Lawmakers call state sex-ed site ‘disgusting’

April 27, 2011|By Bob Salsberg, Associated Press

Massachusetts public health officials said yesterday that they would be willing to consider changes in the content of a sexual education website aimed at teenagers, after critics in the Legislature complained that the site had graphic and “disgusting’’ descriptions of sex acts and downplayed the risks of abortion.

The lawmakers sent a letter to Governor Deval Patrick asking him to cut off state funding for www.mariatalks.com, which is maintained by the independent AIDS Action Committee with the help of a $100,000 annual grant from the state Department of Public Health.

“Governor Patrick, take down this website,’’ demanded state Representative Marc Lombardo, a Billerica Republican and one of about 20 members of a bipartisan group assembled at the State House.

Patrick offered no immediate comment, but the Public Health Department said it would be willing to meet with critics and take steps to improve the content of the site.

But the department also said that its goal is to make accurate health information available to the public and that the site is “an important tool to help us do that.’’

Some lawmakers defended the site, including Representative Byron Rushing, Democrat of Boston, who said it provided useful information.

The site features “Maria’’ and other fictional teenagers who discuss topics including sex, birth control, pregnancy, abortion, and sexually transmitted diseases. Critics object to graphic descriptions of sexual contact.

“The language that is used on this site is disgusting,’’ said Representative Elizabeth Poirier, a North Attleborough Republican. “There are words that I would find difficult to speak.’’