In 1994, a significant event took place in Washington, D.C., where thousands of teenagers gathered to pledge abstinence until marriage. The Southern Baptist organization True Love Waits facilitated this movement by distributing pledge cards that were signed by an estimated 200,000 young people. This event marked a breakthrough moment for the evangelical purity movement, which continues to influence sex education in the United States.
One of the early participants, Jill Dender, shared her experience of signing the pledge and attending the rally in Washington, D.C. She described the sense of joy and excitement she felt when she saw a sea of signed cards on the National Mall. The movement gained momentum in the early 1990s amid concerns about teen pregnancy rates and the AIDS crisis. True Love Waits received significant media attention, leading to similar displays of pledge cards in other locations across the country.
The co-founders of True Love Waits, Richard Ross and Jimmy Hester, developed the commitment card that outlined a pledge to remain sexually pure until entering a covenant marriage relationship. This commitment resonated with many young people, who voluntarily chose to abstain from sex until marriage. The movement received inquiries from government policymakers, leading to the allocation of federal funding for abstinence-based programs in schools.
However, the implementation of abstinence-only programs faced criticism and controversy. Leslie Kantor, a public health professor, highlighted the challenges faced by advocates of comprehensive sex education in the face of conservative groups promoting abstinence-only programs. Studies revealed that abstinence-only programs had little impact on the sexual behavior of youth and often contained misleading or distorted information.
Despite these challenges, states continue to adopt varying approaches to sex education, with some emphasizing abstinence while others promote comprehensive sex education. SIECUS, an organization advocating for comprehensive sex education, grades states based on their sex education requirements. Many states still prioritize abstinence-centered education, leading to higher rates of teen pregnancy in certain regions.
Individuals like Jill Dender and Claire McKeever-Burgett, who participated in the purity movement, have differing perspectives on its impact. Dender, now a mother of seven, continues to support abstinence-centered education for her children, emphasizing the importance of following Jesus. In contrast, McKeever-Burgett, who felt disconnected from her body due to the purity movement, advocates for open conversations about sexuality with her children.
The True Love Waits movement continues to exist, albeit with changes in its language and approach. The latest version of the commitment focuses on the pursuit of personal holiness rather than explicit references to sexual abstinence. Despite evolving over time, the legacy of the evangelical purity movement on sex education in the United States remains a topic of ongoing debate and discussion.
