National AIDS Trust launch #WeExist campaign for LGBT-inclusive sex education
By Will Stroude
We’re proud to be supporting the National AIDS Trust’s #WeExist campaign for LGBT-inclusive sex education.
Young LGBT people are more likely to experience poor sexual and mental health than their non-LGBT peers, yet Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) is not currently required to include information on same sex relationships or gender-variance.
As HIV transmission rates continues to rise and homophobic bullying continues to blight young lives, it’s time for the government to stop ignoring the needs of young LGBT people in schools.
It’s time for us to speak up.
The government needs to commit to compulsory, inclusive sex and relationships education for all young people (read about what else they could do here). LGBT people DO exist and we deserve the same rights in education as everyone else.
Here’s 5 ways to get involved in the campaign and show that #WeExist….
1) Tweet Prime Minister David Cameron @number10gov
Tweet your own message about why sex education for young people regardless of sexual orientation is important, using the hashtag #WeExist.
2) Post an image…
…sharing your experience (or lack thereof) of LGBT sex education to social media with the hashtag #WeExist. If you don’t want to post it from your own account, you can forward it anonymously to the National AIDS Trust at press@nat.org.uk.
3) Write to your local MP
Show your MP that this issue matters to constituents, and get them on board with inclusive, compulsory SRE, so if it does come to a vote they stand with young LGBT people.
4) Teacher? Sign the petition
If you’re a teacher you can sign the change.org petition demanding that the government do more on sex education.
5) Share your own personal experience of sex and relationship education
Your experiences will help demonstrate why this issue matters to you as individuals. If you want to share your experience but don’t want it to be used for future communications you can also email the National AIDS Trust at press@nat.org.uk.
It’s time to speak up. Share your own stories or messages with us here at Attitude by emailing will.stroude@attitude.co.uk, as we continue to support this vital campaign to deliver young LGBT people the knowledge and respect they deserve from their education system.
Teachers can sign the change.org petition calling for the government to ‘Support me as a teacher to provide LGBT inclusive SRE’ here.
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Government rejects calls for compulsory sex and relationship education in UK schools
Tyler Oakley calls for better sex education: ‘It can be a matter of life and death’