On Monday, we launched our petition to protect sexuality studies and the vital role that sexuality research plays in contributing accurate, scientific evidence to policy and interventions. In 36 hours, we've collected over 1,000 signatures from students, researchers, advocates and others across the country. Sign it now if you haven't already. And forward it to five friends.
This afternoon, two of the researchers targeted in the GSU probe will testify before the Georgia State Senate Committee on Higher Education--Mindy Stombler, whose research on oral sex informs our understanding of what oral sex is, and thus can contribute to STI prevention and adolescent health interventions, and Kirk Elifson, whose work on male prostitution has improved the efficacy of HIV interventions.
It is offensive, first, that academics and universitives must defend their right to perform rigorous scientific inquiry in any field. It is also offensive that legislators have cloaked their moral agenda as a fiscal one. But what is most offensive is how both the media and the legislators are misrepresenting the researchers and GSU in their efforts to stoke a moral panic.
This CNN story aired this morning continues to misrepresent the story--inaccurately stating that 'courses' on oral sex and male prostitution are being taught, and feeding into the panic that parents and adults have in general around sex education and the sexuality of youth. CNN and other media should be focusing on the fact that it is scientific research and academic research that is being threatened. We all should be concerned about the continued efforts of legislators to stifle the role that research plays in sexuality policies and interventions--it was this ignorance of evidence and data that has led to eight years of abstinence-only education, which flies in the face of what study after study has shown.
GSU officials undoubtedly are between a rock and a hard place, but their focus is, as it should be, on defending the role of science and research. Though states who are facing these media- and right-wing induced moral panics might feel limited in their ability to respond, the rest of us must step up and defend them. GSU contacts told me this morning that they are grateful for all of our support through the petition, and relieved that accurate messages about the work they do are finally making it into the mainstream.
We will continue to update you on this story as it happens.
