While 29 states and the District of Columbia mandate some form of sex education, only 11 of those require that it be medically accurate, and 30 states demand that schools stress abstinence despite the lack of evidence to support this approach. Changes to sex education are proposed frequently at the state and local levels—including changes focused on LGBTQ+ issues.
On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, SciLine interviewed:
Dr. Eva S. Goldfarb is a professor of public health at Montclair State University who studies K-12 sex education. She discussed topics including:
The health impacts of sex education on students and communities beyond prevention of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections;
Public support for sex education;
Research on inclusive comprehensive sexuality education beginning in kindergarten;
Effects of policies that limit sex education or emphasize abstinence; and
How sex education varies among U.S. states and localities.