We should all be working to combat the stigma and normalize talking about menstruation in an inclusive and affirming wayBy Caro Hernandez October 3, 2024For people who menstruate, this change can bring up all kinds of feelings, especially when you’re a young person!...
You Just Found Out Your Teen Is Having Sex. Now What?
Our staff share insights on the importance of sex ed, access to services, and how to be an askable adult.August 8, 2024In a new article from HuffPost, Ellen Friedrichs—a health and sexuality educator—talks about how parents and caregivers can separate fact from...
Grab & Go Birth Control: The Opill Revolution
Over-the-counter birth control is a game changer but it's up to all of us to make sure access remains unrestricted for everyone.By Lilith BreazealeBy Mandy WilliamsBy Deb CoffyAugust 6, 2024Thrivology Youth Leaders is a diverse group of 10 exceptional young people...
Have Fun, Be Safe: A Provider’s Guide to Supporting Young People with Multiple Sexual Partners
Approach these conversations in a way that is affirming, inclusive, and nonjudgmental.By Charlie Blue Brahm, MA June 28, 2024The stigmatization that exists culturally around having multiple sexual or romantic partners makes it all the more important for...
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, 2024The seasons are changing, and May will be here before you know it....
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, 2024As April starts to wind down, and as we look ahead to the start of May on the horizon, we wanted to take a moment to share with you the history behind May as Sex Ed for All Month....
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, 2024We’re excited to share a new article from them that features two of our team members, Arianna and Caro, with tips on masturbation and exploration!...
A Mind Flayer from Stranger Things? The Brooms from Fantasia?! No, Friends…It’s the Clitoris!
Tales from an impromptu poll among friends...and a challenge for you.By Mackenzie Piper, MPH, CHES August 3, 2023Afew months ago, I was getting ready for a for a sex ed workshop with a group of adults. In preparation, I decided to purchase another anatomical model to...
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 GeffrardJuly 13, 2023As health educators, it’s likely that we’ll teach a lesson, or answer questions about, birth control for a classroom full of curious young...
May Is National Sex Ed for All Month (2023)
Community Leaders, Parents, and Guardians Lend Their Voice to Promote #SexEdForAllMay 3, 2023For Immediate ReleaseB altimore, MD — May is Sex Ed For All Month, a time community leaders, caring adults, and advocates call on local school boards, parent-teacher...
Conversations Between Grandparents and Grandchildren: Love, Relationships, and Human Sexuality
Generation to generation, we can all learn from each other's stories and experiencesBy Deborah Chilcoat, MEd January 13, 2023I Googled “grandparents as sex educators” today. I wanted to write about the role grandparents play in educating their grandchildren about...
Parents and Youth Agree on Sex Ed for All
Young people have a right to quality, affirming sex education...and regardless of political affiliation, parents and young people agreeBy Mariah CowsertMay 1, 2021Aworld where all young people lead healthy and fulfilling lives...that’s the dream, right? And it’s not...
I Have Monkeypox—Here’s Where I’m Getting the Public Health Information I Need
Finding affirming, sex-positive, complete, and up-to-date information on monkeypox isn’t easy. Here’s a story about some of my sources, expected and unexpected, and the power of queer friendship.By Nicholas Sufrinko August 11, 2022Information that’s as incomplete as...
Navigating Sexuality + Faith for Better Sex Ed
Religion and faith does play a role in shaping our views on sex and sexuality. By Allison Tomai Felsen July 14, 2022You might be thinking the same thing that I was when I first read the title and description to our recent training series—Demystifying Sexual Taboos:...
The Power of the Anonymous Question Box
There’s a reason just about every sex ed program uses a question box. By Mackenzie Piper May 12, 2022The first session of each new sex ed program typically looks the same—an ice breaker of some sort, creating and signing onto group agreements, a first activity to get...
May Is National Sex Ed for All Month (2022)
Community Leaders, Parents, and Guardians Lend Their Voice to Promote #SexEdForAllMay 2, 2022For Immediate ReleaseB altimore, MD — May is Sex Ed For All Month, a time parents, guardians, teachers, community leaders, and advocates call on local school boards,...
Reclaiming Your Sexuality After Trauma
This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, let’s emphasize survivors' right to joy and pleasure after sexual trauma.By Mariah CowsertApril 15, 2022I remember learning about it during welcome week at my tiny liberal arts college in the form of cheesy skits about preventing...
“Don’t Say Gay” Bill Means It’s More Important than Ever to Bring #HealthyTeen22 to Florida
Legislation that restricts young people’s rights isn’t a reason to stay away…it’s a reason to come and get loud.By Gina Desiderio March 22, 2022It’s more important than ever for us to bring #HealthyTeen22 to Florida. Our annual national conference, Dare to Dream of a...
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, 2022Intersectional sex ed is possible, but what does that mean? Sex ed should be as robust and diverse as young people are today. And it’s...
3 Instagram Accounts to Follow to Learn about Reproductive Justice
Social media can be more than algorithms and explore pages—it can be a spring board into action, a connecting place for activists, and a place for inspiration and growth. By Sam AkersFebruary 3, 2022As a Gen Z’er who has been scrolling Instagram for years, I’ve come...
We Found Love in a COVID Place
Alexa, play We Found Love by Rihanna ft. Calvin HarrisBy Mariah CowsertJanuary 13, 2022It all started with a message on a dating app. Once our conversations got longer, we moved from messaging in the app to texting then after a fun phone call about life and how we...
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 CowsertNovember 23, 2021While it may seem that there is a podcast about anything these days, it’s incredible to have even more ways of accessing information about...
Accessing Contraception During COVID-19
Ensuring that youth have access to the services they need is a core principle of reproductive justice—one that we must continue to strive towards and build upon.By Tonyé Fohsta-Lynch, MPH April 15, 2021The COVID-19 pandemic has essentially changed our everyday...
Love in the Time of COVID
Well, really, relationships, love, and intimacy…By Milagros Garrido, MS, PMP February 11, 2021Worldwide, the pandemic has brought unexpected changes in the ways in which we work, learn, play, and love. I feel that in many ways, I am experiencing a pandemic-induced...
Un/Filtered: Highlights from #HealthyTeen20
Now is the time to talk to youth about sex and technology.December 11, 2020 From sexting to dating apps, young people are connected to technology and digital media more than ever, and this connectivity is helping shape their virtual and physical relationships with...
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, 2020From sexting, to dating apps, and watching porn, young people are...
What’s the Deal with Porn?
We know young people are watching porn. But, what are they learning from it? How can sex ed equip young people to make informed decisions about the porn they watch?August 27, 2020Bring up pornography in any conversation, and you may just get an awkward silence…bring...
What Pandemics Can Teach Us About Food and Eating, and Sexual Activity, Too
Buying food at the store is a risk during a pandemic. Sexual activity can come with risks all the time. Instead of shying away, lets take the practical approach. By Bob Reeg, MPA, CVA M y first days living during the declared coronavirus public health emergency were...
May Is Sex Ed for All Month (2020)
This preamble and call to action were developed by partners at Advocates for Youth, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, and URGE as part of the larger Sex Ed For All Month coalition. May 4, 2020 This May, sexual...
This May, and Every Day, We Demand #SexEdForAll! For All Young People. For All Times. For All Places. (2020)
Schools might not be open during the pandemic. This doesn't mean that students should miss out on comprehensive sex education. By Gina Desiderio May 4, 2020A global pandemic, mandated stay-at-home orders, and extended periods of being isolated can shine a light on...
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