Sexual Health in the States: A Policy Heat Map Series

To complement our Sex Ed State Report Cards and Profiles, the SIECUS Policy Team developed a series of heat maps that cover other sexual and reproductive health policy areas that intersect with the movement to advance sex education, such as abortion access, LGBTQIA+ issues, HIV criminalization, and sexual assault prevention. By compiling data from partnering organizations, we aim to present a more comprehensive picture of the combined impact on young people of these various laws and policies, particularly those with restrictive policies. For example, in a state like Mississippi, young people not only have to contend with poor sex education policies (essentially abstinence-only instruction), but also abortion bans, criminalization of people living with HIV, and prohibitions on transgender youth in gender affirming care and school sports. While these policies are independent of one another, we must understand the compounding effect that the policy landscape has on young people. In Mississippi, young people are experiencing the disastrous impacts of these laws, such as high rates of unintended pregnancy among teens, high rates of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, low contraceptive use among youth, and higher rates of child sexual abuse as compared to the rest of the country. Conversely, in the state of Washington, where policies are more supportive of youth across these issue areas, we see a declining teen birth rate, STI rates below the national average, and improving mental health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ youth compared to the rest of the country.

Our goal is to continue to build relationships with movement partners and highlight the need for a comprehensive sex education policy as a pivotal part of the larger fight for reproductive autonomy and a healthy future for the next generation of Americans. To partner with us to advance sex education and reproductive freedom policies in the United States, email us at info@siecus.org

The data used is current as of October 2024, when the heat maps were developed. For detailed, up-to-date tracking of these policy areas, visit our partners at:

• Guttmacher Institute 
• Movement Advancement Project (MAP) 
• Enough Abuse 
• GLSEN