May is "Sex Ed for All" month--here's why!

“We want to stand with young people so they have the power and the right to access the education and information that they need to achieve the best possible outcomes for their reproductive and sexual health.”

This video is a great explainer about sex ed in general, guardian attitudes (overwhelmingly in support of great sex ed), and why we no longer call May “Teen Pregnancy Prevention” month.

RISE and other responsible sex educators seek to do more than simply preventing teen pregnancy, and we don’t seek to shame pregnant and parenting teens. RISE wants to ensure that every person has the skills, knowledge, and access to care they need to make values-based, healthy decisions that are right for them.

“We must provide young people with honest, age-appropriate information and skills that help them make healthy decisions about their lives. ”

This includes anatomy, boundaries, communication, STI and pregnancy prevention, rights and responsibilities as a human being, respect for ourselves, and affirmation of every wonderful, unique individual and all their diverse life experiences.

“94% of parents surveyed support sex ed in middle school. That number increased to 96% when we talked about high school.”

Most guardians would love to be their kids’ primary sexuality educator, AND most guardians did not get effective, affirming sex ed themselves. RISE is here to support guardians with information and tools to talk with their kids—and their partners, friends, and even parents. Everyone can talk about natural things like bodies, sex, and relationships in responsible, affirming, ways that leave shame and stigma at the door and uplift bodily autonomy, responsibility, and healthy communication skills.

These are skills that we can build on for our whole lives. Sex ed isn’t just for teens—sex ed is for all!

RISE is honored to be part of the national Sex Ed Collaborative, which helped usher in this change in 2019.