This back-to-school season, get loud for comprehensive sex ed! Tell Massachusetts legislators: it's time to pass the Healthy Youth Act and ensure schools are teaching medically accurate, LGBTQ-inclusive, consent-based information in their health classes.
Right now, the Massachusetts State Senate is considering whether to pass the Healthy Youth Act (S.2495): a bill that will finally set out standards for sex ed by requiring schools that choose to offer sex ed to teach medically accurate, LGBTQ-inclusive information that centers consent and healthy relationships. The bill is currently before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and will hopefully come up for a Senate vote soon. It's critical to show our state senators that we care about the bill. That's why we're asking Massachusetts residents, especially students and other school-affiliated folks, to take selfies ... for sex ed!
Instructions
1. Write out a sign explaining briefly why YOU personally think students deserve to learn comprehensive, inclusive information in sex ed! You can click below to download and print out our custom sign - or just grab a convenient piece of paper and write out "I support the Healthy Youth Act because ..."
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Download and print out our template sign ...
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... or just use a spare sheet of paper!
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2. Take a selfie of yourself holding the sign!
3. Now upload your photo of yourself with the sign to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and/or any other social media platform you use!
4. Write out a brief message explaining why you support the Healthy Youth Act and make sure to tag your State Senator. (Just click here to find out who your State Senator is, and then consult the list below to find their Twitter handle and whether they've co-sponsored the Healthy Youth Act this session.) If they've already sponsored the Act, please thank them for their past support, so that they know their constituents have noticed, and ask them to stay strong. Otherwise, ask them to support the Act when it comes up for a vote. Then use the hashtag #HealthyYouthAct (so we can find and feature your selfies) and post away!
Here are a few ideas for tweets, to help you get started:
3. Now upload your photo of yourself with the sign to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and/or any other social media platform you use!
4. Write out a brief message explaining why you support the Healthy Youth Act and make sure to tag your State Senator. (Just click here to find out who your State Senator is, and then consult the list below to find their Twitter handle and whether they've co-sponsored the Healthy Youth Act this session.) If they've already sponsored the Act, please thank them for their past support, so that they know their constituents have noticed, and ask them to stay strong. Otherwise, ask them to support the Act when it comes up for a vote. Then use the hashtag #HealthyYouthAct (so we can find and feature your selfies) and post away!
Here are a few ideas for tweets, to help you get started:
- I'm going #BacktoSchool - but in MA, that doesn't mean I'll hear facts in the classroom. We are 1 of 6 states with no laws setting real standards for #SexEd. That's why we need the #HealthyYouthAct. [@StateSenator, thank you for championing S2495 - please keep supporting it!]/[@StateSenator, please support S.2495!]
- As we go #BacktoSchool, it's time for MA to stand up for students. We need the #HealthyYouthAct so that sex ed in MA is medically accurate, age-appropriate, #LGBTQ inclusive, and teaches consent. [@StateSenator, thank you for championing S2495 - please keep supporting it!]/[@StateSenator, please support S.2495!]
- #SexEd is the only subject where curriculum guides are often ignored and there's no requirement that information is accurate. Our youth deserve to learn the facts: MA needs the #HealthyYouthAct! [@StateSenator, thank you for championing S2495 - please keep up your support!]/[@StateSenator, please support S.2495!]
- The #HealthyYouthAct is an investment in prevention - prevention of unintended pregnancies, STIs, sexual assault, and more. As students go #BacktoSchool, we need to invest in them now. [@StateSenator, thank you for championing S2495 - please keep up your support!]/[@StateSenator, please support S.2495!]
- 4 in 5 #LGBTQ youth in MA don't hear ANYTHING about LGBTQ topics in #SexEd. MA needs the #HealthyYouthAct because youth deserve age appropriate, medically accurate, inclusive health classes. [@StateSenator, thank you for championing S2495 - please keep up your support!]/[@StateSenator, please support S.2495!] #MApoli
Senator |
Twitter |
Cosponsor? |
Barrett, Michael |
Yes |
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Boncore, Joseph |
Yes |
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Brady, Michael |
No |
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Brownsberger, William |
No |
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Chandler, Harriette |
Yes |
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Chang-Diaz, Sonia |
Yes |
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Collins, Nick |
No |
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Comerford, Joanne |
Yes |
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Creem, Cynthia |
No |
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Crighton, Brendan |
Yes |
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Cronin, John |
Yes |
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Cyr, Julian |
Yes |
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DiDomenico, Sal |
*Yes: Lead Sponsor! |
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DiZoglio, Diana |
Yes |
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Eldridge, James |
Yes |
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Fattman, Ryan |
No |
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Feeney, Paul |
Yes |
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Finegold, Barry |
No |
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Friedman, Cindy |
Yes |
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Gobi, Anne |
No |
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Gomez, Adam |
Yes |
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Hinds, Adam |
Yes |
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Jehlen, Patricia |
Yes |
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Keenan, John |
Yes |
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Kennedy, Edward |
Yes |
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Lesser, Eric |
Yes |
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Lewis, Jason |
Yes |
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Lovely, Joan |
Yes |
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Montigny, Mark |
(no Twitter) |
No |
Moore, Michael |
Yes |
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Moran, Susan |
No |
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O'Connor, Patrick |
No |
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Pacheco, Marc |
No |
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Rausch, Rebecca |
Yes |
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Rodrigues, Michael |
No |
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Rush, Michael |
No |
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Spilka, Karen |
No |
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Tarr, Bruce |
No |
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Timilty, Walter |
No |
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Velis, John |
No |
6. That's it! You're all done. Thank you so much for your support! If you want to track the bill or help us with future events to support inclusive, medically accurate, consent-focused sex ed standards in Massachusetts, click here to learn about about more ways to take action.
