When I entered my sophomore year of high school, I was excited to finally be receiving “sex ed”. That may sound like a weird thing to be excited about, but I was curious to see how my teacher would approach such a vast world of information in just a few weeks.
All we had time for was basic anatomy, an awkward YouTube series about the journey of sperm, a super-beginner lesson on gender, and some cringeworthy photos of STIs. In summary, it barely scraped the surface.
I already thought sophomore year to be far too late for an introduction to sexual and reproductive health; I knew peers who were already having sexual encounters in middle school. I discovered I was queer in fifth grade and came out to my parents in sixth, but I too had been curious about sexuality since I first had access to the internet. That’s how I realized the importance of having accessible, accurate, and appropriate S&R health resources, especially for youth.
When we aren’t provided with the right info at the right time, there’s plenty of room for danger… whether that be stumbling upon a sketchy website, developing hateful ideas about yourself or others, or not knowing how to protect yourself from unwanted experiences.
In a time where imperative education seems to be weaponized by “leaders” who don’t represent the youth, access to such information must be advocated for and protected. That is why I am honored to have taken part in the development of this vital, expansive resource along with many other powerful members of Gen Z.
Education provides kids with the ability to be their most healthy, authentic, and empowered selves– we must do all we can to preserve it.