Utah: Teens Fight for Comprehensive Sex Education in Schools

HB 189, a bill that calls for comprehensive sex education in Utah schools, was recently sent back to an interim committee for further review and consideration. But that is not stopping volunteers with the Planned Parenthood Action Council, mostly high schoolers, from continuing to press the issue.

Though many state legislators believe sex education is best taught in the home rather than at school, the volunteers argue that is not happening as often as it should. "Of course, the best teachers are the parents, but a lot of parents aren't comfortable talking to the kids," said Deanne Pranke, a registered nurse and Planned Parenthood volunteer who has experience teaching sex education in schools. Utah's already high and growing rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea indicate the need for more complete sexual health information, she said. "It's not a moral issue; this is a health issue."

"Right now all we can do is call [lawmakers] on the facts," said Hannah Midget, a student at Rowland Hall-St. Mark's private school. "There are statistics that support us."

Chen-Yen Ng, 15, said the awkwardness associated with talking to parents about sex often drives kids to turn to their friends for information. The result, the volunteers say, is bad decisions based on poor or incomplete information.

"[Kids] are going to make better choices when they're informed and educated," said Pranke, citing a University of Washington study that linked comprehensive sex education to lower rates of STDs and teen pregnancy.

Back to other news for March 2009