The Abstinence Clearinghouse Blog

The attack on abstinence has gone way too far. As if the Midwest Teen Sex Show hasn’t publicly shown their ignorance enough, they have made yet another attempt to earn a cheap buck using a new video advertising condoms with the deceiving slogan, “Choose Abstinence”. 

Hold on. The words “condoms” and “abstinence” in the same sentence? How is that possible? 

That’s right. Not only is it satisfying enough for these amateur, wanna-be celebrities to blatantly make fun of abstinent teens by labeling them as boring, frumpy, and borderline mentally retarded, but somehow they feel the need to also trick teens into thinking that the definition of abstinence means using a condom. 

What kind of affect is this going to have on our kids? Many people would have us believe that these videos being produced by the Midwest Teen Sex Show are just made in fun and are to be taken lightly…however, abstinence is a serious subject and kids are receiving enough mixed messages about sex from the media. 

So what do we do now? How do we stop a movement that appears to be popular and accepted by the media, but is obviously harmful to developing minds?

We fight fire with fire. 

The Midwest Teen Sex Show reaches their audiences through podcasts, made easily accessible via their website and iTunes. Because of their availability, their work has landed them interviews on Fox’s Mike and Juliet Show and on Good Morning America with Katie Couric. 

Who says we can’t do the same thing? 

We know the message of abstinence is right…now we just have to use the media to get that message effectively to the kids. Brainstorm ideas with your students. Create your own podcasts and post them on high traffic sites such as YouTube, MySpace, and Facebook. These websites receive millions of hits a day. It’s time that abstinence educators use the media to their advantage. It’s an inexpensive, fast, and easy way to get our message heard. You can even start right now by going to facebook.com and joining the NAC sponsored group, Truth 4 Youth. Not only do we network abstinent teens together, but we post pictures and videos that help the youth know that they are not alone in their honorable decision to remain abstinent. 

The fact is that media is an effective outlet who’s popularity can only grow from here. As easily as it can work in our favor, it can also work against us if we don’t take advantage of the opportunities we have to spread the message of abstinence. 

Think of the students you work with who you encourage to practice abstinence. As wonderful as your personal support is to them, they, like normal teenagers, need to feel social acceptance as well. They can receive encouragement from their peers through online social networking websites such as the aforementioned. Its time we give the people what they need. 

Abstinence is cool. STD’s, teen pregnancies, and broken hearts aren’t.

That’s the truth…. now lets make it be known.