AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - State lawmakers have filed legislation that would require sex education classes in Texas to include information about contraceptives that can prevent sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.
The legislation filed Wednesday would also require schools to emphasize the importance of abstinence as the only foolproof way to avoid disease and pregnancy.
Currently, the state doesn't require public schools to teach sex education. Schools that do must emphasize abstinence and the failure rate of contraceptives.
The legislation was filed by three Democrats: Sen. Rodney Ellis of Houston, Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio and Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio.
Van de Putte says focusing on the abstinence-until-marriage approach is "folly."
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(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
