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Press Release
May Is National Sex Ed for All Month (2022)

 Community Leaders, Parents, and Guardians Lend Their Voice to Promote #SexEdForAll

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May 2, 2022

For Immediate Release

B altimore, MD May is Sex Ed For All Month, a time parents, guardians, teachers,  community leaders, and advocates call on local school boards, parent-teacher associations, and lawmakers to invest in high-quality sex education that meets the full needs of young people, support sex education programs that promote critical thinking, communication, decision-making, consent, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. 

The vast majority of Republicans and Democrats agree that sex education covering a wide range of topics should be part of school curriculum. Elementary sex education includes discussions on consent, setting boundaries, understanding our bodies, and the variety of ways families are formed. Conversations for middle schoolers are centered on puberty, healthy peer relationships, anti-bullying, and media literacy skills to support a healthy body image. At the high school level, sex education focuses on birth control, safe sex, communication skills, and supporting positive ideas about sex, gender, and race.

“At Healthy Teen Network, we believe every young person has the right to live their authentic sexuality. That means making decisions about their own body and relationships—and feeling good doing it. Decisions about if, when, and how to parent—or not. And the freedom to become who they want to be.

#SexEdForAll is how we can make this a reality, ensuring equitable and accessible sex education for ALL young people nationwide.

Unfortunately, too many young people fail to receive the sexual health information, education, and access to the care they need to lead healthy lives.

Sexual and reproductive health is an essential part of adolescent health and well-being, and we must continue to explicitly call attention to the need–and right–for sex ed for all.” 

—Janet Max, MPH, CHES | President & CEO, Healthy Teen Network

Photo of Janet Max

Since 2019, May has been recognized as Sex Ed for All Month, as part of a national effort spearheaded by a coalition of sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations committed to ensuring equitable and accessible sex education for all young people.

“Sexual and reproductive health is an essential part of adolescent health and well-being, and we must continue to explicitly call attention to the need–and right–for sex ed for all.” — Janet Max, MPH, CHES | President & CEO

National activities are coordinated by the Sex Education Collaborative—representing 22 national, regional, and state-based organizations with extensive experience training educators to deliver school-based sex education—in collaboration with the federal Sex Education Coalition, as well as other national and regional partners.

Get involved this month by telling us why you believe in Sex Ed for All by following and using the hashtag #SexEdForAll on social media.

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Healthy Teen Network promotes better outcomes for adolescents and young adults by advancing social change, cultivating innovation, and strengthening youth-supporting professionals and organizations. Healthy Teen Network is a membership organization nationally recognized for its quality training and technical assistance, integration of evidence-informed and best practices with innovative strategies, and translation of complex research to accessible resources and tools to support professionals.

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Contact: Gina Desiderio, Director of Communications

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