We are the Texas Freedom Network and we’re fighting for better sex ed in abstinence-only Texas. Ask us anything!

What current laws need to be changed in order to get more sensible sex-ed into our schools?

What can the average person do to help?

Because this curriculum decision is made by your elected officials, you have the right to make your voice heard! Go to https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home to find out who your SBOE member is, and click on their name to find their contact information. We will also be launching a “host your own postcard party” program by the end of this month, where you can get your friends together to write letters to your board members. Be sure to sign-up at www.tfn.org/sex-ed to get our action alerts

The best way to advocate for responsible sex ed this year is at the State Board of Education in Texas. The state board is overhauling curriculum standards for health classes, and that includes information on sex and health. You can learn more about that here tfn.org/sex-ed. But you can also advocate for better sex ed in your own local schools.

How do you get past the majority of parents who are against this? Especially on topics of abortion and sex before marriage

Our polling has found that the vast majority of Texans -- more than 80 percent -- are FOR sex education, not against. These are thorny issues, for sure, but we don't believe that avoiding difficult topics is healthy for anyone. But we support comprehensive sex education because Texans should have as much information so they can make those decisions based on what's best for them and their families.

More than 60 percent of high school seniors in Texas say they’ve already had sex, and most of them didn’t use a condom the last time they did. The issue now is whether they are getting the information they need to protect themselves. Clearly, it’s time to change our approach to sex education here. And comprehensive sex ed has been shown to delay the decision to begin having sex and to lower the number of partners when someone does start.

Do you believe that religion is a major factor when educating students in sex education? if so, how do you approach religious matters while still being inclusive?

Many people of faith support teaching better and more inclusive sex education because they believe it’s morally right to make sure students have the information they need to protect their health and make responsible life decisions. We have worked with many faith leaders who have advocated for better sex education in Texas.

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is an excellent example of a faith-based comprehensive sex education curriculum.

Thanks for joining us today! You can submit your questions now. We'll begin answering at 1 p.m. Central.

What to you recommend sex ed classes in Texas teach?

The TFN Education Fund partner with the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States to make specific recommendations for the new Texas health curriculum standards. You can find those recommendations at tfn.org/sex-ed. The recommendations are in four key areas: contraception and STI prevention, consent and sexual violence prevention, sexual orientation and gender identity, and comprehensive reproductive health care (including factual information about prenatal care, birth, adoption and abortion).

How come I live in Texas and they never mentioned anything abstinence in high school to us?

Our guess is that it was because more than 80 percent of school districts in Texas either teach abstinence-only or nothing at all.

While you fight for sex ed in schools, what is your stance on proper education by the parents? And would you consider free supplies (i.e condoms) to be a good idea?

Parents should absolutely take an active role in their children’s sex education. Creating a safe environment to have real conversations about sex with your kids goes a long way in building a trusting relationship. Of course, the problem of lack of sex education is generational, so many parents don’t have the education they would like to help their kids. But there are so many resources to help! We’d suggest checking out our partners at Sex Positive Families to see educational resources for parents.

What are some of the most outlandish misconceptions about sex that you've come across in your work?

Most school districts in Texas take an abstinence-only approach to sex education. So if they teach about contraception at all, they typically exaggerate failure rates and make other absurd claims to discourage students from using anything at all for protection. (We’ve even seen material that teaches the urban myth that latex condoms have naturally occurring holes that allow HIV to pass through.) Ab-only programs also promote gender stereotypes – such as the idea that girls are like “crockpots” that heat up slowly when it comes to sex, while boys are like “microwaves” that heat up quickly. The message with that and similar lessons is that girls are sexual gatekeepers – they have to be the ones to restrain boys, who have a harder time controlling their urges. And it’s not been uncommon to see ab-only programs suggest that girls are responsible when they are sexually assaulted if they have dressed or acted in ways that turn a boy on and make him think “no doesn’t really mean no.”

Oh, and then there's this:

One school superintendent told us that his district didn't teach sex education because students could learn about sex by watching their farm animals.

First thank you for the AMA and all the work you do

My question: Have people against your cause ever tried to intimidate or threaten you into silence? If so, how was that resolved?

Yes, that happens occasionally. But TFN has been in the fight for effective, comprehensive sex education for 25 years -- and we're not backing down.

Why is it important to include LGBTQ students in sex ed?

National polling shows most parents support teaching students about sexual orientation in sex education. Parents and caregivers want young people to have honest information and feel safe, welcome, and acknowledged at school. Inclusive lessons create a positive effect on all students and have been shown to reduce bullying, discrimination, and harassment. All students should get age-appropriate, fact-based information and answers to their questions about sex and relationships, without being shamed or judged.

Shouldn’t it be up to the parents to decide what their children learn about sex? Why do schools need to be involved at all?

Texas law gives parents the right to opt their children out of sex ed classes. And some parents do talk to their kids about sex. But the reality is a lot of kids don’t have parents who are equipped and willing to talk to them about it. Our public schools can be a safe place and help families by giving reliable, factual information that counters the myths and misinformation students get when they turn to their peers or their smartphones for answers. Teaching students the truth about sex and health will help them make healthy, responsible life decisions based on facts as well as their own and their family’s values.

Do you think it would be better to just burn the entire state of Texas to the ground? Maybe give one of the taco trucks in Austin a head start.

We actually really like it here. And we have a strong opinion about taco trucks in Austin.

Why do you think the school should teach that instead of the parents? Sex is a bodily function. Schools don't potty train.

Thanks for this. We answered this question earlier, so we'll repost our answer here:

Texas law gives parents the right to opt their children out of sex ed classes. And some parents do talk to their kids about sex. But the reality is a lot of kids don’t have parents who are equipped and willing to talk to them about it. Our public schools can be a safe place and help families by giving reliable, factual information that counters the myths and misinformation students get when they turn to their peers or their smartphones for answers. Teaching students the truth about sex and health will help them make healthy, responsible life decisions based on facts as well as their own and their family’s values.