Sharing Stories and Honoring Activists on the Roe Anniversary
January 22 marked the 40th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion in the United States. Advocates for Youth wanted to make sure women’s real experiences with abortion were the focus of this day, not divisive political discourse. That’s why we released 1 in 3: These Are Our Stories – a collection of stories from the 1 in 3 Campaign.
One in three women will experience abortion in her lifetime – yet too often, shame and stigma force us into silence. It’s time for a new conversation. Says Advocates for Youth President Debra Hauser : “I remained silent about my own abortion for 15 years. Now, as I share my story around the country, more often than not, other women offer up theirs in response. Some are family and friends whom I have known for years; others are complete strangers. The result is a bond, stronger than the anti-choice rhetoric or the fear of retaliation or violence that too often finds its way into the political debate. In its place is empathy for the complexity of our lives, for the commonalities that bind us, for the need to keep abortion care safe and available.”
Youth activists around the country are also working to change the conversation. In a blog series on RH Reality Check, we heard from Carly and Delilah about holding dialogues on their college campuses; from Eriauna, about how working as a clinic escort led her to activism; and from April, about how the barriers she experienced trying to access abortion led her to work to secure reproductive rights for her daughter’s generation.
As Julia, Advocates’ Youth Activist Network manager, put it: “Young people are leaders in this movement—and it is an honor to work alongside them each and every day.”
Don’t forget to get your copy of the book in paperback or Kindle version.
Policy Update
Federal Policy
We asked, you answered: What the President should prioritize
In January, we surveyed YOU to find out what sexual and reproductive health issues you believe President Obama should pay most attention to in his second term in office. Over a thousand of you responded! You named supporting comprehensive sex education and eliminating abstinence-only programs; policies which support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth; and ensuring access to abortion care for women around the world.
We also gave you the opportunity to respond to the survey in your own words, and the feedback was great. Here are just a few excerpts:
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“Treat young people as full citizens and as deserving of the information and services they need to navigate their sexual and reproductive lives in healthy ways.”
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“The most important thing he can do is remain consistent with the message he will not tolerate or authorize any policy that supports gender inequality or oppression. “
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“See sexuality education as more than pregnancy and STI prevention. See it as supporting healthy development in young people and supporting healthy relationships!"
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“Protect abortion rights for all women!”
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“Meet and consult with young people in the US and internationally to inform policies and interventions."
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“It is critical that there be LGBT inclusion in sex education. Without it, bullying will continue, ignorance will continue, HIV infections will continue to rise, and ultimately lives will continue to be lost.”
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“I want the president to recognize the threat of HIV/AIDS to all people, especially young people, and to fund ways to reach out and organize young people in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”
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“Please move us forward, not backward! Sexuality is a part of being human. Must we treat it like something that's dirty? Let's teach our children and young adults the facts, not myths and morality. They can make good choices if they have the facts.”
We agree. We’ll keep up the pressure on this Administration (and on Congress!) to support young people’s reproductive and sexual health and rights through comprehensive sexual health education, access to contraception, inclusion of and protections for LGBT youth, and access to abortion care.
State Policy
The 2013 state legislative cycle started strong, with the introduction of almost 30 bills that are pushing for more comprehensive approaches to sex education. These include repealing the homophobic language from Alabama's sex education law; the introduction of a comprehensive sex education law in South Carolina; and an effort to bring back the half-credit health education requirement for high school students in Texas. With bills originating from both sides of the aisle, comprehensive and inclusive sex education continues to be a non-partisan issue.
And it’s an issue young people care about.
In Alabama, youth activists are working to change homophobic and inaccurate language that requires schools to teach that homosexuality is illegal. “In my opinion, there should be no place for a disgrace such as this in a place of learning,” writes a youth activist of the current law. With their youth lobby day coming up in April, youth activists are creating a video highlighting the need for comprehensive sex education through a series of interviews with people in their community. So far, they have 32 interviews completed and are getting ready to start the editing process!
