Joe Sonka

Advocates for Youth

Joe Sonka is the Managing Editor of Amplify, the youth-driven community blog and online action center for Advocates for Youth. Amplify is focused on changing society’s screwed up approach towards the sexual health of young people.

Eight Months On, HHS Still Peddles Abstinence-Only

Joe Sonka

The department of Health and Human Services is running a new TV commercial that tells parents "you don't have to tell (your children) about 'the parts'... just tell (them) to wait."

VIDEO: Meet America’s New Abstinence Clown

Joe Sonka

Keith Deltano is a "comedian" paid by abstinence-only programs to inculcate shame, fear, and misinformation.

The Rebranding of Abstinence-Only Has Begun

Joe Sonka

Abstinence-only proponents plan to rebrand as a curriculum devoted to "holistic approaches" to "healthy lifestyle choices."

Bill O’Reilly’s “Best Friends”

Joe Sonka

Bill O'Reilly gives a D.C.-based abstinence-only advocate a platform to spout false talking points about sexuality education.

Abstinence-Only Lies Swirl on the Hill

Joe Sonka

Abstinence-only proponents complain that comprehensive sex ed gets many times the funding that ab-only does -- a complete lie. In fact, comprehensive sex ed gets no dedicated federal funding.

Fear and Abstinence on Capitol Hill

Joe Sonka

Faced with evidence that abstinence-only programs don't work, what are their proponents doing? Rebranding!

Take Action: Counter The Abstinence-Only Lobby

Joe Sonka

The National Abstinence Education Association is lobbying Congress today - despite the colossal failures of abstinence only programs. Send a letter to your Congress person asking them to defund abstinence only programs.

Slutty Girls and Stupid Boys: Today’s Abstinence-Only “Education”

Joe Sonka

One of the common themes you'll find in abstinence-only curricula is the constant shaming of young women who don't uphold certain visual standards of chaste and purity.

Obama’s 2010 Budget Blueprint Raises More Questions Than Answers on Sex Ed

Joe Sonka

This morning President Obama released his long awaited 2010 Budget Blueprint, and when it comes to sex education, I'm afraid that we have more questions than concrete answers.

Ab-Only Group Shamed into Changing Victim-Blaming Website

Joe Sonka

The Ohio program Abstinence 'Till Marriage no longer victim-shames on their website. A small victory -- but now we need to end funding for all failed abstinence-only programs.

Joe Sonka

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