Letter: Lawmaker voted against good bill for teens, parents

Last week, the state Assembly voted to pass the Healthy Youth Act. The act requires schools that provide sex education do so using comprehensive and medically accurate sex education that will give teens age-appropriate and scientifically-based information to help them make informed decisions now and for the rest of their lives.

The Healthy Youth Act will also enhance parents’ ability to review course curricula and make decisions about whether to allow their children to attend sex ed classes or not. In addition, it will require school boards to notify parents if sex education is not taught — a choice they will continue to have.

With 45% of teens reporting being sexually active, the statistics estimate 11,000 teen pregnancies will occur this year in Wisconsin. On top of this sad reality, 20% of HIV infections occur in the 15-24 age group.

Knowing all this, Rep. Kitty Rhodes (R-Hudson) voted against the Healthy Youth Act. Why would any thinking person want to deprive an at-risk population the tools to avoid unwanted pregnancy, prevent STDs and stay healthy?

Tags: letters to editor, opinion