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Massachusetts was the first state to institute a law which prohibits discrimination in public schools on the basis of sexual orientation. Massachusetts was also the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.
Sex Education Policy
Massachusetts law does not require sex education, but its school board urges HIV prevention instruction within a “comprehensive health education” program. Communities which teach sex education must include information about HIV/AIDS prevention, pregnancy prevention, and “sound health practices” and must “define sexual orientation using the correct terminology (such as heterosexual and gay and lesbian).” See the statutes governing sexuality education: Title XII, Chapter 69 Section 1L , Chapter 71, Section 1 , Section 32A , and Section 38O
Health Outcomes
Massachusetts has comparatively low teen pregnancy, AIDS, and STI rates.
Sexual Health Stats at a Glance
|
Teen Pregnancy Rate* |
Teen Birth Rate* |
Annual rate of AIDS Diagnoses (per 100,000 people) |
STI Rate+ |
% of high school students who did not use a condom at last sex |
| Massachusetts |
49 |
19.6 |
6.5 |
37.7 |
42 |
| National |
70 |
39.1 |
11.2 |
100.8 |
39 |
*Per 1000 young women ages 15-19
+Because of concern over recent changes in Chlamydia reporting and relative low incidence of syphilis, we used the state's gonorrhea rate as a stand-in for sexually transmitted infection rates.
Advocates Partner Organizations
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