Question: do you think that we should learn about lgtbq sexuality and sex ect in school

Dan Taylor answered on 4 Mar 2019:

Absolutely! I think its absolutely important that its handled age appropriately but I think it should be a core part of the curriculum.
The internet is a fantastic creation, but unfortunately it also means that there is a lot of of information out there that can be incorrect or lead to unfortunate consequences if used wrongly. Sex is a natural part of life, but it does have consequences and they need to be addressed.
To start with the LGBT+ stuff. We have to remember that whilst we live in a society that is far more accepting of, LGBT+ youths are far more likely than there heterosexual/cisgendered peers to commit suicide or become homeless, partially due to things like stigma or misunderstanding from peers and older generations. Helping to educate young people on what LGBT+ really means and that it is okay to be whatever you want, is really important in helping to break down this stigma and let gay and trans youth live more freely, helping them cope with life in a more healthy way, Unfortunately, I think there always will be people who want to tell you otherwise, or make fun/bully those who are “different” but having a positive force to help combat this is going to be important in letting these young people know there isn’t anything wrong with them!
As a gay guy, I found I knew I wasn’t straight way before I knew about the idea of being gay, I came out at 16 but didn’t really receive any sex education that was relevant to me from a reliable source until much later on, most of my school education was on preventing pregnancy which is better than nothing, but I knew as a gay person I could never get pregnant anyway, I never really got to know about things like sexually transmitted infections until I was in college. Even coming out so young, I had been having these thoughts and feeling from before 13, and always wondered if it meant there was something wrong with me. It can be really scary for LGBT+ youth trying to make sense of whats going on.
Then there is the topic of sex itself – I think its important that young people have sexual autonomy, this doesn’t mean they need to start having sex right away. But I think its important that children know that no means no, and understanding what to do if a friend (or adult/authority figure) makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Getting to understand boundaries and whats appropriate can be really useful in helping young people assert their own comfort zones – even when it comes to more platonic expressions of affection. Being able to understand that its okay to love another boy/girl and that you may feel uncomfortable with a changing body is really important too.
And yes, then there is the more “graphic” stuff, understanding how to have sex safely (both physically and emotionally) is really important, knowing how to prevent pregnancy but also sexually transmitted infection is vital to young peoples health. Likewise, having the internet and easy access to things like sexually explicit material and dating apps mean that the curriculum should reflect the issues of young people today, its important to know that the material online can sometimes be unrealistic, and whilst enjoying that fantasy being created is perfectly normal, but it is just fantasy. Young people are naturally curious and will always want to seek new things out, especially if they’re told they can’t (not just young people, I am guilty of doing something because I was told I shouldn’t) – but being able to equip young people with the tools to deal with these issues effectively and healthy is so important!