In Colorado, youth activists are getting ready for their annual Youth Action Day in March, where they plan on convening 200 young people at the state capitol to advocate for comprehensive sex education. With HB1081 recently introduced and already gathering support (and opposition), youth activists have already been pushing advocacy efforts through social media -- live-tweeting the committee hearing and educating other young people on the bill’s contents through Facebook and Twitter.
Activists in California, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas are also gearing up for grassroots advocacy days from February through April to advocate for comprehensive sex education in their states.
International Policy
Advocates for Youth Takes Action at the ICPD Global Youth Forum in Bali
In December, Advocates’ staff and youth activists participated in the ICPD Global Youth Forum. Sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Government of Indonesia, this was the first-ever forum asking young people what they recommend to be included in the United Nations next development agenda that will set the stage for international policy for the next 20 years. Here’s Advocates’ Director of Public Policy Janine Kossen reporting this from the Forum:
“I just wanted to let you know that International Youth Leadership Council member Meredith was ah-mazing at the Global Youth Forum this morning. She was chosen among thousands of youth applicants to be the youth respondent for a plenary session on “Staying Healthy,” sitting right next to the Indonesian Minister of Health! And she really did knock it out of the park. Tons of folks on the #icpdyouth twitterverse raved about her speech, hundreds of young people applauded her every word, and she was clearly the star of the plenary.”
Meredith responded boldly at this session, reframing youth in a positive light and advocating strongly for greater youth leadership. Meredith was also the first young person to serve as a respondent on a plenary and thereby set a pro-active tone for subsequent youth speakers tasked with responding to papers in the plenaries that followed.
In addition, Kike, from Advocates’ partner organization Education as a Vaccine in Nigeria, and Abongwa, a youth activist from Cameroon, served as virtual facilitators, tasked with incorporating hundreds of recommendations from the 2,500 online participants into the recommendations that were being made in addition to reporting out on this process. Lastly, Gaston (also of Cameroon) served as an official reporter and also blogged from the event.
Check out the ICPD Global Youth Forum Bali Declaration and Gaston’s blogs.
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by Trina Scott, Senior Program Manager, Young Women of Color Empowerment
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, observed on February 7, is a national HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative targeted at Blacks in the United States and the Diaspora.
Recently I visited with students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) around the country to help them plan their February 7 events and what I saw was amazing. From candlelight vigils for those affected by the epidemic, to testing initiatives, to movie showings, student activists are leading the fight against AIDS. Visit our youtube channel to see them in action.
I'm excited to work with these and hundreds of other young people on HIV awareness and prevention today and thoughout the year - especially on the first ever National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day, April 10.
In February and beyond, check out and share our resources on youth of color and HIV, including:
Millennial Thinking
Advocates for Youth polled Millennials of color and found that they overwhelmingly support comprehensive sex education. This infographic is a quick guide to our findings. Please share widely!
Are you a Millennial? Please take this survey!
Advocates for Youthis partnering with Achieve on a national research project to learn about the preferences and interests of Millennials related to volunteering, donating and interacting with nonprofits.
The results of this study will be released in July and will help guide nonprofits learn the best ways to involve Millennials in their causes. Please take a few moments to complete the survey!
Youth Activist Spotlight
Kate is a Junior at Harvard University
 Led by Kate Sim, a part of the campus organizing team, activists at Harvard are trying to change the culture around sexual assault. They founded a group called “Our Harvard Can Do Better,” which sought to galvanize students around this issue. Kate is one of the leaders of this effort. She co-wrote a piece for the campus newspaper the Harvard Crimson on how the campus can address “rape culture”, and Harvard’s failure to take adequate measures to prevent sexual assault. Our Harvard Can Do Better held a speak out, or gathering of people dedicated to creating a safe space in which they can share their experience with rape culture and listen to the voices of others. They also advocated for a referendum on Harvard’s sexual assault policies and practices – one which passed by a landslide.
