Terrifying Public High School Speaker: If You Take Birth Control, Your Mother Probably Hates You
Science not Superstition
Again, that is a woman who is regularly paid money to speak at schools — many of them public. And, oh boy, are religious fundamentalist communities happy to have her spreading the Word. Here’s how the website Believes in West Virginia** previewed her talks earlier this week:
In a captivating and inspiring talk, Pam tackles the tough issues of sex with candor, insight, and humor while challenging young people to embrace God’s plan for sexual purity.
Whoomp! (There it is.) God’s plan. Sexual purity. Stenzel’s game plan, clear as a commandment. And although she didn’t mention religion in her talk at the public George Washington High School — she’s far too smart for that — it’s clear where her passion is.
At least it was obvious to many students at George Washington High School on Monday — including Katelyn Campbell, who called Stenzel’s presentation “slut-shaming” and is filing a complaint with the ACLU.
“Many students felt uncomfortable with her outright condemnation of any and everyone who has ever had premarital sexual contact,” Campbell said. “Stenzel’s overall attitude was that any type of sex will guarantee the contraction of an STD or an unwanted pregnancy.”
Campbell and a male student, who wished to remain anonymous, said Stenzel often screamed into the microphone and used an unsettlingly loud tone throughout the presentation.
“While her intentions may have been good, her tone was very loud, like she was shaming everyone in the audience. She was making girls cry. There were pregnant girls in the audience and she was implying, if you had sex, you’re not an OK person,” the male student said. “The only reason I am standing up against it is so other schools in West Virginia don’t have to hear this.”
Fuck Yeah, Katelyn Campbell and unnamed male student! Some pissed-off parents got into the mix, too. In a post to Facebook, parent Cheri Callaghan wrote that she heard a rumor the assembly was on safe sex and STDS. Knowing that the school nurse isn’t even allowed to discuss specifics of birth control in a class setting with students, she was surprised. “I thought, ‘Wow, now we’re getting somewhere.’ Come to find out it’s ‘a motivational speaker’ on abstinence,” she wrote.
More: Terrifying Public High School Speaker: If You Take Birth Control, Your Mother Probably Hates You