Unitarian Universalists Speak Out for Reality-Based Sexuality Education Legislation

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and UUA President William Sinkford

(July 28, 2005) At a meeting held with Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) yesterday, the Rev. William G. Sinkford, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, and Rob Keithan, director of the UUA's Washington Office for Advocacy, presented Senator Lautenberg with more than 2,000 affirmations of support signed by Unitarian Universalists from around the country in support of S.368 , and H.R. 768 , the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act.

The REAL Act is endorsed by Advocates for Youth , with whom the UUA is a partner, and would provide funding to states for medically accurate, age appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education in the schools—education that includes information about both abstinence and contraception, from both a values and public health perspective. The effort is consistent with the approach taken by Our Whole Lives (OWL), the UUA's reality-based sexuality education lifespan curriculum developed with the United Church of Christ and now in use in congregational and secular settings. More than 125 national and state and organizations are supporting the REAL Act, including medical, civil rights, family planning, educational, public health, reproductive rights, and HIV/AIDS organizations.

The UUA launched an effort to build support for the REAL Act as part of an outreach effort from the Rev. Sinkford to Unitarian Universalists across the country. Sinkford wrote to UUA members in late April, "The voices of the religious right have been largely successful in drowning out other people of faith. This has allowed them to dominate the current debate on moral values and assert themselves as the religious voice on crucial matters including civil rights, health and the family, international peace and justice, and religious liberty. You and I cannot allow the religious right to speak for us."

Sinkford asked UUs to sign affirmations of support of the REAL Act for Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Sen. Frank Lautenberg, sponsors of the act in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Sinkford said, "It is so important that Rep. Lee and Sen. Lautenberg hear from you and other Unitarian Universalists because—at a time when the religious right is enjoying unparalleled influence in the White House and Congress—our unwavering presence has never been more important."

Sinkford's letter has so far resulted in more than 4,000 Unitarian Universalist affirmations; 2,000 affirmations were also sent to Rep. Lee's office. Sinkford, in a letter of thanks sent to Lee and Lautenberg, offered his gratitude to the legislators for their "leadership and common sense approach to sexuality education."

The UUA's affirmation effort was developed through the Friends of the UUA program, which works to encourage UUs to act on their faith commitment and direct funding toward programs that will make real the Unitarian Universalist faith commitment in the larger world.

For further information:

• Click here to read the filed version of H.R. 768.
• Click here to read the filed version of S.368.
• UUA Washington Office site on Sex Education , including an Issue Brief on Comprehensive Sexuality Education
• Advocates for Youth is sponsoring a letter writing campaign as a way of encouraging individuals to contact their legislators in support of reality-based sexuality education.
• Our Whole Lives is the UUA's landmark reality-based sexuality education lifespan program.

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