Why I’ll be at the 2017 Sexual Health Lobby Day, Guest Blog from Julia, Get Real Teen Council member
My name is Julia – and I am a member of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts’ Get Real Teen Council and a sophomore in high school from Massachusetts. I’m guest blogging today to explain why I’ll be attending Sexual Health Lobby Day at the State House in Boston on January 31st, 2017.
When I was younger, I watched Mean Girls a lot. It taught me rumors suck, and dressing as a zombie bride for Halloween in high school was risky. However, it did not teach me anything about sexual health.
I received comprehensive sex ed from my school; I knew that if I had sex, I would not get pregnant and die, contrary to what the gym teacher in Mean Girls said. I thought it was silly that anyone could think that gym teacher was being serious. It wasn’t until probably around 8th grade I learned that for some students, this was the reality of their sex education. Their reality was being “scared- straight” out of having sex, so that when they inevitably did, they didn’t know how to keep themselves properly protected.
That’s why I’m attending this year’s Sexual Health Lobby Day! Because “Mean Girls” sex ed shouldn’t be sex ed for anyone. I want the Healthy Youth Act , a comprehensive sex ed bill, to pass in Massachusetts because I want healthy youth! I believe that comprehensive sex education won’t just protect against unintended pregnancies or STIs (which it will; look at the facts people), but it will also improve the mental health of high schoolers. By not excluding anyone from learning about their sexuality, we will hopefully eliminate some of the confusion, shame, anger, or frustration LGBTQ+ folks feel when they aren’t receiving inclusive sexual health information!!
Like many, I am scared for the changes that might happen nationally. I could spend my time getting madder and madder, or I could lobby – and do something about it. I will still be mad, sad and scared, but I will be putting those emotions to work! I, for one, am jazzed to participate in lobby day, and fight for what matters to me until the day I die!
If you relate to even one word of what you just read - sign up to participate in Sexual Health Lobby Day on January 31st at the State House in Boston. Tell your state legislators why these bills are important to you and sexual health in general; it’s their job to listen. You’ve got one life, and you’re only a teen for a little while. You know so much; use your voice.
