SIECUS Releases New Report on Attacks Against Comprehensive Sex Education

SIECUS Releases New Report on Attacks Against Comprehensive Sex Education

WASHINGTON, DC –  Today, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change released its newest publication titled “Exposing Hate: The Truth About Attacks on Our Kids, Schools, and Diversity.” The report addresses the fervent attacks by right-wing groups against age appropriate and medically accurate comprehensive sex education.

“As attacks against our education system have markedly increased over the past year, SIECUS has investigated the roots of this disturbing trend,” said Christine Soyong Harley, president and CEO of SIECUS. “The report highlights that the organizations pushing for bills that seek to censor or limit education are written for political reasons, and not in the interest of either parents or the youth in our nation.”

In 2022, there was a 413% increase from 2021 in the number of “divisive concept” bills filed in state legislatures (16 in 2021 and 66 in 2022). Additionally, 73 “parental rights” bills have been introduced with 4 signed into law (including the infamous “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida) and the majority of legislative sessions have yet to conclude or meet. Of the 46 states with active legislative sessions, 23 states introduced divisive concept bills and 14 states introduced “parental rights” bills.

The full report can be found here. The executive summary of the report can be found here.

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SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change has served as the national voice for sex education since 1964, asserting that sexuality is a fundamental part of being human, one worthy of dignity and respect. Through advocacy, policy and coalition building, SIECUS advances sex education as a vehicle for social change—where all people receive sex education, are affirmed in their identities, and have power to make decisions about their own health, pleasure and wholeness.