today I’m gonna talk to you about something that affects each and every
something that affects each and every
something that affects each and every single one of us regardless of race
single one of us regardless of race
single one of us regardless of race religion gender or sexuality because it
religion gender or sexuality because it
religion gender or sexuality because it is part of the universal human
is part of the universal human
is part of the universal human experience it’s going to affect each and
experience it’s going to affect each and
experience it’s going to affect each and every one of us all the time
every one of us all the time
every one of us all the time because sex is everywhere in our society
because sex is everywhere in our society
because sex is everywhere in our society and I’m here to talk to you about the
and I’m here to talk to you about the
and I’m here to talk to you about the difference between abstinence only and
difference between abstinence only and
difference between abstinence only and comprehensive sex education and I’m sure
comprehensive sex education and I’m sure
comprehensive sex education and I’m sure you’re wondering why in high school
you’re wondering why in high school
you’re wondering why in high school student is talking to you about sex well
student is talking to you about sex well
student is talking to you about sex well I’m the executive director and founder
I’m the executive director and founder
I’m the executive director and founder of Keystone Coalition for advancing sex
of Keystone Coalition for advancing sex
of Keystone Coalition for advancing sex education and for the last two years
education and for the last two years
education and for the last two years I’ve been making it my mission to make
I’ve been making it my mission to make
I’ve been making it my mission to make sure we reform a sexuality education
sure we reform a sexuality education
sure we reform a sexuality education into a comprehensive and inclusive model
into a comprehensive and inclusive model
into a comprehensive and inclusive model one that empowers young people with
one that empowers young people with
one that empowers young people with knowledge because I’ve actually even
knowledge because I’ve actually even
knowledge because I’ve actually even written legislation to change it for the
written legislation to change it for the
written legislation to change it for the better in PA because right now our
better in PA because right now our
better in PA because right now our country is going through what many are
country is going through what many are
country is going through what many are calling a public health crisis our youth
calling a public health crisis our youth
calling a public health crisis our youth are not getting the proper tools they
are not getting the proper tools they
are not getting the proper tools they need to navigate a sex centric culture
need to navigate a sex centric culture
need to navigate a sex centric culture and what do I mean by that sex is
and what do I mean by that sex is
and what do I mean by that sex is everywhere in a society turn on the
everywhere in a society turn on the
everywhere in a society turn on the radio listen to music watch the TV and I
radio listen to music watch the TV and I
radio listen to music watch the TV and I guarantee you’ll realize it it’s
guarantee you’ll realize it it’s
guarantee you’ll realize it it’s everywhere it permeates every facet of
everywhere it permeates every facet of
everywhere it permeates every facet of our society yet in the classroom what
our society yet in the classroom what
our society yet in the classroom what exactly are we doing to teach students
exactly are we doing to teach students
exactly are we doing to teach students to navigate to us and the truth is we
to navigate to us and the truth is we
to navigate to us and the truth is we aren’t so thanks to a ton of great
aren’t so thanks to a ton of great
aren’t so thanks to a ton of great scientific research from studies to
scientific research from studies to
scientific research from studies to surveys the verdict is in an absence
surveys the verdict is in an absence
surveys the verdict is in an absence only education and it’s a total failure
only education and it’s a total failure
only education and it’s a total failure so let’s look into the programs study
so let’s look into the programs study
so let’s look into the programs study after study after study confirm what
after study after study confirm what
after study after study confirm what many health professionals and educators
many health professionals and educators
many health professionals and educators already suspected that abstinence only
already suspected that abstinence only
already suspected that abstinence only education abstinence only programs do
education abstinence only programs do
education abstinence only programs do not give students the skills they need
not give students the skills they need
not give students the skills they need to keep their bodies happy safe and
to keep their bodies happy safe and
to keep their bodies happy safe and healthy
healthy
healthy in fact it jeopardizes their health with
in fact it jeopardizes their health with
in fact it jeopardizes their health with a lack of accurate information to put it
