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Thursday June 28 7:59 PM ET

Satcher Urges Respect on Sex Values

By LAURA MECKLER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Taking on a sensitive issue, Surgeon General David Satcher urges Americans to respect diversity in sexual values and calls on parents, schools and community leaders to engage in honest, mature discussion about sexual issues.

The wide-ranging report released Thursday says communities must provide lifelong sex education, encouraging sexual abstinence as well as birth control. Americans should rely on scientific evidence to determine what works, Satcher said, and develop greater understanding toward gays and lesbians.

The report, two years in the making, says the nation must get past its nervousness about the subject in order to reduce unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and sexual abuse, while promoting healthy sexual relationships.

``Given the diversity of attitudes, beliefs, values and opinions, finding common ground might not be easy, but it is attainable,'' the report concludes. The first step is confronting the issue, Satcher added. ``Sex is not an easy topic to discuss and it has never been.''

The ``call to action'' begins by detailing the problem: 12 million Americans infected by sexually transmitted diseases each year, with some 40,000 new HIV (news - web sites) infections; more than 100,000 children victimized by sexual abuse annually.

Each year, there are nearly 1.4 million abortions - just more than 20 percent of all pregnancies. Nearly half of all pregnancies are unwanted, a figure based on abortion and government survey data. And an estimated 800,000 to 900,000 Americans live with HIV.

In the tradition of surgeons general, Satcher does not flinch from reporting even controversial data.

He says there is no valid scientific evidence that one's sexual orientation can be changed and details the consequences of harassment on the mental health of gays and lesbians.

``We're certainly not trying to get anyone in any religious group to change their views,'' he said. ``We're just saying these are people, these are human beings.''

Sexuality education must be wide-ranging, begin early and be available throughout one's life, the report says. It recommends that sex-education programs discuss the benefits of abstinence from sex, but also explain how to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. It recommends improving access to reproductive health care services for ``all persons in all communities.''

Abstinence is the only certain way to prevent pregnancy and the spread of disease, the report says, and even properly used condoms do not prevent the spread of all sexually transmitted diseases. But the report finds no evidence that ``abstinence-only'' programs are effective, saying more research is needed.

These programs, which bar any talk of contraception, enjoy the support of many conservatives, including President Bush (news - web sites), who has pledged to raise federal support for them.

Satcher insisted he was not taking sides in the debate. ``Those are political decisions,'' he said. ``We try to make very clear what's needed to improve sexual health and what's supported by the science.''

The report also encourages abstinence from sex until one is involved in a ``committed, enduring and mutually monogamous relationship.'' Federal abstinence programs call for abstinence until marriage.

``I have to deal with reality,'' Satcher said when asked about the difference.

Sex education begins with parents, the report says, but schools play an important role because some parents are uncomfortable or unable to give their children all the information they need.

``Parents sometimes need help,'' Satcher said. ``Schools have always been the great equalizers.''

The report got a chilly reception among conservatives. Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition (news - web sites) said Satcher ignored evidence that homosexuality can be changed. He sent a mixed message about condoms, she said, by admitting they do not provide absolute protection against disease and pregnancy but still encouraging people to use them.

``They're talking out of both sides of their mouths,'' she said.

She added that schools should not be concentrating on sex education when they have failed to teach the basics like math and reading. ``Yet we should teach kids how to put on a condom which won't even protect them from pregnancy or disease?'' she said.

Debra Hauser of Advocates for Youth, which encourages comprehensive sex education programs that included birth control information, said Satcher did his job properly.

``He should be praised for rising above the politics and the ideology,'' she said, ``and for asking for a national dialogue based on respect and evidence.''

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On the Net:

Office of the Surgeon General:

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/sgoffice.htm

-- (talk@about.sex), June 29, 2001

Answers

1) Exactly what is a surgeon general, and why do we need to pay for one?

2) A report that says we need to talk more about sex? That's its in- depth message???

3) The report carefully sidesteps the oft-repeated concern of the last 4 decades: That sex-education is a problem, not a solution, coupled with the simple explanation that prior to sex education, VD and unmarried pregancy and abortion rates were n%, while after 40 years of sex-education, these same rates are n * 5.

4) How much did that report cost? What does a surgeon general do? Perform surgery on the postmaster general? I don't think I voted for him. What if we took his salary and gave it to the poor? If it helped only one child...

-- RootBeer (sar.sap@ar.illa), June 29, 2001.

He avoided using the m-word, unlike one of his predecessors.

-- helen (looking@for.persistent.cookies), June 29, 2001.

Just thought I'd point out that Clinton appointed this Surgeon General. His term is up in February.

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), June 29, 2001.

*The report also encourages abstinence from sex until one is involved in a ``committed, enduring and mutually monogamous relationship.'' Federal abstinence programs call for abstinence until marriage*

right on!

BUT

I don't necessarily want my 5 year old learning about sex at school. I would like to decide when he is ready to know, and what he should be learning. Telling them too much too early will confuse them or worse, I think.

BTW...on the way home from picking my son up from school one day, he says to me, "Mom...you and dad do drugs". *GASP* UH ????!!!! They are teaching them that caffeine and beer and cigarettes are dangerous drugs.

-- (cin@cin.cin), June 29, 2001.

Let's git tuhgather in a big sirkul and talk bout masturbashun.

-- (Joycelin_Elders@Uniforms.R_Us), June 29, 2001.

They are teaching them that caffeine and beer and cigarettes are dangerous drugs.

That's because they are. Maybe caffeine not as much as beer and cigarettes. But just because they're legal doesn't mean they're not dangerous and/or addictive.

-- (just@say.no), June 29, 2001.

You know...just about ANYTHING can become dangerous and habit-forming.

I hardly think it constitutes teaching children that their java- sipping parents are drug abusers. {major eye roll}

-- (cin@cin.cin), June 29, 2001.

Cin,

One of your favorite moves is a major eye-roll. I would love to see it. Will you post a video?

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

-- (nemesis@awol.com), June 29, 2001.