Friends First
Longmont, Colorado 80502-0356
November 28, 2001

Ways and Means Committee

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing you in support of the Title V abstinence education funding. As a former "Safe Sex" educator in Boulder Valley School District, I have observed first hand the damage that occurs by misleading adolescents to believe that sex outside of marriage is free from consequences. I will always regret teaching that philosophy to teens, but at the time I had no other choices or options.

Thanks to Title V, teachers and school districts now have choices to consider in sexuality education. Since starting FRIENDS FIRST in 1993, I have seen incredible improvements with the type of sexuality education offered to schools, families, and communities. I strongly encourage you to reauthorize the good work that Title V has begun. We need to offer communities this choice too. I am attaching some letters of support for abstinence until marriage education that we have done over the last five years.

Sincerely,

Lisa A. Rue
Certified Health Educator
President/CEO

[Attachments are being retained in the Committee files.]