a lack of accurate information to put it
a lack of accurate information to put it simply the absence of information is not
simply the absence of information is not
simply the absence of information is not education solely relying on telling
education solely relying on telling
education solely relying on telling somebody not to do something is
somebody not to do something is
somebody not to do something is unrealistic and it’s harmful to public
unrealistic and it’s harmful to public
unrealistic and it’s harmful to public health and in the absence of this
health and in the absence of this
health and in the absence of this information students are turning to
information students are turning to
information students are turning to what’s readily available to them the
what’s readily available to them the
what’s readily available to them the internet sexually explicit material and
internet sexually explicit material and
internet sexually explicit material and pornography and that couldn’t get
pornography and that couldn’t get
pornography and that couldn’t get further away from the reality of sex
further away from the reality of sex
further away from the reality of sex it’s a fantasy
it’s a fantasy
it’s a fantasy not a reality so let’s look at the data
not a reality so let’s look at the data
not a reality so let’s look at the data according to a federally funded study of
according to a federally funded study of
according to a federally funded study of abstinence programs there is no
abstinence programs there is no
abstinence programs there is no connection between enrollment and an
connection between enrollment and an
connection between enrollment and an abstinence program to the delaying of
abstinence program to the delaying of
abstinence program to the delaying of sexual activity having fewer sexual
sexual activity having fewer sexual
sexual activity having fewer sexual partners or from students I’m stating
partners or from students I’m stating
partners or from students I’m stating completely from sex another recent study
completely from sex another recent study
completely from sex another recent study from the got mature Institute was a
from the got mature Institute was a
from the got mature Institute was a leading reproductive health research
leading reproductive health research
leading reproductive health research group found that abstinence only
group found that abstinence only
group found that abstinence only programs do not succeed in reducing
programs do not succeed in reducing
programs do not succeed in reducing rates of teen pregnancies or sexually
rates of teen pregnancies or sexually
rates of teen pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections one of the
transmitted infections one of the
transmitted infections one of the co-authors of that study her name is
co-authors of that study her name is
co-authors of that study her name is Laura Lindberg she says abstinence only
Laura Lindberg she says abstinence only
Laura Lindberg she says abstinence only programs leaves our young people without
programs leaves our young people without
programs leaves our young people without the knowledge and information that they
the knowledge and information that they
the knowledge and information that they need so not only is abstinence only
need so not only is abstinence only
need so not only is abstinence only programs that harmful there there are
programs that harmful there there are
programs that harmful there there are not only our absence only programs
not only our absence only programs
not only our absence only programs ineffective they’re actively harmful a
ineffective they’re actively harmful a
ineffective they’re actively harmful a study from the Government Reform
study from the Government Reform
study from the Government Reform Committee which looked into the 13 most
Committee which looked into the 13 most
Committee which looked into the 13 most commonly used curricula in the nation
commonly used curricula in the nation
commonly used curricula in the nation found only two of them or factually
found only two of them or factually
found only two of them or factually sound the other 11 programs used by 25
sound the other 11 programs used by 25
sound the other 11 programs used by 25 States and 69 separate organizations
States and 69 separate organizations
States and 69 separate organizations were found to have subjective
were found to have subjective
were found to have subjective conclusions unproven assertions and
conclusions unproven assertions and
conclusions unproven assertions and outright falsehoods surrounding
outright falsehoods surrounding
outright falsehoods surrounding reproductive health so knowing what we
reproductive health so knowing what we
reproductive health so knowing what we know now that abstinence only programs
know now that abstinence only programs
know now that abstinence only programs are both ineffective and actively
are both ineffective and actively
are both ineffective and actively harmful it should shock you to know that
harmful it should shock you to know that
harmful it should shock you to know that the federal government has spent 2
the federal government has spent 2
the federal government has spent 2 billion dollars over the past 20 years
billion dollars over the past 20 years
