sex education programs are more effective than misleading, sexist, outright ridiculous ab-only programs.  How long will the NAEA continue to distort the evidence and attempt to mislead the public?

Young people know that information about staying safe is a good thing.  It's good to see the CDC acknowledging the science that proves it.  


Friday, October 30, 2009 at 1:31:00 PM EST
Rating:

The next HIV Town Hall  is in Oakland, California, at Berkeley High School from 2-4pm on Sunday, November 1.    These town halls are hosted by the Office of National AIDS Policy and are a unique opportunity to demand that the Obama administration's plan for fighting the HIV epidemic includes a youth voice and addresses youth needs.   Check out the HIV Town Hall page for instructions on how to speak at a town hall and a few of our ideas about what the National AIDS Strategy should include.  And don't forget to come back here and blog about it!



Friday, October 30, 2009 at 9:51:00 AM EST
Rating:


Earlier this week Trojan released its Sexual Health Report Card, which ranks NCAA universities on access to sexual health information and services.  (See the specific criteria and much more about the Report Card)

Top ten:

  1.  University of South Carolina   
  2.  Stanford University            
  3. University of Connecticut      
  4. Columbia University            
  5. Florida Atlantic University    
  6. University of Georgia          
  7. Michigan State University      
  8. Cornell University             
  9. Brown University               
  10. Duke University     
 Bottom ten:
  1. Troy State University          
  2. Seton Hall University          
  3. Louisiana Tech University      
  4. University of Louisiana At Lafayette
  5. Arkansas State University       
  6.  Brigham Young University       
  7. Baylor University              
  8.  Providence College             
  9. St. John's University          
  10. DePaul University              
Trojan and Advocates for Youth work in partnership on the Great American Condom Campaign, which provides a million condoms a year to colleges and universities and which gives first preference to those schools which have the least access to condoms - including many of those at the bottom of this list!

I'd also like to note that the University of Maryland made a big leap from placing 63rd of 141 in 2008 to placing 12th this year!  Nice work, Terps.


Friday, October 23, 2009 at 8:58:00 AM EDT
Rating:

Brian Ackerman, Manager of International Policy at Advocates for Youth, has written a great blog on a dangerous new proposed law in Uganda.   Take action and urge President Obama to condemn this bill.

Late last week, legislation was introduced in the Uganda parliament that expands criminal penalties for being gay.

The Anti-Homosexuality Law, Bill Number 18, in the Ugandan national parliament, has all the trappings of yet another gross violation of human rights structured on the premise that gays constitute some sort of threat to the general social welfare. 

Under Uganda’s current penal code, any member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community can be imprisoned for up to 14 years if they are convicted of carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature.  This new legislation would increase that sentence to life and, if one is convicted of aggravated homosexuality, carry a penalty of death.

That’s right—in 2009, at a time when states are moving toward recognizing marriage equality in our own country, Uganda is moving toward making life for the LGBT community in their country a living Hell.
 

Read the rest of the blog

Send a letter to President Obama

 
 
 


Friday, October 23, 2009 at 8:45:00 AM EDT
Rating:

A great article about a Great American Condom Campaign SafeSite in Emory University's newspaper The Wheel!   Good work Daphne Lin and SHAG!

Emory’s Sexual Health Awareness Group (SHAG) will be distributing 500 free Trojan condoms on campus to promote safe-sex practices following their selection by the Great American Condom Campaign (GACC)....

President of SHAG and College senior Daphne Lin said SHAG is creating fliers to advertise the year-round mass condom distributions, which will take place once every month at public sites that will vary throughout the year.

The first mass distribution will be at Cox Bridge on Oct. 30.

Lin said each month the distribution will have a different theme.

The first distribution will have a trick-or-treat theme not only to attract students, but also to make the distribution fun, she said.

“We will also distribute information, booklets and brochures about STDs and statistics about college sex and how it affects college lifestyle,” Treasurer of SHAG and College sophomore Jayme Chen said.

According to Lin, the distribution of name-brand condoms will help students connect the issue with a product they recognize.

“This is a great opportunity to not only have all these condoms, but I also think it’s something that students at Emory might recognize more, especially because they can associate with the name brand condoms,” Lin said.
 
Read the rest of the article




Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 1:58:00 PM EDT
Rating:

I am just sharing this email from Liz Merck, a member of Advocates for Youth's development team. We don't normally do fundraising appeals here on Amplify, but in this case, even the smallest donation, and sharing the Facebook link, makes a huge difference.





Hi everyone,
Our Facebook cause, Comprehensive Sex Education, which benefits Advocates for Youth, just entered in America's Giving Challenge, which gives us a chance to win $50,000!

To win, between now and November 7th we have to get the most donations to our cause (every person can donate once per day and have it count as a unique donation). We can also win daily awards of $1,000 and $500 if we can get the most people to donate in any 24-hour period. The great thing about this Challenge is that it doesn't matter how much you give, but instead how much you do to encourage friends and family to get involved.

You can donate now by visiting the Comprehensive Sex Education cause on Facebook or going to:  http://www.causes.com/donations/select_donation_method?cause_id=52

More...

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
  1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31      
san francisco! where great things are combined
By Leightd
0 comments

Teen Health Now Event: Online Organizing and Advocacy Training for Youth!
By dandaman6007
0 comments

My Belief About Sex
By susanacuellar
0 comments

Phenomenally, Phenomenal Women
By elizabeth
0 comments

Kenyan Men Arrested for Attempting Gay Marriage
By vanessaaishacoleman
0 comments

While in DC...
By tillyrose
0 comments

District of Columbia has the World's First Female Football Coach
By kirbygirl87
0 comments

Commodity for Sale
By justifiable
0 comments

Vatican Doesn't Believe in Safe Sex: Condom Machines "Trivalize Sexuality"
By kirbygirl87
0 comments

Sorry, No More Antiretroviral Drugs For You
By AFY_Durryle
1 comments

International Women Day in Ethiopia
By Mery
0 comments

The Celluloid Ceiling
By Culture_Voyeur
1 comments

What Do We Know About Open Relationships?
By Media_Justice
0 comments

Know your options. Respect them!
By Aye
0 comments

Naruto Shippuden!
By narutoandsoniclover
1 comments

A Step Backwards
By addiszemen
1 comments

Beijing +15
By pedlarm
1 comments

To abort? or not to abort? That is the question
By KarachiYWOCLC
3 comments

HIROSHIMA IMAGES-1 more to come.
By snorkamaiden
0 comments

Prom Cancelled Because a Girl Wanted to Bring Her Girlfriend
By RyAnYWOC
3 comments

My Love Letter to Feminism
By Jill
2 comments

Midwest Unite + Fight Conference is This Weekend
By Mahayana
0 comments

Utah: Prosecuting women is a “national model” for the anti-abortion movement
By AFY_Will
2 comments

Guest Post: The Fight for Sex Education in Utah
By Amplify_Staff
0 comments

24% of Young Adults Think 2 Condoms is Better!
By kirbygirl87
1 comments