A federal bill aims to promote sex education for young people in the United States
May is "Sex Education for All" month and the Center is proud to support a new federal bill that provides funding to improve access to comprehensive sex education and sexual health services for youth throughout the United States.
The Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act (REAHYA), introduced on May 18, would for the first time provide federal grants for comprehensive, honest, and inclusive sex education programs and eliminate federal funding for the Title V state grant program "abstinence only until marriage." REAHYA grants would also improve access to sexual health services tailored to their needs for marginalized youth.
The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by MPs Barbara Lee and Alma Adams and in the Senate by Senators Cory Booker and Mazie Hirono.
"Through new federal investments, the Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act affirms the right of youth to access medically accurate, confidential, evidence-based and culturally appropriate sex education and sexual health services, especially those who face the greatest barriers to information and access to care, such as LGBTQ+ and/or Black youth, Indigenous people, and other people of color," said Hannah Wheelwright, senior federal policy and advocacy strategist at the Center. "The Center for Reproductive Rights is proud to support and call for the adoption of this necessary legislation."
Currently, only 29 U.S. states and Washington D.C. make sex education mandatory in schools, and only 11 states and Washington D.C. require LGBTQ-inclusive sex education. In addition, of the states that mandate sex education, 15 states do not require content to be evidence-based, medically accurate and complete.
Experts recognize the significant gap between the sexual health education that young people currently receive and the tools they need to be informed about their bodies and sexual health.
The Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act (REAHYA), introduced on May 18, would for the first time provide federal grants for comprehensive, honest, and inclusive sex education programs and eliminate federal funding for the Title V state grant program "abstinence only until marriage." REAHYA grants would also improve access to sexual health services tailored to their needs for marginalized youth.
The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by MPs Barbara Lee and Alma Adams and in the Senate by Senators Cory Booker and Mazie Hirono.
"Through new federal investments, the Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act affirms the right of youth to access medically accurate, confidential, evidence-based and culturally appropriate sex education and sexual health services, especially those who face the greatest barriers to information and access to care, such as LGBTQ+ and/or Black youth, Indigenous people, and other people of color," said Hannah Wheelwright, senior federal policy and advocacy strategist at the Center. "The Center for Reproductive Rights is proud to support and call for the adoption of this necessary legislation."
Currently, only 29 U.S. states and Washington D.C. make sex education mandatory in schools, and only 11 states and Washington D.C. require LGBTQ-inclusive sex education. In addition, of the states that mandate sex education, 15 states do not require content to be evidence-based, medically accurate and complete.
Experts recognize the significant gap between the sexual health education that young people currently receive and the tools they need to be informed about their bodies and sexual health.
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