The statistics are astounding. More than 60% of high school seniors have had sexual intercourse.[1] 3 out of 10 young women will become pregnant at least once before they turn 20.[2] South Carolina has the 8^th highest AIDS case rate.[3] Young people ages 15-24 account for almost half of new STI cases in South Carolina. Births to teen mothers cost South Carolina taxpayers $156 million annually.

As the Tell Them website states, “As a community, we must acknowledge and address the fundamental issues that underlie these numbers. We can then work together to build capacity, on both local and statewide levels, to promote the healthy development of our young citizens.”

It is critical that South Carolina policymakers hear from us. They need to know where their constituents stand on the issues of unintended pregnancies and STIs. Without responsible public health polices, many of South Carolina’s “at-risk” populations – young women in our poorest and most rural counties- will not have access to medically accurate information and services.

Your representatives and senators need to hear from you. Join the Virtual March and Tell Them. Stand together with voters across the state and make a profound statement towards changing South Carolina.

[2] Carol J Pardun, K. L. (2005). Linking Exposure to Outcomes: Early Adolescents’ Consumption of Sexual Content in Six Media. Mass Communications & Society , 75-91. http://teenmedia.unc.edu/pdf/Mass.pdf 

[3] Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008, August). HIV/AIDS Among Women. Retrieved November 2009, from CDC Website: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/resources/factsheets/pdf/women.pdf

Tell Them is extremely proud to introduce Tameika Isaac Devine of Columbia, South Carolina. After serving as Assistant Attorney General responsible for the prosecution of family violence and sexual assault cases, Tameika became a Founding Partner of Jabber & Isaac Law Firm. She is a member of the Executive Council of the SC Young Lawyers Division, Secretary for the South Carolina Black Lawyers Association, and is a former President of the Columbia Lawyers Association.

Tameika currently serves on the Columbia City Council. She is the youngest and first African-American female to do so. Watch her discuss the importance of communicating with elected officials and why all South Carolinians need to be involved with the political process.