Comprehensive sex education in the US has been a point of contention for decades — with former Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders even being asked to resign from her post in 1991 for endorsing sex education and masturbation.
While some states have moved away from an abstinence-only curriculum, only 29 states mandate some kind of sex education curriculum. And the problem of proper sex education is even worse for LGBTQ teens.
According to Dr. Sara C. Flowers, vice president of education for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, only 9 states and the District of Columbia include positive LGBTQ-inclusive sex education in their curriculum.
"Queer young people are often left out of the conversation altogether," Flowers told Insider. "This can result in a lot of misinformation about their identities, bodies, and health — leaving them without the skills or resources they need to have healthy relationships or safe sex, if and when they make that decision."
Gina Desiderio, director of communications for The Health Teen Network, told Insider that not only does this do a disservice to LGBTQ youth — it actually worsens their mental health.
"Research shows that LGBTQ+ young people report disproportionate experiences of depression, bullying, and feelings of unsafety at school — and these experiences are even more common among LGBTQ+ youth of color," Desiderio said. "However, queer youth that do receive inclusive sex education are less likely to feel unsafe and report lower levels of victimization because of their identity."
Insider compiled a list of the largest queer sex education facts left out of the classroom.