billion dollars over the past 20 years on these programs in 2008 alone we spent
on these programs in 2008 alone we spent
on these programs in 2008 alone we spent a whopping 176 million dollars of
a whopping 176 million dollars of
a whopping 176 million dollars of taxpayer money
taxpayer money
taxpayer money on a broken system so what’s the answer
on a broken system so what’s the answer
on a broken system so what’s the answer I just ripped apart one of the most
I just ripped apart one of the most
I just ripped apart one of the most notorious and popular sex education
notorious and popular sex education
notorious and popular sex education programs and luckily I stand in front of
programs and luckily I stand in front of
programs and luckily I stand in front of you with a very clear answer
you with a very clear answer
you with a very clear answer it’s called comprehensive sex education
it’s called comprehensive sex education
it’s called comprehensive sex education the idea that sex is taught in schools
the idea that sex is taught in schools
the idea that sex is taught in schools as a healthy and natural part of the
as a healthy and natural part of the
as a healthy and natural part of the human experience but that students are
human experience but that students are
human experience but that students are given the proper tools to keep their
given the proper tools to keep their
given the proper tools to keep their bodies happy safe and healthy now I
bodies happy safe and healthy now I
bodies happy safe and healthy now I didn’t create sex education or
didn’t create sex education or
didn’t create sex education or comprehensive sex education countries in
comprehensive sex education countries in
comprehensive sex education countries in Europe like the Netherlands and here at
Europe like the Netherlands and here at
Europe like the Netherlands and here at home in California have already
home in California have already
home in California have already implemented these programs to great
implemented these programs to great
implemented these programs to great success and that’s just to name a few
success and that’s just to name a few
success and that’s just to name a few in fact a global review of comprehensive
in fact a global review of comprehensive
in fact a global review of comprehensive sex education programs found that they
sex education programs found that they
sex education programs found that they have resulted and this was from the
have resulted and this was from the
have resulted and this was from the United Nations that they have resulted
United Nations that they have resulted
United Nations that they have resulted in delayed sexual initiation fewer
in delayed sexual initiation fewer
in delayed sexual initiation fewer sexual partners reduced frequency of sex
sexual partners reduced frequency of sex
sexual partners reduced frequency of sex and an increased use of contraceptives
and an increased use of contraceptives
and an increased use of contraceptives so that actually disproves a common myth
so that actually disproves a common myth
so that actually disproves a common myth about comprehensive sex education that
about comprehensive sex education that
about comprehensive sex education that when we teach students about sex in a
when we teach students about sex in a
when we teach students about sex in a positive and healthy way that they have
positive and healthy way that they have
positive and healthy way that they have more sex and it’s not it’s just not true
more sex and it’s not it’s just not true
more sex and it’s not it’s just not true instead we give them the maturity and
instead we give them the maturity and
instead we give them the maturity and the information to understand when it’s
the information to understand when it’s
the information to understand when it’s appropriate for them to engage in sexual
appropriate for them to engage in sexual
appropriate for them to engage in sexual activity and how to stay safe if they do
activity and how to stay safe if they do
activity and how to stay safe if they do so let’s dig deeper into both of these
so let’s dig deeper into both of these
so let’s dig deeper into both of these programs abstinence only and
programs abstinence only and
programs abstinence only and comprehensive sex ed and we’re going to
comprehensive sex ed and we’re going to
comprehensive sex ed and we’re going to compare them on four different important
compare them on four different important
compare them on four different important areas of focuses through four different
areas of focuses through four different
areas of focuses through four different lenses first being sexually transmitted
lenses first being sexually transmitted
lenses first being sexually transmitted infections second being through teen
infections second being through teen
infections second being through teen pregnancy rates and unintended pregnancy
pregnancy rates and unintended pregnancy
pregnancy rates and unintended pregnancy third being through neglected student
third being through neglected student
third being through neglected student populations namely the LGBTQ community
populations namely the LGBTQ community
populations namely the LGBTQ community and fourth through the lens of needing
and fourth through the lens of needing
and fourth through the lens of needing to address and sexual assault epidemic
