Broadening the meaning of pro-choice

NeW YORK – This Sunday, people of all ages will converge on Washington for the March for Women's Lives, in support of abortion rights and reproductive freedom. For a generation of women, Roe v. Wade - the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide - was the most tangible step toward control of their bodies and their destinies. But as you look closely at the faces in Sunday's crowd, you will see the beginnings of a change. I will be among the thousands of young women - and men - aged 30 and under who are joining the reproductive rights movement our mothers started, and making it our own.

For the millions of Americans born and raised since Roe v. Wade, access to abortion has been a lifelong fact. When we talk about the reproductive rights movement, it isn't one that's defined by abortion. It's far simpler - and yet far more complicated. Because Generation X is Generation Sex.

Whether we agree with it or not, our society constantly inundates young people with conflicting images of sex. From Britney Spears kissing Madonna at the MTV awards to Justin Timberlake exposing Janet Jackson's breast at the Super Bowl, even the most sheltered young person can't avoid the sexual innuendo that is a national pastime. Even Congress has contributed to the deluge, moving the conversation of one president's sex life from the locker room to a national, public discussion played out in the media.

As long as sex sells, we can only expect the next person, be it an elected official, celebrity, or news organization, to push the envelope further.

But when it comes to talking with young people about the consequences of real sexual experience, despite all the in-your-face exposure, too often the first thing we do is tell kids to shut up.

In states throughout the country, teachers have to abide by gag rules, preventing them from discussing sex in the classroom. Schools and libraries throughout the nation have been instructed by Congress to install Internet filters on all their computers to prevent students from accessing sex sites - but the filters have proven to more successfully block safe-sex sites than pornographic sites.

The Bush administration's answer to all this sex is simple: abstinence. This conveys a clear message to young people: See sex on TV, hear about sex on the radio, buy sex at the mall, get sex spam in your e-mail inbox, but just don't have sex.

The consequence of this hypocrisy is the endangerment of youth. We have a new generation that includes young "virgins" who have oral sex; but because they think oral sex isn't sex, they don't worry about disease. Incorrect information about emergency contraception has stopped many young women from seeking the protection they need when condoms break or are used improperly. Even those youth who do remain complete virgins still have to deal with the images they see and their friends' choices; but, more often than not, they have to deal with it without the insight of adults.

My generation has been branded with many statistics from various polls and surveys:

But I would add to this list another statistic that needs no poll or study to prove it:

The rising generation of leaders in the sexual health movement are redefining what being pro-choice means. It is about true access to safe-sex education, emergency contraception, nonjudgmental healthcare for gay and lesbian youth, HIV/AIDS prevention, and universal healthcare.

We demand the right to choose to talk about sex in order to change, chart, and save our own lives.

The irony is that we're being more adult than those currently in the White House. There's something juvenile about playing with sexual innuendo in the media, and then not being able to handle a serious, responsible conversation about sex.

Like every generation before us, we're changing the culture of our nation. We didn't put sex on the evening news - but because it's there, we will demand honesty about sex and how it effects youth. We, as a new generation of leaders, will make our mothers' gains in reproductive rights meaningful by defining what it means to us and the world we live in 30 years later.

• Alea Woodlee is executive director of the Pro-Choice Public Education Project, a cosponsor of the 10-in-10 Gathering of young people aged 18-30 in Washington to be held on Saturday, the eve of the March for Women's Lives.

But as you look closely at the faces in Sunday's crowd, you will see the beginnings of a change. I will be among the thousands of young women - and men - aged 30 and under who are joining the reproductive rights movement our mothers started, and making it our own.

Sure Alea, go ahead and keep kidding yourself that there's a massive follow-on wave of Gen X and Y abortion fans. There aren't. Ultrasound and crisis pregnancy centers cured that, which is why we're now seeing the pro-aborts scramble to change their paradigm from "Shutup, it's a lump" to "Yeah it's a human, but you don't get to tell me what to do with it, you ~~blue-bellied Yankee abolitionist darkie-lover~~ fundamentalist sexually-repressed anti-choice jerk."

Even Congress has contributed to the deluge, moving the conversation of one president's sex life from the locker room to a national, public discussion played out in the media.

Of course, that couldn't have happened because he lied under oath...It must have been Congress' fault.

despite all the in-your-face exposure, too often the first thing we do is tell kids to shut up.

Shut up and put that condom on the banana, kid, we ain't got all day.

And the answer to this conundrum? Taxpayer supported abortion on demand! Yippee! Problem solved!

We have a new generation that includes young "virgins" who have oral sex; but because they think oral sex isn't sex, they don't worry about disease.

I am shocked at the amazing wisdom in this article. Who knew President Bush was the cause of 7th graders giving Monicas to their classmates?

Incorrect information about emergency contraception has stopped many young women from seeking the protection they need when condoms break

What incorrect info? It can't be any worse than the ludicrous idea that condoms make being promiscuous "safe" which you and your crowd have been promoting for the last 30+ years.

Even those youth who do remain complete virgins still have to deal with the images they see and their friends' choices; but, more often than not, they have to deal with it without the insight of adults.

And again, the answer to too much sex on TV and lack of quality parenting is...Taxpayer supported abortion on demand! Yippee! Problem solved!

Let's all humor Alea for a moment and pretend that Planned Parenthood et al was never interested in any of these things before she came along.

We demand the right to choose to talk about sex in order to change, chart, and save our own lives.

No, what you're asking for is the "right" to go into the schools at the elementary level and spew propaganda to a bunch of little kids. But I'll humor you again: Who's shutting you up? How is any pro-lifer, especially G.W. Bush, preventing anyone from saving anyone's life?

The irony is that we're being more adult than those currently in the White House.

When I think of the ~~Lewinsky~~ Clinton Administration, "Adult" is the first word I think of! And how come she gets to blame people for talking about sex during the Clinton years and for not talking about sex during the Bush years?

There's something juvenile about playing with sexual innuendo in the media, and then not being able to handle a serious, responsible conversation about sex.

There's something sociopathic about demanding that a small child die a horrible death so you can have all the sex you feel like having.

Like every generation before us, we're changing the culture of our nation.

Man I hope you're right--I hope that your disgusting blather will help push the nation in a pro-life direction by displaying the murderous drivel that makes up your beliefs.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.