Gender & Sexuality

Holding Space at #HealthyTeen25

By intentionally creating these sessions, we hope to model what true inclusivity looks like: acknowledging the unique needs of people with marginalized identities while empowering allies to support from their own lanes. Arianna de la Mancha Sam Akers, MSW March … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

There’s Still Time for Biden to Sign the ERA and Prohibit Discrimination Based on Sex

There’s little over a month left for Biden to take action to ensure gender equality is enshrined in our Constitution. Mimi Jacobie Mackenzie Piper, MPH, CHES Gina Desiderio, MA December 12, 2024 Tuesday, December 10, Congresswoman Cori Bush held a … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

We’re All Needed in the Fight to Protect Trans Young People

This Transgender Day of Remembrance, let’s honor those we’ve lost and redouble our commitments to giving trans young people the affirming support and care they need to thrive. Charlie Blue Brahm, MA November 14, 2024 Immediately following Transgender Awareness Week, … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Celebrating AANHPI Month

Cultural Experiences, Shared Identities, and Everything, Everywhere, All At Once By April “Kayuri” Lat, MS MPP By Patricia Natalie, MA May 28, 2024 C heck out this video blog post, where April and Patricia discuss their shared identities as Southeast … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Save the Date! May Is Sex Ed for All Month!

Each May since 2019, Sex Ed for All Month is an opportunity to voice our shared commitment to a world where all young people get equitable access to the education and care they deserve. April 18, 2024 The seasons are … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Sex Education Is Essential (Sex Ed for All Talking Points)

Together, by advocating in our communities, we can ensure Sex Ed for All. April 16, 2024 As April starts to wind down, and as we look ahead to the start of May on the horizon, we wanted to take a … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

How to Masturbate: Everything You Need to Know About Self Pleasure 

Two Healthy Teen Network team members shared tips for self-pleasure in the queer online publication, them. April 4, 2024 We’re excited to share a new article from them that features two of our team members, Arianna and Caro, with tips … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

To Be Who They Are. To Live. To Thrive. These Are the Basic Human Rights Denied to Nex Benedict. 

The assault on Nex Benedict was not unprecedented. It was precedented by the hateful rhetoric and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, pushed through by extremists in Oklahoma, and across the country.  By Gina Desiderio Updated March 14, 2024 The latest update on the cause … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Anti-Trans and Anti-LGBTQ Policies Threaten the Safety and Well-Being of Young People

Trans youth—like all young people—deserve to live in a world that affirms and celebrates them for who they are. By Charlie Blue Brahm, MA November 9, 2023 It’s been almost four months since the Department of Education in my home … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Protecting Transgender Youth and Young Adults in Maryland

Get the latest scoop on the Trans Health Equity Act in Maryland and what you can do to show up for the trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive young people—and adults—in your life. By Mariah Cowsert August 31, 2023 While Pride month … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Let’s Talk Inclusivity… in Birth Control!

We need to be mindful of our language to ensure that we’re reaching young people of all genders. By Vanessa Geffrard July 13, 2023 As health educators, it’s likely that we’ll teach a lesson, or answer questions about, birth control … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Give Your Contraceptive Lessons a Refresh

Support your students to feel informed and in control of their health! By Allison Tomai Felsen June 23, 2023 As part of its efforts to bring the very best sexual health education to Maryland youth,  True You Maryland, a program … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

May Is National Sex Ed for All Month (2023)

 Community Leaders, Parents, and Guardians Lend Their Voice to Promote #SexEdForAll May 3, 2023 For Immediate Release B altimore, MD — May is Sex Ed For All Month, a time community leaders, caring adults, and advocates call on local school … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Conversations Between Grandparents and Grandchildren: Love, Relationships, and Human Sexuality

Generation to generation, we can all learn from each other’s stories and experiences By Deborah Chilcoat, MEd January 13, 2023 I Googled “grandparents as sex educators” today. I wanted to write about the role grandparents play in educating their grandchildren about … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Daring to Dream at #HealthyTeen22

Thank you for daring to dream with us in Miami! November 4, 2022 During our staff meeting before the conference, we asked everyone to share one thing they were excited about for this year’s conference. Every single person mentioned they … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Navigating Sexuality + Faith for Better Sex Ed

Gender & Sexuality

What’s Next in the Endless Attack on Our Rights and Freedoms? 

Our freedom, our rights, are being restricted by a radical minority that does not represent the majority of Americans. By Gina Desiderio June 27, 2022 Like many of you, here at Healthy Teen Network, we’re feeling the weight of the … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

What We’re Watching this Pride Month (and beyond!)

