The Texas Board of Education produced a revision of their Sex Education curriculum in 2020. They made Sex Ed an elective that was opt-in, not opt-out. Now students must get their parents signatures to learn about sexually transmitted diseases and sexual hygiene. It is no longer abstinence-only, allowing for teaching contraception methods. However, they are not allowed to teach about LGBTIQA students, gender identity, and, inexplicably, consent.
Well, they have an explanation. Since students are not legally allowed to consent, they don’t need to be taught about consent. Texas has the ninth highest teen birth rate and the highest repeat teen births. They acknowledged that kids have sex when they decided to allow contraception to be taught, but how to consent – or refuse consent – that is not allowed. Dan Bailey, leader of the ironically named Just Say Yes, said “Consent puts yes to sex as an option on the table for teenagers.” But what about the option for no?
- Scripps News: How Texas Quashed Sex-Ed Lessons On Consent
- NPR: Texas got a sex ed update, but students and educators say there’s still a lot missing
- The Texas Tribune: Texas education board approves new sex ed policy that does not cover LGBTQ students or consent
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Corpus Christi, Texas · Sunday, November 22, 2020
