political sex stories

Today, I was on Your World with Neil Cavuto. We were discussing “Getting Through Tough Economic Times” a new web page posted by SAMHSA, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services. The web page has some great resources for people who are coping with stress or depression because of the economic crisis.  Also, this organization oversees the free 24 hour suicide hotline, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK.

Yesterday was an incredible day! It was also a great night. Here are pictures from the Human Rights Campaign’s “Out for Equality” Inaugural Ball at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC. The ball featured performances by GLBT stars and allies in the path towards equal rights: Cyndi Lauper, Melissa Etheridge, Rufus Wainwright, and Thelma Houston. Appearances were also made by: actor Sir Ian McLellan, Ross “The Intern” from The Tonight Show, openly gay Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO), Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick with his wife, Diane, and college-age daughter, Katherine, who recently came out as a lesbian. (The non-appearance of any senator or hetero member of congress was painfully apparent.) One of the highlights of the night was Cyndi and Rufus singing an amazing rendition of “Hallelujah.” Cyndi also sang favorite “True Colors” and two new dance hits, “Into the Nightlife” and “Same Old F–king Story.” Cyndi, Rufus, and Thelma rocked out to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Melissa sang “Bring Me Some Water” and “Piece of My Heart.” Thelma Houston belted out her hit “Don’t Leave Me This Way” and a fantastic medley of a dozen Motown songs. There was a very touching moment when Thelma became teary and emotional, explaining that she was born in Mississippi 65 years ago and never dreamed this day would come. Obama’s Inauguration brings joy to millions — and the promise of greater equality for all!

Cyndi Lauper, Click on the photo for a dozen more photos.

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Teen pregnancy is not more accepted today than ever before, but it certainly seems to be sanctioned by our political candidates.

It was announced today that Vice Presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin’s 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is five months pregnant. According to The New York Times, Sarah Palin said, “Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family.”

Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama seemingly condoned this teen pregnancy, saying: “My mother had me when she was 18.”

Obama also said, “How family deals with issues and teenage children – that shouldn’t be the topic of our politics.”  His remark does not alter the reality that teen pregnancy is now most certainly a topic of our politics.  When a hurricane occurs along side a political campaign, it becomes a topic of our politics.  Similarly, when the “abstinence-only” VP candidate’s teenage daughter’s unwed pregnancy is announced during a political campaign… this is a political issue. I hope it opens up the conversation about the causes, consequences, and possible methods of preventing teen pregnancy, as well as the issue of sex education.

Comprehensive sexuality education should be funded and/or mandated, and the government must stop funding abstinence only sex education. Also, political parents should be able to say that Americans should talk to their teens about how to prevent pregnancy. Research has found that when parents talk to their teens about sexual choices, values, and birth control, then teens are more likely to delay sex and less likely to have an unintended pregnancy. Either Bristol Palin didn’t know how to use birth control, or she didn’t care to use it. This is related to how she was parented, and what she may or may not have been taught by her mother about sex, love, and life. I find it disturbing that thus far there have been no statements from the political campaigns about sex education, parenting, or about the fact that teen pregnancy is preventable. 

Jamie Lynn Spears, the Gloucester Girls, fictional Juno, and now Bristol Palin.  Will spotlighting another high profile (“celebrity”) teen pregnancy, help or hinder the conversation about teen pregnancy, sex education and parental education? More of my thoughts on this are here and here. Teen pregnancy has been a very public issue in 2008. It’s sad that another teen in the public eye had to become pregnant in order for this to become a political issue. It’s worse that politicians are still silent about the most important issues of teen pregnancy.

Bristol Palin and Trig Palin: Photo from The New York Times

Posted by Dr. Sari Locker