LGBT teens in California to be given books on ‘how to have safe sex’

Californian high schools could teach LGBT+ students about having safe sex and masturbation under new proposals.

The State Board of Education will convene on Wednesday (May 8) to consider a new framework for health education which includes new guidance on gender and sexuality.

Under the proposals, children aged 5 could be taught about gender identity and trans issues.

Teenagers in middle school would be encouraged to discuss masturbation, while high schoolers would be given books featuring advice on having safe anal sex.

The framework does not mandate any specific topics, but rather supports teachers in addressing them.

“Too often LGBTQ students in particular don’t receive information during sex education that teaches them about healthy practices,” Samuel Garret-Pate, communications director for Equality California, told the Associated Press.

Parents criticise LGBT sex education

Predictably, the proposals have been met with criticism from some parents.

“LGBTQ students don’t receive sex education that teaches them about healthy practices.”

—Samuel Garret-Pate

“This stuff should be taught at home,” Stephanie Yates, a mother of three who started a Facebook group to protest the changes, told AP.

“It’s not the birds and the bees. It’s not biological anymore. It’s not sex ed. It’s sexuality education.”

Supporters of the changes argue that this is precisely the point.