The Coordinated Attack Against Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S.
Comprehensive sex education can help young people navigate relationships, traverse sexual and reproductive decision-making, and learn more about their own minds and bodies. Yet, sex education often varies in the U.S. from state-to-state, school district-to-school district, and teacher-to-teacher. Callie Simon, Executive Director of SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, sits down to talk with us about the importance of achieving comprehensive sex education and the coordinated opposition of the anti-rights minority.
Comprehensive sex education, which includes not only discussion of sex, but of anatomy, consent, sexual orientation and gender identity, healthy relationships, violence prevention, media literacy, contraception, and more, is delivered in age-appropriate ways. Yet, last year, SIECUS found over 1,000 pieces of legislation at the national and state level impacting young people’s access to healthcare and education. There was a 20% increase in aggressive legislation against sex education as compared to 2024. 18 bills were ultimately passed into law in 2025, which were aimed at restricting comprehensive, medically accurate sex education and information. For example, Baby Olivia bills require AI-generated, anti-abortion videos be shown to children starting in third grade.
LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE
SIECUS on Instagram
SIECUS on Facebook
2026 Annual Legislative Look-Ahead
Gretchen Sisson on her New Book, Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood
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Transcript
Jennie: Welcome to rePROs Fight Back, a podcast on all things related to sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice. [music intro]
Follow SIECUS on Instagram and Facebook. You can also find their 2026 Annual Legislative Look-Ahead here.
Go to SEICUS and track Baby Olivia bills and bills related to sex education in your own state. You can find the community action toolkit available to talk to friends and neighbors, school board administrators, and state representatives. If you work in the sexual and reproductive health and rights space, your organization can join the Sex Ed Policy Action Council.