We all know what Valentine’s Day includes, and it’s more than just dressing up for a nice date. It’s what’s after the date that people need to know about, particularly in terms of safe sex.
Usually people learn all about sex ed in high school, but sometimes the school budget doesn’t include a universal sex ed class, and depending on the school district, LGBTQ students are left to figure out safe sex on their own terms.
If you’re straight, you might have the same experience I did. Many of us remember growing up understanding what sex is at a fairly young age from the gossip of our friends, the movies/shows we watched with our parents or sometimes the books/magazines we read.
For a long time, I didn’t understand what same-sex meant, much less how it worked. I grew up believing a lot of stereotypes about same-sex couples: How lesbians “scissor” to have sex, how all gay men will eventually have AIDS, how bisexual/transgender people are just confused. These beliefs are not only damaging to LGBTQ students, but they’re dramatically uninformed and only perpetuate homophobia.
The number of states that mandate equality in sex ed courses is drastically low. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, only eight states require lessons not be race or gender biased, meaning only eight states require lessons be inclusive of sexual orientation. This is unacceptable, to say the least. Same-sex marriage was legalized in 2015; LGBTQ people are members of Congress and other political offices. It’s a new era. LGBTQ students should never feel excluded in terms of their education.
Inclusivity for LGBTQ students will only benefit the youth. According to the Human Rights Campaign’s reports, “Hundreds of studies have shown that well-designed and well-implemented sex education can reduce risk behavior and support positive sexual health outcomes among teens, such as reducing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection rates.”
The HRC explains, “Inclusive programs are those that help youth understand gender identity and sexual orientation with age-appropriate and medically accurate information; incorporate positive examples of LGBTQ individuals, romantic relationships and families; emphasize the need for protection during sex for people of all identities; and dispel common myths and stereotypes about behavior and identity.”
Regardless of religious values about sexuality, LGBTQ students exist. They look just like any other student in school, and if we want to protect the youth, the best adults can we do is ensure all students have a formative and inclusive education. Safe sex shouldn’t be exclusive to just heterosexual students.
Likewise, promoting positive, healthy relationships among people should be a mandated effect of education regardless of sexuality or gender. Safe sex should not only contain an educational approach to same-sex and same-sex safety, but these lessons should also work to diminish stereotypes about the LGBTQ community.
