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A new study conducted by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) has revealed an ongoing increase in teenage sexual activity, prompting calls for sex education reform in secondary schools.
Experts say the quality of sex education is “ad hoc”, with the situation even worse for same-sex attracted youth.
“Sexual education around same-sex attracted youth has negative associations. It’s taught around diseases such as HIV,” Deakin University’s Dr Debbie Ollis told MCV.
Ollis has developed a program, Talking Sexual Health, which aims to address sex education for lesbian and gay teenagers.
“Most sexual education programs assume that kids are heterosexual, so the information centres on heterosexual issues. We need to make sure programs are inclusive so all young people are represented,” she said.
Daniel Witthaus, founder of Pride and Prejudice, a program which challenges homophobia in schools, said the educational sector is hesitant to address the needs of same-sex attracted young people too directly.
“In regards to sex education for same-sex attracted youth, schools are fearful of backlash from parents,” he said.
Chloe, a member of Youth Addressing Diversity Issues (YADI) told MCV that sex education at her secondary school “basically consisted of how to put a condom on”.
“There was nothing about female-to-female sex; and you already feel like a freak so it just alienates you more,” she explained.
A spokesperson from the Department of Education told MCV: “The Department supports appropriate and high quality sexual education programs in Victorian government schools that address sexual diversity.”
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