Various studies have shown that abstinence-only programs are largely ineffective in preventing early pregnancy and risky sexual behavior, compared with comprehensive programs. Abstinence-focused education has also been criticized for foisting distorted views of sex on students, including concepts that denigrate LGBT sexuality and promote gender stereotypes.

Young people of color may have the most to gain from government-supported, honest sex ed. One major study of sex-ed programs (analysis by SIECUS) found that youth who received no sex education tended to be Black, low-income and from rural areas.

Washington's policies have also heightened barriers to comprehensive sex education in the Global South. The push for abstinence-only programs under the Bush administration's HIV/AIDS initiatives have led to the globalization of conservative sex ed and an emphasis on just saying no, rather than proven comprehensive approaches.

The last several years have exposed the racial and economic dimensions of the issue of reproductive justice. Shedding Bush-era blinders on sex education could advance that struggle for future generations.

Image: Feministe