The Tennessee government has added "gateway sexual activity" -- which although not defined has been interpreted to mean any acts that could lead to sex, including cuddling and kissing -- to its list of prohibited subjects for its already strict abstinence only sex education.
Senate Bill 3310 also requires students be taught about all the negative consequences of any sexual activity before marriage.
If teachers move away from the curriculum in any way, they risk getting into legal trouble.
Studies show that comprehensive sex education not only helps students to become more educated about sexual health, but it also delays sexual activity more effectively than abstinence only education, and reduces teen pregnancy rates (along with other consequences of unsafe sex).
Please tell the Tennessee government to teach their students comprehensive sexual education!
Please teach Tennessee students comprehensive sex education.
Removing any discussion of sex besides abstinence -- including even mentioning kissing and cuddling -- will make the problem worse. Comprehensive sex education has been proven to work better than abstinence only sex education when it comes to delaying sexual activity, and decreasing rates of teen pregnancy and other consequences of unsafe sex. Plus, it is important to educate students about sexual health.
