On Saturday June 30th Governor Strickland took a strong stand for Ohio's teens and vetoed a million dollars in funding for Abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in our schools.   By issuing this veto he allowed this funding to now be available for programs that work, ones that stress abstinence but also teach teens how to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.

In his veto statement Gov. Strickland said, "Focusing exclusively on abstinence is contrary to a comprehensive educational approach.  Available evidence demonstrates that utilizing an approach that includes abstinence education and vital health information will serve to better protect the health and well-being of our youth...Therefore this veto is in the public interest."

Please join NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio in thanking Governor Strickland for his strong action.  Read the talking points below, and then click on the take action link at the top of the page to go to the Governor's web form to send your message.

Thank you message talking points:

• I am writing today to thank you for taking a crucial and courageous step in Ohio politics by vetoing abstinence-only funding from the state budget.
• I would like to praise you for recognizing Ohio's need for honest, realistic and comprehensive sex education programs that include information on both abstinence and prevention.
• As the research suggests, abstinence-only programs are not effective and often provide young Ohioans with false and misleading information on sexual health, as well as censor information about contraception and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
• I truly hope that your commendable stance and actions will result in a change in the right direction for Ohio's sex education programs.