How To Shape History

By D&A Communications Staff

In addition to book bans, censorship, and history incorrectly framed in the classroom, another knowledge-based issue facing students in the classroom is sex education. Or, lack thereof. How sex education is taught (or isn’t) varies across states and regions and with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion could potentially be illegal in over half of the country. These two issues are intimately connected, and the states with the most restrictive sex education also where abortions will be least accessible. Additionally, in these states, sex education is far from inclusive to those who identify as LGTBQIA+, in fact they often vilify and attempt to erase them. In this comprehensive report, you can see data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia on how sex education is taught and can better understand how these decisions create disadvantages in health care at a young age that carries through a lifetime.

A lot is riding on the ballot in two weeks, and as we’ve highlighted this month, movements that seek to erase and subvert marginalized communities have a long history of taking root and impacting generations within communities and our country. History has been written for Indigenous communities for hundreds of years as our CEO Darolyn Davis wrote earlier this month, and still is being written with Prop 26 and 27 on the ballot this year in California. Students are still learning damaging mistruths from a rogue confederacy that only lasted four years over 150 years ago. Only 17 states require sex education to be medically accurate. So remember, when you vote this year, you’re voting on issues that will have long lasting effects on diversity, equity and inclusion. Be sure to not waste your opportunity to help set up future generations for equality and success. Vote on November 8th - it's your opportunity to shape how history is framed.