to address and sexual assault epidemic
to address and sexual assault epidemic so on my first point sexually
so on my first point sexually
so on my first point sexually transmitted infections are a serious
transmitted infections are a serious
transmitted infections are a serious public health concern and we need to
public health concern and we need to
public health concern and we need to start implementing programs that are
start implementing programs that are
start implementing programs that are proven to reduce transmission rates the
proven to reduce transmission rates the
proven to reduce transmission rates the CDC reports about 20 million new
CDC reports about 20 million new
CDC reports about 20 million new infections occur each year 50% of them
infections occur each year 50% of them
infections occur each year 50% of them being ages 15 to 24 if that doesn’t show
being ages 15 to 24 if that doesn’t show
being ages 15 to 24 if that doesn’t show you how we’re failing student
you how we’re failing student
you how we’re failing student I don’t know what well other data shows
I don’t know what well other data shows
I don’t know what well other data shows us that one in four teens contract an
us that one in four teens contract an
us that one in four teens contract an STI each year so not only or apart from
STI each year so not only or apart from
STI each year so not only or apart from transmission rates sexually transmitted
transmission rates sexually transmitted
transmission rates sexually transmitted infections are expensive give me some
infections are expensive give me some
infections are expensive give me some numbers here what are you thinking that
numbers here what are you thinking that
numbers here what are you thinking that sexually transmitted infections cost
sexually transmitted infections cost
sexually transmitted infections cost Americans each year and health care
Americans each year and health care
Americans each year and health care expenses yelling out five million
expenses yelling out five million
expenses yelling out five million well actually sex education are actually
well actually sex education are actually
well actually sex education are actually sti’s cost Americans sixteen billion
sti’s cost Americans sixteen billion
sti’s cost Americans sixteen billion dollars in related health care costs
dollars in related health care costs
dollars in related health care costs each year let me put that insane amount
each year let me put that insane amount
each year let me put that insane amount of money in perspective for you with 16
of money in perspective for you with 16
of money in perspective for you with 16 billion dollars we could fully fund
billion dollars we could fully fund
billion dollars we could fully fund Planned Parenthood for the next 12 years
Planned Parenthood for the next 12 years
Planned Parenthood for the next 12 years continue to expand the growing network
continue to expand the growing network
continue to expand the growing network of community health centers all across
of community health centers all across
of community health centers all across the nation for low-income Americans we
the nation for low-income Americans we
the nation for low-income Americans we could even provide free condoms to the
could even provide free condoms to the
could even provide free condoms to the entire United States population for
entire United States population for
entire United States population for decades on to my second point teen
decades on to my second point teen
decades on to my second point teen pregnancy rates there is no conclusive
pregnancy rates there is no conclusive
pregnancy rates there is no conclusive scientific data that shows abstinence
scientific data that shows abstinence
scientific data that shows abstinence only programs reduce teen pregnancy
only programs reduce teen pregnancy
only programs reduce teen pregnancy rates in fact it’s quite the contrary
rates in fact it’s quite the contrary
rates in fact it’s quite the contrary students are who are enrolled in
students are who are enrolled in
students are who are enrolled in comprehensive sex education programs
comprehensive sex education programs
comprehensive sex education programs have been found to be 50% less likely to
have been found to be 50% less likely to
have been found to be 50% less likely to experience and pregnancy than those who
experience and pregnancy than those who
experience and pregnancy than those who are in absence only programs on to my
are in absence only programs on to my
are in absence only programs on to my third point there are a ton of students
third point there are a ton of students
third point there are a ton of students who are disproportionately affected by
who are disproportionately affected by
who are disproportionately affected by current standards namely the lgbtq+
current standards namely the lgbtq+
current standards namely the lgbtq+ community less than according to a
community less than according to a
community less than according to a survey which was done by a coalition of
survey which was done by a coalition of
survey which was done by a coalition of Human Rights Kent on human rights groups
Human Rights Kent on human rights groups
Human Rights Kent on human rights groups which included the Human Rights Campaign
