This month cities across the country will observe LGBT Pride Month, some holding events or parades. Vashon and King County, which is formally recognizing what it calls Gay Pride Month for the fifth year, have long been knwon for their acceptance of LGBT people. Because of this progress, youth are now growing up in a society where they can feel more comfortable questioning their sexuality or coming out as gay, bisexual or transgender. Vashon High School’s student newspaper, for instance, recently published a feature article on students at the school who have come out.
But today’s changing world also brings challenges for teens when it comes to overall sexual health. A front-page story last week reported that a group of volunteers examining sexual health education at the Vashon School District heard that island teens’ needs aren’t all being met, their questions not all answered. There are reports out of Vashon’s high school, like many high schools, of sexting, including sending nude photos, and meeting people online. On Monday, news broke out of the Seattle suburb of Bothell that junior high student there may face charges after texting nude photos, showing that this practice can have lasting consequences. While many societal changes mark progress, technology has put pressures on teens that didn’t exist just a few years ago.
It’s encouraging that the Vashon School District is working to improve its sexual health education, providing more holistic curriculum that touches on healthy relationships in addition to teaching about sex. A new teen center created by The DoVE Project, whose director was on the schools’ sexual health committee, bills itself as a place teens can come — or text — for non-judgmental answers to any questions they might feel uncomfortable asking elsewhere.
The teenage years are when a foundation for healthy relationships and healthy sexuality is formed. With the challenges facing teens today, any effort to help them safely and responsibly navigate their changing world is welcome, and Vashon appears to be making strides in that direction. As the schools work to finalize new curriculum, they should be sure it reflects a changing society. And, as DoVE Director Betsey Archambault recently suggested, the most important conversations about sex begin at home. Take time to talk to teens about sex and sexuality, whether the discussion starts with sexting or Gay Pride Month.
