The New Generation of Health

By Jaylyn Preslicka, Staff Reporter

MARK RIGHTMIRE/Orange County Register (SCNG)

In 2019, The Healthy Youth Act (AB-329) was passed, promoting education on gender, sexual-orientation, and relationships. The bill changes the curriculum in California schools, with the changes being implemented starting at seventh grade and continuing to graduation. This new bill will positively impact straight and LBGT students alike by preparing the next generation for life outside of education.

In order to promote inclusivity and fight ignorance, teaching a wide variety of topics without judgement is necessary, especially with the youth. To avoid repeating an epidemic such as AIDS, a non-discriminatory curriculum on all things to do with sexuality is needed instead of turning a blind eye and resorting to teaching abstinence alone.

“It’s addressing the variety of students that are on a school campus and come through the classroom door,” health teacher Ian Sabala said. “Though you may not agree with [the] LGBTQ lifestyle, the reality is that someone in your class does or they see themselves as a part of the LGBTQ community.”

Although most parents reacted positively to the bill, Christian parent organizations have critiqued and even removed a book exploring the stated subjects. There is an understanding that the new changes are drastic and unlike anything taught before, but the shock value doesn’t excuse attempts to silence the conversation.

With a supposed separation of church and state, there should be no issue. However, these issues stem further into the deep-rooted Christianity in the American government today. When it comes to religious right, parents have the opportunity to exclude their child from the sex-oriented talk under the bill, but prohibits exclusion during talks of sexuality and gender orientation. This allows for basic knowledge of the topics, but doesn´t go into detail on sex-related manners. The bill itself wasn’t written to target conservative families but is there to prepare and educate the next generation.

“As a gay student myself, I remember never really learning about sexual orientation and gender identity in my health class freshman year,” senior Tristin Cozine said. ¨I had to resort to other sources in order to discover more about the broad world of LGBT relationships, and I wish I could have had more accessible resources in a time of personal discovery.¨

By working alongside Planned Parenthood to outline the lessons, bill makers incorporate inclusivity rather than encouraging the stigma tied to the ‘taboo’ topics. With Planned Parenthood originating in 1916 and progressing throughout the years to adapt to the current generation, it would be a reliable source to collaborate with. The importance of using third-party organizations without any religious affiliations makes it so that all students feel included and none are alienated.

“I think it’s nice because to stay ignorant on an important topic wouldn’t be acceptable in today’s society,” sophomore Katelyn Todd said.

It is important for the outdated curriculum to get updated. To date, the only state to have a bill like AB-329 is California. That being said, multiple other liberal leaning states such as New York now require consent to be a part of the bill. As of now, there are only 24 states that require consent in the mandated curriculum. With bills like AB-329 spreading throughout the nation, important topics will be taught in an educational, judgement-free environment.