Dallas County Health and Human Services is now pushing for teens to be provided free condoms and graphic sex education. According to CBS Local, the Director of DCHHS Zachary Thompson “wants the legislature to look into the matter and consider funding the purchase of condoms for Dallas county schools.” Thompson says that Texas has seen an “increase in the number of teen pregnancies statewide as well as STD’s and HIV among 13-18 age group.” He wants the state to pass out condoms in churches.

But Thompson’s message is undercut by the fact that Texas’ pregnancy rates have been dropping, at least in part thanks to the state’s adoption of abstinence only education. There is little evidence to suggest that comprehensive sex education and taxpayer-provided contraception lowers either pregnancy rates or STD rates in other localities.