Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice Organizations Issue Call to Action for Sex Education 

Over 180 Groups Kick Off #SexEdForAll Month with Information, Events, and Video Challenge

Washington, DC — May is Sex Ed for All Month, an initiative spearheaded by a coalition of sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations committed to ensuring all young people have access to the education and health care they need to secure the future they envision for themselves.

Throughout May, the Sex Education Coalition — including Advocates for Youth, Answer, Healthy Teen Network, In Our Own Voice, NACCHO, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, Planned Parenthood, Power to Decide, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, and URGE — will bring digital resources directly to young people, continue to support parents and educators as they navigate remote learning, and keep advancing policies that ensure all young people are equipped with the education, information, and resources they need to make informed decisions. Organizing partners represent every facet of the fight for sex education, from educators and trainers, to parents, to policy makers, to young people themselves, including those living in rural settings, communities of color, LGBTQ+ youth, immigrants, youth with lower incomes, and youth in foster care.

Statement from Dr. Sara C. Flowers, vice president of education, Planned Parenthood Federation of America 

“Even in these unprecedented times, we must continue to champion the importance of sex education for young people. We know from years of research that sex education helps young people develop the age-appropriate skills they need to make healthy decisions for themselves, their relationships, and their futures. It also helps them to be more thoughtful about the world around them. All young people — including those in rural areas, youth with lower incomes, communities of color, LGBTQ youth, and immigrant youth — need to be affirmed. Sex education that centers a young person's experiences offers unbiased and relevant information around healthy relationships, identity, sexuality, consent, body image, and more. 

“This year during Sex Ed for All Month, many parents and caregivers are helping their kids learn remotely due to stay-at-home orders, and we encourage them to have supportive, ongoing dialogue with their children and teens about sex and relationships. Resources from the experts at Planned Parenthood and our partners can help start these conversations. We hope they’ll also advocate for quality programs at the federal, state, and local levels so that all young people have access to sex education.”  

Over 180 organizations have signed on to the Sex Ed For All Month Call to Action, which will be shared with federal, state, and local legislators to demand funding and legislation to ensure every student receives quality sex education.

Decades of research show strong support for sex education among parents, educators, young people, and the general public. Unfortunately, too many young people in the U.S. do not receive the tools they need to make informed sexual and reproductive health decisions because funding and quality of education programs vary significantly across the country.

With schools closed in nearly every state due to the COVID-19 pandemic, young people, parents, educators, and advocates are encouraged to participate in the #SexEdForAll video challenge by sharing how sex education can promote social change. The video challenge will bring real voices across the nation together, elevating the importance of why all young people — no matter who they are, where they live, or what their income is — have the right to the information and skills they need to protect their health.

Each week during May, groups will highlight a different aspect of the fight for sex education and how you can be an advocate from home:

• May 4-8: Sex ed for all for social change: An introduction to why we need sex ed for all, and what we need to do to get there

• May 11-15: Engaging young people directly: A focus on youth, including providing digital sex education resources for young people and lifting up youth voices in advocating for sex education

• May 18-22: Focus on parents and educators: How we can support parents and educators from home, and how parents and educators can be advocates in the fight for sex education

• May 26-30: Policy priorities and demands for sex education: Engaging policymakers on how federal funding and policies supporting sex education and sexual health services can help young people, including a call to action for federal, state, and local legislators.

Young people need and deserve quality sex education and sexual health care all year round, no matter what. Get involved this month by telling us why you believe in sex education for all: participate in the #SexEdForAll video challenge and follow the hashtag on social media.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.