I want to be a part of the movement that rejects this age-old fear of talking about sex, we owe it to ourselves and we owe it to future generations.

James works with Advocates for Youth and the Texas Freedom Network as a member of the Texas Youth Leadership Council.

Being from Texas, it’s almost impossible not to become an activist. I’ve always been outspoken, even as a child, but my life as an activist started in high school when I began to continually ask questions and urged my peers to challenge the status quo. The thing about growing up in Texas is that everyone seems to think that because it’s red on the election map there are no progressives - boy are they wrong! Some of the bravest, most influential people I’ve met have been the progressive citizens that live in Texas. Though our representatives might have led you to believe that Texans are right wing extremists, Texas is filled with true blue progressives.

Some of the biggest issues I’ve always felt needed to be addressed in Texas are issues of civil liberties and strong sexual education. Unfortunately, we have a long history of neglecting our youth when it comes to sexuality education. I spent half of my primary academic career in private school and the other half in public school, and in both sectors I’ve found a great need for comprehensive sex education. Our youth in Texas are being poorly informed when it comes to matters of sex and it’s been a large problem for years.

I want to be a part of the movement that rejects this age-old fear of talking about sex, we owe it to ourselves and we owe it to future generations. We can no longer allow our politicians to misrepresent our views and values. Whether you’re eighty years old or still in high school, now is the time to speak up. Some will urge you to believe that the old way of thinking is the right way because it “works,” but you only need look at our struggling youth to know the truth. If it weren’t for the shying away from sexual education, our youth would be better prepared for the world we live in, you would see a decrease in the rate of STDs and unwanted pregnancies. The only challenge we face is overcoming our own silence.