By Candace Pinto (she/her), 16 years old, editor
May 14, 2024
In addition to the “flowers of May,” May also brings #SexEdForAllMonth! Since 2019, Sexual Education for All Month has raised awareness about the importance of quality comprehensive sexuality education. A group called the Sex Education Collaborative (SEC), “composed of 26 national, regional, and state organizations with extensive experience training educators to deliver sex education in schools,” according to its website, called May Sex Ed For Everything. the month.
The goal is to have a world where all young people, no matter who we are or where we live, receive the sexual education we deserve!
Accurate, non-embarrassing and inclusive
So what would this be like? Well, we deserve sex education that is medically accurate, non-shaming, and inclusive of everyone, whether it’s race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, or any other part of our identities. We deserve to have our questions answered without being judged. We deserve to know not only about anatomy and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), but also about safer sex and the importance of consent and communication in relationships.
Having this type of information is incredibly important for young people. It allows us to make safe decisions about relationships and sex by learning not only about the “risks” but also how to be healthy, compassionate, and respectful of others. Unfortunately, there are too many schools in the United States that deprive teenagers of this right, providing them with limited education, or even sexual education. In fact, “only 29 states and DC require sex education in schools, and where sex education is taught, 13 states do not require the content to be evidence-based, medically accurate, or age-appropriate,” according to the SEC.
Why is this important for teenagers?
Did you know that research has shown that sex education helps students? Having the facts leads to fewer unwanted pregnancies and STIs. Encourages better communication skills and healthier relationships. Provides information that may be of interest to teenagers so that they do not have to search for it in places that may provide inaccurate and harmful information. Helps LGBTQ+ teens feel seen and understood and all teens develop empathy for those who may be different from them.
At a time when reproductive rights and sexuality education are under attack, having comprehensive sexuality education is incredibly important. Although the vast majority of adults in the United States believe in the importance of sexual education, there is a minority that tries to prevent young people from having this valuable information.
But everyone deserves the right to quality sexuality education and the ability to make safe decisions about sex, relationships, and/or their identity.
How can you help?
There are many ways teens can help!
To start, you can raise awareness and support the right to sex education by finding out who makes sex education decisions at your school and talking to them with respect and curiosity. You can find out how decisions are made about what is and isn’t taught as part of your district’s sex education.
You could gather friends and classmates and ask them what they would like to see as part of their sex education. You can plan different ways to advocate for more comprehensive sexuality education, such as attending and speaking at school board meetings.
Don’t forget that there are many resources, including Sex, etc.to help you along the way!
By raising awareness about this topic, we hope it will help eliminate stigma, spread the importance of comprehensive and inclusive sexuality education, and allow a judgment- and shame-free zone for every teen to freely ask questions about sex and sexual health. .