It’s all part of an ongoing campaign to change an environment where rape is ignored, tolerated, or even condoned – both because campus policies do not adequately protect those who have experienced sexual assault, and because the larger culture tends to blame or silence victims.
Says Kate:
“Rape culture really comes down to a set of social norms that constrain meaningful interaction and vilify sexuality that affects all of us as survivors and allies….The sheer act of talking about [rape] can be really empowering.”
Advocates in the News
Advocates’ Director of Public Policy wrote a great op-ed for Politico about departing
 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s legacy and what we now need from her successor John Kerry. “During [Clinton’s] tenure, she created the first-ever Office of Global Youth Issues and hosted 59 town halls around the world. From Tunis to Tripoli and from Phnom Penh to Pristina, she listened as young leaders expressed their concerns about the economy, political participation, global health and everything in between. Her State Department also helped achieve a bold and progressive declaration recognizing youth sexual and reproductive health and rights at the 2012 United Nations Commission on Population and Development. As she has stated, “When young people can claim their right to education and health — including sexual and reproductive health — they increase their opportunities to become a powerful force for economic development and positive change.” Read more
Amplify Featured Youth Contributor Hannah told her story of living as a homeless LGBT young person - and made an urgent call for the movement to address the issue of homelessness – in The Advocate. “Our progressive organizations are certainly fervent in their pursuit of marriage equality and combating bullying, but the majority of them seem to be appallingly silent on this issue, which currently affects thousands of teens. It’s a combination of issues, relating to sexual orientation, gender identity, class, and race. It’s complicated, but couldn’t we all acknowledge that there’s more to social justice for the LGBT community than just marriage equality?” Read more
During the weeks leading up to and after the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a number of media outlets featured the 1 in 3 campaign, including:
ABC News |Ebony Magazine|The West Virginia Gazette|PolicyMic
And don’t miss Advocates’ President Debra Hauser’s appearance on Amanda Marcotte’s RH Reality Check podcast.
Coming Up
The First National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day is April 10!
Today's young people are the first generation that has never known a world without HIV and AIDS. In the United States, almost 40 percent of new HIV infections are young people ages 13 to 29. Despite this harsh reality, young people and their allies are determined to end this pandemic once and for all.
It’s more important than ever to recommit to the fight against HIV and AIDS. We must continue to invest in scientific advancements like a vaccine and a cure - without forgetting the importance of prevention strategies and ensuring equal access to information and healthcare for everyone. And most importantly, we must invest in young people - bring them to the table not only as partners, but as leaderstruly turn the tide of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Only by fully investing in young people - in their health, their education, and their leadership - can we reach an AIDS-free generation.
Learn more about National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day
May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
 Observed each May by states and communities throughout the country, NTPPM seeks to involve communities in promoting and supporting effective teen pregnancy prevention initiatives. From Hawaii to Maine, NTPPM's momentum continues to grow. Councils and other pregnancy prevention organizations continue to initiate new and innovative ideas.
Check out the NTPPM Planning Guidebook, poster, and other materials in Advocates’ shop. For more information contact
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New Publications
1 in 3: These Are Our Stories To coincide with the 40th anniversary of Roe V. Wade, this book was compiled from 40 stories submitted to the 1 in 3 Campaign. Available in paperback and Kindle editions.
RECENT RESEARCH
New info about young people and HIV: HIV Among Youth in the US, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, finds that young people ages 13-24 experience ¼ of all new HIV infections each year, with the majority of these among young African Americans. Read more
GLSEN’s latest National School Climate Survey finds that 8 out of 10 LGBT students (81.9%) experienced harassment at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation, three fifths (63.5%) felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation. Read more
Research on sex education in South Carolina: In the 25 years since South Carolina enacted its sex education law, teens have experienced millions of STDs and hundreds of thousands of pregnancies; currently; 75 percent of schools are not compliant with the law, according to new findings. Read A Sterling Opportunity: 25 Years After the Comprehensive Health Education Act
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