In the current American education system Sex Ed can seriously be lacking, and it’s worse for those in the LGBTQ community. Studies show that there is a significant need for sex inclusive sex education in the United States. According to the GLSEN National School Climate Survey, “fewer than five percent of LGBTQ+ students had health classes that included positive representations of LGBT-related topics,”. Why is there a need for a more comprehensive sex education program in high schools and what would this look like if it were to become a reality?
There is a plethora of reasons the United States is in need of comprehensive and LGBTQ+ inclusive Sex Education; however, not many individuals are aware of the need. Here are some key reasons the United States needs more inclusive sex ed.
- LGBTQ+ are missing out, literally.
According to the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), there are wide disparities reported among LGBTQ+ youth including increased rates of sexually transmitted infections among LGBTQ+ youth. Not only is the lack of inclusive curriculum case significant disparities among the health of youth, but there also seems to be a current trend of LGBTQ+ topics being viewed negatively in current sex ed classes. GLSEN explains that when approaching LGBTQ+ sex ed topics there are often ignored or even demonized. The most extreme cases being the Alabama code that teaches, “homosexuality is not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public,” (Alabama Code Title 16. Education § 16-40A-2).
- Education could create safe environments.
Not only would an all-inclusive sex education program proved dire information for LGBTQ+ plus youth, it would also provide information for non-LGBTQ+ youth and ultimately help create understanding environments. In a report put together by answer.rutgers.edu, findings show that in environments where abstinence only education is taught students are more likely to her messages that, “Promote fear of same-sex attraction,” and, “Reinforce gender stereotypes and heterosexual relationships,”. In GLSENS National School Climate survey, it was found that, “LGBT students who reported receiving an abstinence-only sex education curriculum were less likely to feel safe at school, more likely to miss school because they felt unsafe or uncomfortable, less likely to feel comfortable talking about LGBT issues with school personnel, and less likely to be able to identify educators who were supportive of LGBT students,”. Constant school absences due to feeling unsafe at school lends itself to more issues such as lower GPAs and higher levels of depression.
- The Minority Stress Effect
The Minority Stress effect is essentially when discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ youth in their homes or communities lends itself to adverse physical and mental health outcomes. According to a CDC survey of 150,000 students in grades 9-12, LGBTQ+ youth were more likely to engage in, “Behaviors related to violence, including experiencing dating violence, sexual assault and avoiding school because of safety concerns, attempt suicide, and experience unhealthy weight management,”. Ultimately, exclusionary sex ed effects much more aspects of an LGBTQ+ youth’s life than many individuals are aware of.
So, what can be done? Easy, (but also not so easy), implement inclusive sex education. This is where we all come in. Our youth are being dramatically effected by not just the lack of a comprehensive sex education curriculum, but also the lack of an LGBTQ+ inclusive sex education curriculum and it’s up to all of us to take a stand. Support LGBTQ+ inclusive inititives in your community and as always remember to vote! We are the change and it’s up for us to bring about this change for such an important topic.
Sources:
Hrc.com
The Atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/07/the-power-of-inclusive-sex-ed/533772/
IMPACT
http://www.impactprogram.org/topics/sex-ed/
GLSEN
https://www.glsen.org/blog/including-lgbt-content-sex-education-four-wrong-ways-and-one-right-one
Report: