Beginner's guide to inclusive sex ed

Hey guys!

As you all know my blog is all about diversity and how to become an even better teacher by including diversity and inclusion! Today’s topic is…*drumroll*: inclusive sex education! We all know how awkward it is to talk to our youngsters about the birds and the bees but let’s be honest… we have to! The past few decades have been incredibly important for the LGBTQ+ movement, in a positive sense, but there is still a huuuuuuge lack of diversity at school – so today’s question is: how can I be more inclusive concerning sex and sex education?

Knowledge is power – some stats for you to know:

Studies have shown many risks if students do not learn about queer sex:

Contracting an STD and developing cancer
Developing mental health issues
Isolating LGBTQ+ issues
Keeping the stigma alive

Getting informed about the health risks that LGBTQ+ individuals have to face will help you become aware of what you need to include in your classroom.

You can teach an old dog new tricks – educate yourself:

Some of us don’t know where to start and don’t want to offend anyone, so here are some tips before you start:

Learn proper vocabulary (avoid slurs!!!)
Ask your students what they want to cover and what they want to learn
Get help if you’re stuck, ask queer people you know, people who lead workshops, or LGBTQ+ forums on the internet

It is important that you inform yourself on what the policy is in your state and how the policy is executed at your school. Here you can find a good overview of the legal landscape regarding sex education: https://www.hrc.org/resources/a-call-to-action-lgbtq-youth-need-inclusive-sex-education. On the bottom of the page you can also find a PDF to download, with further information!

The invisible made visible – becoming a more inclusive teacher:

There are many ways we as teachers can help to combat this problem:

Integration of LGBTQ+ content throughout the whole curriculum
Promoting diversity, inclusivity, and equality
Review of the school’s curriculum
Workshops!

Remember: You’re not only a teacher, but also a role model for others and some might even look up to you, be aware of how you act and what you say!

Resources are your best friend:

Here are some websites that were super helpful for me when I first started to realize the importance of this topic:

A star is made, not born:

And remember, it’s perfectly fine to be overwhelmed (we all are at times), just take your time, read up on the issues, talk to professionals, to your queer friends, ask the internet, your resources are endless! Still feeling overwhelmed? Don’t even hesitate to hit me up and write me an e-mail or post your questions in the comments!

I’ll see you next week with another super important topic: Inclusion of people with disabilities!

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