Guttmacher staff outlines state bills like Arkansas’ ‘Meet Baby Olivia’ law and West Virginia’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill distort sex education, replacing facts with stigma and disinformation.
US state bills limiting sex ed and spreading disinformation
Transcript: Young people deserve access to comprehensive sex education that is medically accurate, inclusive and free from discrimination. But across the US policymakers are passing bills that not only limit sex education in schools but also spread stigmatizing and inaccurate information.
Two examples include Arkansas' "Meet Baby Olivia" Bill and West Virginia's "Don't Say Gay" bill.
In Arkansas and several other states, a recent law will force students to watch videos that misrepresent fetal development to discourage young people from seeking abortion care. These videos are often created by anti-abortion organizations.
Meanwhile, in West Virginia, a recently signed law bans any information on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools. This leaves queer students isolated and creates critical gaps in essential knowledge. These laws aren't about education. They're about control and spreading disinformation in the classroom.
Sex education should always be based in fact, inclusive and shame-free to equip young people with the knowledge they need to understand their bodies and make informed decisions about their health and relationships.
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