which included the Human Rights Campaign
which included the Human Rights Campaign they found that less than 5% of LGBTQ
they found that less than 5% of LGBTQ
they found that less than 5% of LGBTQ plus students surveyed had experienced
plus students surveyed had experienced
plus students surveyed had experienced classes that include a positive view of
classes that include a positive view of
classes that include a positive view of LGBTQ plus topics that lack of exposure
LGBTQ plus topics that lack of exposure
LGBTQ plus topics that lack of exposure breeds misinformation and
breeds misinformation and
breeds misinformation and misunderstanding in the classroom and it
misunderstanding in the classroom and it
misunderstanding in the classroom and it creates discrimination which manifests
creates discrimination which manifests
creates discrimination which manifests itself in discrimination and hate later
itself in discrimination and hate later
itself in discrimination and hate later on
on
on now all students deserve comprehensive
now all students deserve comprehensive
now all students deserve comprehensive and inclusive sex education and the
and inclusive sex education and the
and inclusive sex education and the LGBTQ community isn’t even the only
LGBTQ community isn’t even the only
LGBTQ community isn’t even the only group of students disproportionately
group of students disproportionately
group of students disproportionately affected students with disabilities both
affected students with disabilities both
affected students with disabilities both intellectual and physical are rarely
intellectual and physical are rarely
intellectual and physical are rarely given the comprehensive relevant and
given the comprehensive relevant and
given the comprehensive relevant and inclusive information that they deserve
inclusive information that they deserve
inclusive information that they deserve it is time that we start to recognize
it is time that we start to recognize
it is time that we start to recognize this discrimination that is going on in
this discrimination that is going on in
this discrimination that is going on in the classrooms with abstinence-only
the classrooms with abstinence-only
the classrooms with abstinence-only programs and start to empower people
programs and start to empower people
programs and start to empower people with knowledge through comprehensive sex
with knowledge through comprehensive sex
with knowledge through comprehensive sex education on to my fourth point it is up
education on to my fourth point it is up
education on to my fourth point it is up to each and every single one of us to
to each and every single one of us to
to each and every single one of us to act on the sexual assault epidemic every
act on the sexual assault epidemic every
act on the sexual assault epidemic every 98 seconds an American has sexually
98 seconds an American has sexually
98 seconds an American has sexually assaulted at that sink in one of the
assaulted at that sink in one of the
assaulted at that sink in one of the reasons why I got involved in reforming
reasons why I got involved in reforming
reasons why I got involved in reforming sexuality education was because my
sexuality education was because my
sexuality education was because my friends were sexually assaulted and when
friends were sexually assaulted and when
friends were sexually assaulted and when they courageously told me their stories
they courageously told me their stories
they courageously told me their stories I was heartbroken I was shattered to say
I was heartbroken I was shattered to say
I was heartbroken I was shattered to say the least but I realized that in my own
the least but I realized that in my own
the least but I realized that in my own way I could make a difference through
way I could make a difference through
way I could make a difference through activism I channeled my anger about the
activism I channeled my anger about the
activism I channeled my anger about the situation into action because advancing
situation into action because advancing
situation into action because advancing sex education in the classroom to talk
sex education in the classroom to talk
sex education in the classroom to talk about consent to talk about respect are
about consent to talk about respect are
about consent to talk about respect are all ways that we can create a society
all ways that we can create a society
all ways that we can create a society that is comfortable and safe for all of
that is comfortable and safe for all of
that is comfortable and safe for all of our people comprehend Sand absence only
our people comprehend Sand absence only
our people comprehend Sand absence only programs leave all of that out all those
programs leave all of that out all those
programs leave all of that out all those discussions completely out of the
discussions completely out of the
discussions completely out of the classroom comprehensive sex education on
classroom comprehensive sex education on
classroom comprehensive sex education on the other hand has a real chance to make
the other hand has a real chance to make
the other hand has a real chance to make a change in our culture and let me say
a change in our culture and let me say
a change in our culture and let me say this about our culture I thank and