Gender & Sexuality

May Is National Sex Ed for All Month (2022)

 Community Leaders, Parents, and Guardians Lend Their Voice to Promote #SexEdForAll May 2, 2022 For Immediate Release B altimore, MD — May is Sex Ed For All Month, a time parents, guardians, teachers,  community leaders, and advocates call on local … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Reclaiming Your Sexuality After Trauma

This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, let’s emphasize survivors’ right to joy and pleasure after sexual trauma. By Mariah Cowsert April 15, 2022 I remember learning about it during welcome week at my tiny liberal arts college in the form of cheesy … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

“Don’t Say Gay” Bill Means It’s More Important than Ever to Bring #HealthyTeen22 to Florida

Gender & Sexuality

Comprehensive Means Intersectional: Moving Sex Education Forward

If youth don’t have equal access to comprehensive sex ed, then it is not intersectional. And it’s on us to change that. March 10, 2022 Intersectional sex ed is possible, but what does that mean? Sex ed should be as robust … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

We Found Love in a COVID Place

Alexa, play We Found Love by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris By Mariah Cowsert January 13, 2022 It all started with a message on a dating app. Once our conversations got longer, we moved from messaging in the app to texting … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Essential Tips You Need to Teach LGBTQ+-Inclusive Sex Ed

All students deserve to learn in an inclusive and affirming space. By Allison Tomai Felsen December 9, 2021 Did you know that out of the 29 states that require sex ed to be taught in school, only 17 states require … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

5 Sexual and Reproductive Health Podcasts that You Should Be Listening to

A list for you to tune into while working out, getting work done, or simply lounging around! By Mariah Cowsert November 23, 2021 While it may seem that there is a podcast about anything these days, it’s incredible to have … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

These Two Designers Published a Visual Guide to Gender Fluidity

Gender & Sexuality

GSAs Are Where LGBTQ+ Youth & Allies Come Together

With more youth feeling free to live their authentic sexualities and build relationships that reflect that, it’s up to educators and youth-supporting professionals to keep up momentum for supporting LGBTQ+ young people in schools By Mariah Cowsert June 30, 2021 … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

10 Ways to Help Young People Become Good Sexual Citizens: How Myth Busting and Youth Empowerment Increases Safety

Following these steps is a really effective way to guide young people towards becoming good sexual citizens. By Ellen Friedrichs, MA March 12, 2021 Recently, I was Zoom teaching a college class, and I asked my students to share any … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Fear and Loathing in Scranton, Pennsylvania

Strange memories on this nervous night near Scranton, in coal-scarred, Appalachian foothills filled with autumn color and political angst By Nicholas Sufrinko November 2, 2020 Strange memories on this nervous night near Scranton. Five years since Obergefell. Four since Election … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

The future of sex through tech…which is much closer than you may think

We’re kicking off the conference with our keynote, Andrea Barrica, sex tech entrepreneur and founder of O.school and the author of Sextech Revolution: the Future of Sexual Wellness.  October 15, 2020 From sexting, to dating apps, and watching porn, young people are … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Too Much and Not Enough

Ginsburg’s death showcases how so many members of Congress and our government branches are failing us.  She was more than enough. They are nowhere near enough.   By Gina Desiderio September 22, 2020 It feels like too much.  Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Helping LGBTQ+ Youth Navigate COVID-19

While we all try to adjust to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, some young people are disproportionately affected.  By Allison Tomai Felsen July 24, 2020 W ell, here we are. It’s almost August and we’re still battling the COVID-19 … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Healthy Teen Network Joins Over 50 Organizations in Calling for LGBTQ+ Inclusive Sex Education this Pride Month

The Sex Education Collaborative envisions a world in which all young people’s right to comprehensive, high-quality sex education is recognized and fulfilled.  June 22, 2020 For Immediate Release Baltimore, MD — Today, Healthy Teen Network is proud to join over 50 organizations … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

#HealthyTeen20 Is Going Virtual!

This year, our theme represents a very clear need to understand how our field is reaching those we serve and how teens are using technology to connect to the world around them. Janet Max, MPH, CHES September 22, 2020 J oin … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

The Algorithm Police: Are Social Media Policies Biased?

Social media algorithms may be biased against plus-sized bodies, LGBTQ+ people, and women of color. By Ella Dorval Hall February 20, 2020 We frequently get caught up in assessing the negative effects of social media for young people, particularly when … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

It’s time for sexual health to get a little bit kinky.

Here are some of the things we have learned from having conversations about sexual health with young people. Washington, DC’s premier leather, kink, and fetish event known as “Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend (MAL)” concluded last Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Why do we NEED to talk about technology and sexuality?

Gender & Sexuality

It’s Pride Month! 5 Queer Reads for Allies in Honor of Stonewall’s 50th

For Nick, this short list highlights how the existence of queer people is inherently political and how there is still work to be done. By Nicholas Sufrinko June 5, 2019 This month marks a full half-century since the Stonewall Uprising, … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Innovative Solutions for How to Center Pleasure in Sex Ed: Wrapping Up the #HealthyTeen18 Design Challenge

How might we center pleasure in adolescent sex ed to foster authentic conversations about sexuality and promote positive sexual experiences? November 15, 2018 This was the question we sought to answer in the #HealthyTeen18 Design Challenge, held in October 2018 … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

5 Resources on Being Sex-Positive

We’ve compiled this list of five resources and articles to give you a good overview of what it means to be sex-positive—and some ways to defend the importance of such an approach. By Kelly Connelly June 15, 2017 We are … Read More

Gender & Sexuality

Inclusion Starts with Language

Discover the magic of the Network.

Want to do something similar?

You work hard to meet the needs of young people. We’re here to support and inspire you to do your best work every day.

Want more?