While West Texas retains its conservative façade, the actions hiding behind these images reveals an opposite reality.  In 2005, Lubbock, Texas recorded the highest STD rates in the nation.  West Texas also holds one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates.  Both of these statistics reflect the results of the longest standing abstinence only education policy in the United States.  Still, rather than attempting a new approach towards promoting the health and well being of its West Texas citizens, legislators during the next session appear focused on addressing the increasing divorce rates within the region.  By diverting attention away from the real issues involving health and sex education, most of the bills I’ve read about coming up during the next session address the fact that more marriages fail in of Texas than in New York.

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