this about our culture I thank and
this about our culture I thank and applaud the courageous women and men who
applaud the courageous women and men who
applaud the courageous women and men who have been standing up loudly and clearly
have been standing up loudly and clearly
have been standing up loudly and clearly saying times up we should not be living
saying times up we should not be living
saying times up we should not be living in a society that silences and
in a society that silences and
in a society that silences and ostracizes survivors covers up their
ostracizes survivors covers up their
ostracizes survivors covers up their stories with defamation and illegitimate
stories with defamation and illegitimate
stories with defamation and illegitimate on all of us can do better to stand with
on all of us can do better to stand with
on all of us can do better to stand with survivors here understand and listen to
survivors here understand and listen to
survivors here understand and listen to their stories and work to create a
their stories and work to create a
their stories and work to create a society where all people are comfortable
society where all people are comfortable
society where all people are comfortable and safe regardless of their gender and
and safe regardless of their gender and
and safe regardless of their gender and sexuality to live without the fear of
sexuality to live without the fear of
sexuality to live without the fear of sexual violence and harassment and
sexual violence and harassment and
sexual violence and harassment and work starts in a classroom by talking
work starts in a classroom by talking
work starts in a classroom by talking about consent talking about the talking
about consent talking about the talking
about consent talking about the talking about sexual assault violence and having
about sexual assault violence and having
about sexual assault violence and having those conversations early on we now know
those conversations early on we now know
those conversations early on we now know absence only education doesn’t do that
absence only education doesn’t do that
absence only education doesn’t do that and that comprehensive sex education has
and that comprehensive sex education has
and that comprehensive sex education has a real chance to make a difference if
a real chance to make a difference if
a real chance to make a difference if you care about the health of our country
you care about the health of our country
you care about the health of our country the health of our students the inclusion
the health of our students the inclusion
the health of our students the inclusion of those on the outside and the
of those on the outside and the
of those on the outside and the prevention of sexual assault
prevention of sexual assault
prevention of sexual assault I implore you that if nothing else in
I implore you that if nothing else in
I implore you that if nothing else in this talk resonated with you to let the
this talk resonated with you to let the
this talk resonated with you to let the hashtag me two stories awaken your inner
hashtag me two stories awaken your inner
hashtag me two stories awaken your inner activists start working with
activists start working with
activists start working with organizations that are paving the way to
organizations that are paving the way to
organizations that are paving the way to make sure all of our people are heard
make sure all of our people are heard
make sure all of our people are heard protected from violence and in any case
protected from violence and in any case
protected from violence and in any case where an incident may occur they are
where an incident may occur they are
where an incident may occur they are empowered with the knowledge about their
empowered with the knowledge about their
empowered with the knowledge about their community to seek out help you know
community to seek out help you know
community to seek out help you know abstinence only education is just not
abstinence only education is just not
abstinence only education is just not cutting it out and we know this now we
cutting it out and we know this now we
cutting it out and we know this now we know it’s ineffective it’s actively
know it’s ineffective it’s actively
know it’s ineffective it’s actively harmful and it fails our students on all
harmful and it fails our students on all
harmful and it fails our students on all accounts and that’s why I created a
accounts and that’s why I created a
accounts and that’s why I created a keystone coalition for advancing sex
keystone coalition for advancing sex
keystone coalition for advancing sex education because comprehensive sex
education because comprehensive sex
education because comprehensive sex education is going to be a success for
education is going to be a success for
education is going to be a success for students a success for public health and
students a success for public health and
students a success for public health and the success for this country so now I
the success for this country so now I
the success for this country so now I ask what are you going to do thank you
ask what are you going to do thank you
ask what are you going to do thank you [Applause]
”
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