States abstain from federal sex-ed funds

In an emerging revolt against abstinence-only sex education, states are turning down millions of dollars in federal grants, unwilling to accept White House dictates that the money be used for classes focused almost exclusively on teaching chastity. In Ohio, Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland said that regardless of the state's sluggish economic picture, he didn't see the point in taking part in the controversial State Abstinence Education Program anymore. Five other states - Wisconsin, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Montana and New Jersey - have dropped out of that grant program or plan to do so by the end of this year. California has refused all along to participate in the program, which is managed by a unit of the Department of Health and Human Services.

source: Article 'States abstain from federal sex-ed funds' by P.J. Huffstutter; www.latimes.com/news/education/la-na-abstinence8apr08,1,4821225.story?ctrack=1&cset=true; LATimes; 8 April 2007