My passion to put a stop to abstinence-only sex education programs started when I was in high school and I would see so many of my peers pregnant. It really upset me because many of the teachers and adults in the community placed all the blame on the students but rarely questioned the type of sex education our school was providing.

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

I attend Texas State University – San Marcos. A friend of mine, who knew I was interested in the youth sexual health and rights movement, introduced me to the Texas Freedom Network and asked if I would like to help and become a part of the movement. My passion to put a stop to abstinence-only sex education programs started when I was in high school and I would see so many of my peers pregnant. It really upset me because many of the teachers and adults in the community placed all the blame on the students but rarely questioned the type of sex education our school was providing. Today is still the same story for my middle and high school alma mater. I learned that this past school year, two girls both in the 8th grade had given birth to their first child. I believe that our youth deserve the best education and that includes knowing how to protect and respect themselves and their partners. Today’s youth need to be adequately educated to help put an end to this epidemic. Abstinence-only education does not work. It is time for young people to stand up for their rights and it is time for comprehensive sex education programs in our public schools.