Dear Tracy, Opinion Editor,

This is a response to your article “Abstinence-only sex education flunks”.

Where does one begin? First you conceded at the end of your article that “abstinence is the only 100 percent way to avoid getting pregnant or contracting a disease”, as well as inferring that it is common sense with the line “Most of us should know…the only way to limit your risk is to not be sexually active…” You also asked “Why not…educate them on how to keep themselves safe…” I ask you: What is your definition of safe? If there is a risk is it still safe?

You also suggest that it is inevitable that teenagers will have sex as if they have no say in the matter whatsoever. What kind of message does that send them? We tell them to believe in themselves, to be responsible, to do what is right even when it is unpopular, and yet we have no faith in their own will power. Does this also apply to all other risky behaviors that teenagers are famous for doing? Would you tell a fifteen-year-old that since it is inevitable that he will drive while intoxicated he should at least drive the back roads where it is “safer”? No, you would tell him not to drive drunk at all.

As an employee of a local non-profit group devoted to abstinence education I take serious offense to your un-cited reference to Henry Waxman’s recent “study”. While you refer to one man’s biased study I refer to the CDC, NIH, and JAMA, for my statistics. I am not using false facts as you say, but in fact am using common medical knowledge, such as the fact that HPV and Genital Warts are hardly stopped by condoms since Genital Warts can spread to the outer area of the vulva, the scrotum, the inner thighs, buttocks, and the general pelvic region, and as far as I know (unless there has been a new revolution in condom protection of which I am unaware) condoms are only covering the penis.

Lastly, you characterized what I do as saying “just don’t have sex until marriage because it’s the moral thing to do.” You will notice that my letter has not once mentioned morality. I have used logic and facts and I suggest you do the same. If you would like to know what we really do, perhaps you should contact us to find out. You may respond to this email.

--Damian Sagastume