Healthy Youth Act Coalition
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Testimony

Have an experience to share? We want to hear from you!
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Lucky my church provided inclusive and respectful sex education,  because my high school did not.

2/3/2023

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I was lucky. My Unitarian Universalist Church offered Our Whole Lives, a sexuality education program that taught me that my queerness was a gift and let me hear narratives of LGBT+ adults. It taught me about consent and self esteem and dating and how to respect other people's boundaries. It taught me not to be afraid of my body. We learned about different options for protection. We learned about STIs and pregnancy in a way that didn't also communicate that all sex was bad and dangerous. OWL shared information that young people often report having more fulfilling relationships when they wait to have sex but also let us know that it was our choice and helped us think through how we'd know when we were ready. This was in sharp contrast to the sex ed in my public high school that used a fear based curriculum trying to convince us that pregnancy and STIs were awful while providing very little useful, factual information. Most people have sex in their lifetimes. OWL provided me with the skills that I needed to navigate consent, desire and sexual health concerns throughout my life. My public high school's curriculum seemed at best, highly unrealistic imparting no useful information to help make decisions or have consent whenever I did decide to have sex. There are versions of OWL that are taught in public schools with any faith component removed. I think having a curriculum that is at a minimum fact based and that engages with what young people need to know to have consent-based, safe and fulfilling relationships their whole lives is incredibly important.
S.French 
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107 Massachusetts Faith Leaders Support the Healthy Youth Act

2/2/2022

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"​As faith leaders in Massachusetts, we affirm a person’s dignity, autonomy, and freedom to make
their own decisions about their body and reproductive health. In accordance with our moral
convictions and personal faiths, we endorse the Healthy Youth Act, which will ensure that all sex
education taught by Massachusetts public schools is age appropriate, medically accurate,
consent-based, and actively inclusive of LGBTQIA students. We call on the Massachusetts
Legislature and Governor Baker to safeguard bodily autonomy, public health, and religious
freedom by passing this vital proposal."

107 faith leaders in Massachusetts support passage of the Healthy Youth Act. You can read the full letter here.
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The Importance of Empowering Young People

5/24/2021

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Young people across MA are counting on us to get the #HealthyYouthAct over the finish line. Ask your state sen. & state rep. to co-sponsor S.318/H.673.

Grateful ⁦@RepVannaHoward⁩ is co-leading on this. Hope ⁦@SenEdKennedy⁩ will support it too!#mapoli pic.twitter.com/B39vTuVE52

— Jamie Klufts ? (@jamieklufts) April 26, 2021
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Why Queer-Inclusive Sex Ed Matters

5/3/2021

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“Queer-inclusive sex ed is important because without it, there is no way for queer kids, without the resources, to know themselves to practice safe sex. In addition, proper queer sex ed would help destigmatize . . . queer relationships.”
—High school student, Massachusetts GSA Leadership Council
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From a Melrose Parent and School Committee Member

5/3/2021

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“I am the parent of three children in the Melrose schools. This is key for the students of Melrose. As a school committee member, I want to reject the idea that this infringes on local school control. This bill will ensure equity and consistency across all curriculum sets. This supports our LGBTQ students as well. Why in a state where we pride ourselves as a leader, would we exclude important parts of sexual education?”
—​Member at Large, Melrose School Committee
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"Our Current Policies Are Failing Our Young People"

4/30/2021

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I'll continue to push for the #HealthyYouthAct to be passed. During my time as a social worker w/ DSS (now DCF) I worked on many cases involving young pregnant female adolescents; they didn't understand how they became pregnant. Our current policies are failing our young people. pic.twitter.com/R8J21JbiEo

— Rep. Jim O'Day (@RepJimODay) April 30, 2021
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From a Public Health Student and Worcester Resident

4/30/2021

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.@Carlos132Jc, public health student and Worcester resident, closing out the #HealthyYouthAct Week of Advocacy strong. Thank you, Juan! #mapoli

*shared with permission* pic.twitter.com/VlcFS5yVvc

— Jamie Klufts □ (@jamieklufts) April 30, 2021
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Rep. Sabadosa Supporting Healthy Youth Act on #DenimDay

4/28/2021

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Today, I am joining with the @MAWomensCaucus for #DenimDay to support survivors of sexual assault. What's the best way we can make sure people understand consent? By passing the #HealthyYouthAct so kids learn what consent is and what it is not. Respect. Consent. Prevent. pic.twitter.com/pUZGLRFvqC

— Lindsay Sabadosa (@SabadosaMA) April 28, 2021
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From a Boston University Graduate Student

4/26/2021

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The #HealthyYouthAct is so important to me because I want to ensure that this next generation has the tools they need to lead healthy lives and make healthy decisions. pic.twitter.com/Swk2WPMhFE

— ctrabilcy (@ctrabilcy1) April 26, 2021
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Why the Youth Leadership Corps at the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Supports the Healthy Youth Act

6/16/2020

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