S.1524: Real Education for Healthy Youth Act of 2019
Overview
The Real Education for Healthy Youth Act (REHYA) aims to expand sex-ed nationally. Stated curriculum expansions include information on STI’s, STD’s, unintended pregnancy, dating violence, gender stereotyping and gender stigma, and socio-cultural influences on sexuality, among other things.
The legislation would also bar federal funds from being awarded to incomplete programs that withhold life-saving curriculum about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s), including HIV, programs that are medically inaccurate, programs that promote antiquated stereotypes regarding sex, gender, and race, programs that do not address the needs of young people who are already sexually active. Additionally, no programs that are insensitive to the needs of survivors of sexual violence, do not account for physical or intellectual disabilities, or are inconsistent with existing public health ethics would not receive federal funding. REHYA would prioritize grant funding for schools and higher education institutions that provide comprehensive sex-ed. It also authorizes grant funding for teacher training. REHYA would also mandate impact evaluations of all grants.
H.R. 2720 is the House companion bill introduced by Rep. Barbra Lee
View Full OverviewTalking Points
- The National Assembly supports REHYA, legislation that would take actionable steps towards protecting young people from STI’s and STD’s, reducing sexual violence, and reducing unwanted pregnancies in young people.
- Additionally, the legislation explicitly requires programs to account for LGBTQ+ youth, which would ensure that those students receive equitable and comprehensive sexual education.