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February 14, 2004

No Sex Please, We're Repressed Bigots

by Red Wolf

United States: In a curious promotional gimmick aimed at called attention to the fact that America is possibly the most sexually repressed place on Earth, a rapid pack of loony fundies are pushing their Day of Purity nonsense.

Melissa Millis feels bombarded by everyday messages of sexual promiscuity, whether it's Janet Jackson's bare breast during the Super Bowl or her classmates' casual sex talk.

So Millis, a high school senior in Michigan, and thousands of other students across the nation plan to wear white T-shirts to school Friday, the day before Valentine's Day, to publicly show their commitment to not having sex outside marriage. They're calling their effort the Day of Purity, and they will distribute pro-abstinence pamphlets to their peers.

The way sex is talked about, it's so casual, like it's an everyday thing, like going to McDonald's, said Millis, 17.

The grass-roots effort is supported by Christian groups nationwide and organized by Liberty Counsel, a conservative religious rights group based in Orlando. It comes as President Bush is pushing in his budget proposal to double federal funding for sexual abstinence programs.

There are at least some groups who are questioning the sect's chastity over education approach to sex, as well as the outright bigotry of their stance against anything that falls outside their limited field of vision.

But the Day of Purity is being watched with a wary eye by groups that promote sexual tolerance, such as the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and the Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. The Day of Purity Web site accuses those groups of a concerted effort in the schools and media to turn our youth away from traditional values.

The word 'purity' in this context is morally self-righteous, said Alice Leeds, a spokeswoman for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. It's redefining it in their context to conform to their frankly bigoted agenda.

Eliza Byard, deputy executive director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, said in an e-mail that her group applauded any effort to promote healthy sexual choices by young people.

Unfortunately, this program seems to have a limited idea of what that means and doesn't appear designed to provide the kind of information students really need, she said.

Considering how well the abysmal Just Say No campaign went, you think these morons would learn from their past mistakes. Not even their professional-virgin poster child, Britney Spears, stuck with the groups ridiculous demands.

Teens promote abstinence with 'Day of Purity' - AP, 13th February 2004.

Posted in Love Thy Neighbour at 00:05. Last modified on July 14 2009 at 16:45.
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