Questions and Answers with Shelby Knox
Shelby Knox, the young advocate for sexual health rights featured in The Education of Shelby Knox, joined members of Advocates for Youth's Youth Activist Network (YAN) for an online chat on Wednesday, June 29, 2005. Here are some excerpts of questions and answers between YAN members and Shelby.
YAN Member: I'm from North Carolina, and the Southern Baptist faith is an important piece of our community here. What would you say to convince a devout preacher that comprehensive sex education is needed?
Shelby Knox: One of the largest parts of my struggle was to convince my pastor that we needed comprehensive sex education. I think a convincing argument is that kids need good information to remain HEALTHY. I don't see how anyone could debate that. However, he always did. In the end, we decided to agree to disagree. I think that we both respected one another for trying to help teens, although in a different way.
YAN Member: Shelby, how would you take what you have learned through your high school activism and apply it in a college setting?
Shelby Knox: Right now, I am a peer educator at my college. This is important because many students did not get good comprehensive sex education in high school. I would advise you to check out your state policy on sex education. Then, mobilize a group of students to speak to legislators about changing that policy.
YAN Member: I was wondering if you had any thoughts on how to talk to people of opposing views (in your film you debated with Corey quite often, for example). Any tips?
Shelby Knox: RESPECT. I always try to remember that those on the other side believe in their convictions as strongly as I believe in mine. I think that the best way to engage opposition is to do it in a professional manner, not personal. In this, you can give facts and share anecdotes that play to their personal experiences. I always try to know a bit about them as a person, so I can try to relate. However, I never did so well with Corey...oops!
YAN Member: We keep hearing in the news how this country is divided on so-called moral issues. How do we as advocates of comprehensive sex education find a common ground with members of the religious right, without compromising our goals?
Shelby Knox: It's about health and giving teens every chance to have happy lives. I think that most of those who disagree with sex education would still agree that teens deserve the information that can save their lives. I try not to engage on a religious level, but when I have to I make the point no one has the right to judge but God (or Goddess, or Allah, or whomever one chooses to worship). We have no right to threaten well being on moral grounds. Additionally, there is often a separation of church and state issue. Schools should not be teaching morality, just the facts, which abstinence-only programs have been proven to withhold.
YAN Member: What facet of your work has given you the most hope for the future?
Shelby Knox: I have seen that we are not as divided as the media would like for us to think. We are a purple nation, trying to move forward. Also, I have seen that our generation is willing to stand up and have an opinion, on both sides.
YAN Member: What are your future plans? Do you want to continue this fight around sex ed or move into other areas?
Shelby Knox: I am now a junior at the University of Texas at Austin. I want to go to law school and eventually run for office. I will always keep comprehensive sex education in my platform and continue to travel and speak on the issue. Plus, I am still the girl that holds condom races at school and have a bucket full of condoms by my door for people to come by and get.
YAN Member: First female president?
Shelby Knox: I hope that America will elect another woman first, simply because I can't run until 2030. I hope that we can become progressive enough to elect a strong woman to the office!
YAN Member: What part of the film do you most like watching, and do you least like watching?
Shelby Knox: I love watching the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) band together to protest the God Hates Fags group, led by Fred Phelps. My mother came with me, although she was mixed on her feelings toward homosexuality. That meant a lot.
I HATE watching the scene where I describe my perfect husband, over that background music of me singing (i.e. killing a cat, I've been told) I have no desire to get married until everyone can and am not looking for anyone right now.
YAN Member: What are your overall impressions of your experience making the film and being an activist for comprehensive sex education?
Shelby Knox: Having a film made on me was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I met amazing people. However, it got a little strange having cameras follow me around all the time. My prom date was so scared of the cameras, he refused to talk to me the whole night. Evidently, he thought I was kidding when I told him I had a film crew following me!
I
think the hardest part of being an activist in a conservative town was the religious pressure that came not only from the church but from friends and teachers as well. I got told so many times I was going to hell.
But, I have a great family who was very supportive as I became an activist. I also found allies, such as those in the gay straight alliance, who became close friends. We supported one another throughout.
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