 |
 |
 |
 |
 |  |  |
Featured Video
Youth take a look at the realities of sex education, gender, equality, health care, unsafe abortion, parenting, and HIV.
Advocates Updates
- New article in the Parents Sex Ed Center
- by Robie Harris, author of It's Perfectly Normal
- Job opening: Coordinator, Youth Activist Network
New Publications: 
- Laws, Lies and the Abortion Debate (New York Times)
Americans who support women’s reproductive rights need to make their voices heard. - In Virginia, legalized discrimination is alive and well (Washington Post)
Discrimination is alive, well and now encouraged in the Commonwealth of Virginia, says a Washington Post editorial. - The gay anti-gay legislator (Los Angeles Times)
"Although we sympathize with Ashburn and hope he can turn his life in a more positive direction following this revelation, there's really no excusing his political hypocrisy." - Circumcision may not cut HIV spread among gay men (Reuters)
Although studies in Africa have shown that circumcision can lower the spread of HIV among heterosexuals, it may not do much to prevent infections among gay and bisexual men in Western countries, a new study suggests. - Being Gay in Uganda: One Couple's Story (Time)
No matter how many precautions homosexuals in Uganda take, it doesn't mean they'll be safe. - How would health care overhaul help young people? (USA Today)
Critics warn that the low-cost policies would leave young people financially vulnerable and reluctant to seek care. Supporters counter that the plans would help young people who otherwise might be uninsured.
Raising Children in a Gender-Specific World
by Martha Kempner
There’s no denying it at this point. My child is a girl. A very girly girl. She’s three-and-a-half. She hasn’t worn pants in over a year (since she stopped letting me pick out her clothes). She often wears a ballet skirt over or under her dress, prefers heels, loves earrings and necklaces, always has her nails done, and steals any of my makeup she can get her hands on (her application process is unique and results in a bizarre war paint look). When she entertains herself, it always involves numerous outfit changes, and lately she’s taken to creating her own clothes. Whether it’s by hanging scarves off the back of dresses to make a train, wrapping fabric around herself and taping it with duct tape, cutting the straps off a summer dress to make one “with no straps and no sleeves,” or layering skirts to make one that goes “all the way to the floor,” the kid knows what she wants and uses the resources at her disposal to make it. Fancy Nancy has nothing on Charlie.
On Wisconsin!
by Meredith Schoenfeld-Hicks, Manager, State Strategies
The Wisconsin Healthy Youth Alliance can pat itself on the back! More than 50 member organizations brought together the public health community, educators, youth serving and advocacy organizations, and student and parent activists throughout the state to pass the Healthy Youth Act (HYA). The Healthy Youth Act passed the State Assembly on November 5th 2009 and the Senate on January 28th 2010. The bill was signed into law by Governor Jim Doyle on February 24th 2010.
This important legislation ensures that the most current standards of sex education are being taught and that public schools are using programs proven to reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates. The bill updates the core elements of what a sex education program must include if offered in Wisconsin and does away with ineffective abstinence only policies. Studies estimate that Wisconsin taxpayers are currently paying $273 million dollars a year to treat teen sexually transmitted diseases and costs associated with teen childbearing.
The Healthy Youth Act has five key components.
Read More >
