Advocates for Youth applauds Representative Pramila Jayapal for introducing a resolution to support Sex Ed for All Month, and Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Cory Booker and Representatives Barbara Lee and Alma Adams for introducing the Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act (REAHYA). REAHYA would provide the first-ever federal funding for comprehensive sex education, as well as for youth-friendly sexual health services.

Advocates for Youth is deeply proud to work with a network of young people across the country, including in North Carolina, who are working to ensure everyone has access to the abortion care they need when they need it. Lawmakers working to force through harmful bans and restrictions are severely out of touch with the millions of young people who support abortion access, who have watched as bans stripped pregnant people of their autonomy and endangered their health and lives.

We welcome positive change from the FDA.  Young people need and want change that works for the benefit of public health to ensure safety and equity, and they will not tolerate stigma written into government policies.

Advocates for Youth condemns Missouri’s recently passed bans on gender affirming care for minors and on trans youth participating in sports.  The bill was passed with minimal debate after opponents were denied the right to speak.

Advocates for Youth commends the members of the FDA’s Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Obstetrics, Reproductive, and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee for following the science and recommending unanimously that a birth control pill be made available over the counter without age restriction.

“I’m thrilled the Advisory Committee saw through myths, misconceptions, and condescension today, and unanimously recommended the FDA bring a birth control pill over-the-counter without age restrictions,” said Debra Hauser, President of Advocates for Youth.

Advocates for Youth condemns the racist and anti-immigrant bills passed in Florida this week, including the new law barring Chinese citizens from purchasing land in Florida and a bill that makes helping an undocumented person a felony and forces hospitals to record the immigration status of patients.  These bills will deepen the harm Florida and other states continue to inflict on migrants.