I’ve been writing about sex ed for nearly a decade now. It began when I landed a gig with AASECT, the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. While with that organization—my child just an infant—I learned a lot about the state of sex ed in the United States, and about the role it could play in the overall health and well-being of my … [Read more...] about Conservatives and the Lie of “Parental Rights”
sex ed article
Our Red Book and the Power in Our Period Stories
For over eight years, I didn’t menstruate. First, because I was pregnant. And then, because I got an IUD. Lemme tell you, I loved having that IUD. Suddenly, I no longer had to deal with heavy flows, heavy cramps, and poop problems. Period? What period? Sure, I was completely disconnected from the inner workings of my body, but that was a small price to pay for a period-less … [Read more...] about Our Red Book and the Power in Our Period Stories
We Want Our Kids to be Safe; Comprehensive Sex Ed Is the Answer
This past summer, as students were released into the heat of summer, into weeks at art and soccer camp, into weekends down the shore, school districts began a mad scramble. You see, back in 2020, my home state of New Jersey had adopted the updated Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. Those new standards are due for implementation this … [Read more...] about We Want Our Kids to be Safe; Comprehensive Sex Ed Is the Answer
Sex Educators Are Not ‘Grooming’ Your Kids—But That’s What Conservatives Would Have You Believe
As a sexual health educator, Kerri Isham is no stranger to pushback from parents and administrators. Sex education had always attracted controversy, and there had always existed a fear of what children might learn in sex ed, and what it might inspire them to do. But when one angry parent shared an out-of-context page from Isham’s Body Smart workbook on … [Read more...] about Sex Educators Are Not ‘Grooming’ Your Kids—But That’s What Conservatives Would Have You Believe
These Frequently Banned Sex Ed Books Are Required Reading in My House
The other month, my local comic shop posted that they’d received copies of the updated, deluxe hardcover edition of Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer. I raced over to the shop to pick up a copy, even though I’d just re-read the book in egalley form the week prior. The new cover was gorgeous, the new intro from Nate Stevenson made me a little … [Read more...] about These Frequently Banned Sex Ed Books Are Required Reading in My House
How the Anti-LGBTQ+ Movement Co-opts the Language of Anti-Violence Advocates
Just last month, I hopped onto a meeting of the Sex Education Alliance (SEA) to talk about the most recent onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation sweeping across the U.S. The Alliance is a membership organization for sex educators who are focused on family and child education and we spend a lot of time supporting each other in various ways. But we also look for ways to push the … [Read more...] about How the Anti-LGBTQ+ Movement Co-opts the Language of Anti-Violence Advocates
Why It’s Never Too Early to Start Sex Ed With Your Kids
You’ve likely seen the headlines: Adolescents Receiving Less Sex Ed Than 25 Years Ago. Teens Not Receiving Enough Sex Education. Adolescents Doomed Because Sex Ed Is So Darn Underwhelming. (That last one is mine. It represents the thoughts screaming through my head.) Just this past November, researchers published a paper in the Journal of Adolescent Health that compared … [Read more...] about Why It’s Never Too Early to Start Sex Ed With Your Kids
How to Normalize Talking to Your Kids About Pleasure
In January 1993, Joycelyn Elders was appointed the first Black surgeon general of the United States. A mere 15 months after her confirmation, she was forced to resign. While Elders was known for being outspoken about topics like sex education, the breaking point came when she spoke at a United Nations conference on AIDS. When asked about promoting masturbation as an … [Read more...] about How to Normalize Talking to Your Kids About Pleasure
Disabled Youth Aren’t Receiving the Sex Ed They Deserve
As I write this, I’m more than halfway through our latest Feminist Book Club book — Alice Wong’s Disability Visibility — and deep into the heart of Sex Ed for All Month. Previously known as Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, the month of May has since been earmarked as a time to raise awareness around how we provide (or don’t provide) young people with adequate sexuality … [Read more...] about Disabled Youth Aren’t Receiving the Sex Ed They Deserve
How to Normalize Talking to Your Kids About Periods
I don’t remember much about my first menstruation, beyond the fact that I wasn’t sure if I was menstruating or dying. I was 13 by that point, so I already knew that periods were a thing. School had prepared us for that much, at least. But I suspected that vaginas could bleed for other reasons, too. Terrifying reasons. How was I to know whether the blood staining my … [Read more...] about How to Normalize Talking to Your Kids About Periods