MAP Advocate Action Alert February 13 Support Comprehensive Sexual Health Education. Send a Valentine on the 14th. MAP, along with our partners in Sex Ed For Life, will be celebrating Valentine's Day at the State Capitol with a press conference to talk about the introduction of our comprehensive sex ed bill. With candy hearts in hand, we will be talking to legislators to tell them that young people need complete and medically-accurate information about sexual health to curb the spread of HIV and other STDs and prevent unplanned pregnancies. We need advocates to send a valentine to their legislators to help us deliver the message. This Friday, click off an email that drives home the following points: 1. Comprehensive sex ed works in encouraging young people to delay the onset of sexual activity and leads to greater use of contraception among those who do choose to be sexually active. 2. 80 percent of Minnesotans support comprehensive sex ed. 3. The alternative, abstinence-only until marriage programs, are not scientifically accurate and have not proven to be effective. Just a few words from you on Valentine's Day can help young people stay healthy and get the facts! Send MAP a copy of your valentine at [log in to unmask] so we can keep track of which legislators are getting the message. Time is running out. Register NOW for AIDS Action Day. Governor Pawlenty has demonstrated his lack of concern for HIV by cutting $1.2 million in prevention grants in his unallotment last week. Social conservatives in the House have introduced bills to take away a minor's right to consent to confidential health care and strip the Human Rights Act of protections for GLBT citizens. Don't let those be the only voices heard this session. Come to AIDS Action Day on February 24. For more information and to register, visit our Website at http://www.mnaidsproject.org/policy/aidsactioninfo.htm **Updates on the unallotment cuts, legislation and more have been posted on our website this week. Visit it now to find out what is going on and how you can be involved. http://www.mnaidsproject.org/policy/index.htm