My friend Meghan is going great sex education work with youth in Wisconsin. Read more about her work and the impact of STI's on Wisconsin youth.

host.madison.com/ct/news/local/health_med_fit/article_96d0ee57-e3dc-59d7-a5ec-e5cbc5b71ffc.html

My friend Meghan is going great sex education work with youth in Wisconsin. Read more about her work with youth in a juvenile detention center and her programming to promote sexual health.

host.madison.com/ct/news/local/health_med_fit/article_96d0ee57-e3dc-59d7-a5ec-e5cbc5b71ffc.html

Just over a week ago Dr. George Tiller was murdered in his church as he was ushering on Sunday morning.  When I first heard this news I was shocked.  I’ve heard the stories about the crazy anti-abortion protests from decades ago but to have this violent act happen now was incredibly scary.

After hearing the news, speaking with my friends and loved ones and quickly reaching out to those I love, I tried to jump back into my normal daily activities.   My week was busy with work, traveling to Atlanta for a presentation and a wedding on the weekend.  But tonight I gathered with a strong community of advocates in an interfaith memorial service celebrating the life of Dr. George Tiller.  As soon as the first hymn of Amazing Grace began I became a ball of tears, snot and emotion.  I realized that I had been holding in all of my fear, anger, anxiety and grief all week long.  I needed this sanctuary to really feel and experience the impact of his death.

The memorial service was sponsored by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and it was a beautiful service embodying many faith traditions and leaders in the Reproductive Rights movement.  Cecile Richards spoke about his funeral service in Wichita and the hundreds of people who gathered in support and grief.  Christian and Hebrew scriptures highlighted the intense feelings of anger and a call to action.

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I attended a briefing on Capitol Hill this morning which featured many of my favorite religious advocates.  It is always refreshing to hear a diverse group of religious leaders speaking about the need for comprehensive sex education.  They pointed out that comprehensive sex education is not only in the public health interest but it is also the moral thing to do. 

My friend and colleague Emily Goodstein, Director of the Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom Program at the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice did a fantastic job representing the “under 30 crew.”  Too often we go around talking about sex education without hearing from young people who are most directly affected. 

Emily Goodstein’s closing remarks sum it up well:

“and in closing, a quick note on the expression “formative years.” It is one of those terms that people only use when they’re no longer in the throes of that peer pressure filled awkward decade. But there is a reason we refer to them this way. Decisions, practices, habits, and values are formed during these crucial years. So, do we want to leave information about such important issues to Dr. Phil and peer pressure, or do we want to ensure teens in their formative years are getting the whole story using a comprehensive and fact based approach? The 5,000 young adults I work with would prefer the latter.”

my roommate showed me this spanish mattress commercial with the tagline "tu cama. el lugar más importante del mundo" (your bed. the most important place in the world).  it shows a homebirth with the mom surrounded by her family members.  it is a really touching commercial showing how natural a woman's body is and it accents the important bond between a mother and her child.

i can't imagine this ever being shown on american television.  it's also kind of weird that childbirth is being used to sell mattresses.  a new twist on the sex sells idea.

I am so excited to be part of the 5^th annual interfaith training on sex education advocacy.  This year over 35 religious youth, young adults and adult allies have come together in Washington, D.C., to become religious advocates for sex education and lobby on Capitol Hill.

The 2009 participants are stellar and the conversations have been so rich as they connect their own experiences with spirituality, religion and sex education.  Within the United Church of Christ, Union of Reform Judaism and the Unitarian Universalist Association, sexuality is presented as a holistic and natural part of life.  This positive frame for sexuality is the gateway for many conversations. 

Additionally, each of these three religious groups has comprehensive sex education curricula that are taught in their churches or synagogues.  Utilizing these sacred spaces to teach young people about sex is incredibly valuable as they are presented with factual information about sexuality and they are guided and challenged to explore their own religious and personal values and morals regarding sex in a safe environment.

I think it’scritical that young people receive comprehensive, accurate information about sex and sexuality in their schools, but I’m glad that many religious groups are having conversations about sex and religious values.   

This year's training is a partnership between Advocates for Youth, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Union of Reform Judaism, Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ.

Check out more information about the training: www.uua.org/seat

I proudly (and loudly) play my trumpet for DC’s Different Drummers, a fantastic LGBT community band based in Washington, DC .I enjoy making music with my friends and being part of something larger than myself. Last night we played a World AIDS Day concert benefitting three amazing DC based HIV/AIDS organizations. The music and the company moved me to tears.

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