Democracy Rules

Sex education includes instruction on issues relating to human sexuality, anatomy, reproduction, sexual activity, disease, abstinence and birth control. In 2017, nearly 195,000 babies were born to women aged 15–19 years - an all-time low. Since 1991, the rates of teen pregnancy have dropped by half. In 2013, the CDC reported that birth rates for U.S. teens 15-19 years old dropped to a record low not seen since 1946. Each year, young people between 15 and 25 also contract about 10 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases including herpes, chlamydia and HIV. Studies have shown that teens who receive comprehensive sex education are 50% less likely to have an unintended pregnancy than those who haven’t. Advocates claim comprehensive sex education combined with emergency contraception are the reasons the rate of unintended pregnancy is so low.

Evaluations of sex education and STD prevention programs show they do not increase the rate of sexual initiation or lower the age at which youths initiate sex. These programs also do not increase the frequency of sex or the number of sex partners among sexually active youth. Studies also show that young Americans who pledge virginity and abstinence are just as likely as non-pledgers to contract STDs, and are also less likely to use contraception if they do become sexually active. More than 90% of the parents of junior high and high school students surveyed believe it is important their children be taught abstinence, pregnancy and STD prevention in school sex education programs.

Pending Legislation: S.1697 - Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Mazie Hirono (HI)
Status: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Chairperson: Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT)

I oppose reforming current sex education policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Leader Charles Schumer (NY).
I support awarding grants for comprehensive sex education for adolescents which include instruction that addresses the physical, mental, emotional and social dimensions of human sexuality, using approaches designed to motivate and assist students to maintain and improve their sexual health, prevent disease and reduce sexual health-related risk behaviors by: 1.) Awarding grants for comprehensive sex education provided by institutions of higher education and for training faculty and staff to teach comprehensive sex education to adolescents. 2.) Prohibiting grant funds to be used to withhold specified health information related to HIV, provide medically inaccurate information, or promote gender or racial stereotypes. 3.) Eliminating prohibitions on the content of educational programs funded through the HIV/AIDS prevention program. 4.) Repealing the prohibition on using funds for materials or programs that promote or encourage sexual activity and contraceptive distribution in school. 5.) Repealing the Abstinence Only Until Marriage program. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

Winning Option »» I support awarding grants for comprehensive sex education for adolescents which include instruction that addresses the physical, mental, emotional and social dimensions of human sexuality, using approaches designed to motivate and assist students to maintain and improve their sexual health, prevent disease and reduce sexual health-related risk behaviors by: 1.) Awarding grants for comprehensive sex education provided by institutions of higher education and for training faculty and staff to teach comprehensive sex education to adolescents. 2.) Prohibiting grant funds to be used to withhold specified health information related to HIV, provide medically inaccurate information, or promote gender or racial stereotypes. 3.) Eliminating prohibitions on the content of educational programs funded through the HIV/AIDS prevention program. 4.) Repealing the prohibition on using funds for materials or programs that promote or encourage sexual activity and contraceptive distribution in school. 5.) Repealing the Abstinence Only Until Marriage program. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.