Contact: Katherine Sele, katherine@ninetywest.com
Jane Doe Inc. Statement on the Senate Passage of the Healthy Youth Act
Jane Doe Inc. (JDI), the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, applauds the Massachusetts Senate for once again passing S.268, An Act Relative to Healthy Youth. It’s now incumbent on the House of Representatives to step up and pass this vitally important legislation without delay.
This bill – which the Senate has passed in several previous sessions – would strengthen age-appropriate, LGBTQ+ inclusive, medically-accurate sex and relationship education for young people across Massachusetts, including guidance on how to identify and have healthy, respectful relationships free of abusive behavior. Young people are increasingly facing many different forms of violence, including coercive control and image-based sexual assault (often called “revenge porn”), and more robust education and support is essential to preventing additional harm.
Across the Commonwealth, far too many school committees are considering regressive measures that would deny young people access to necessary, health-giving, life-saving information about healthy relationships and sexuality. These discussions send a message to young people – especially to vulnerable young people at the margins – that their existence is not welcome in their communities. The Healthy Youth Act gives Massachusetts the opportunity to center diverse experiences and make clear that the safety, wellbeing, and education of ALL students is paramount.
We are grateful to State Senator Sal DiDomenico and all the Senators who co-sponsored and voted for this legislation. We urge the House of Representatives to join their colleagues in the Senate and pass this important bill, so that every young person in the Commonwealth can benefit from comprehensive, inclusive sex and relationship education and live free from violence.
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ABOUT JDI
JDI (Jane Doe Inc., The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence) is the only statewide membership and advocacy coalition in Massachusetts dedicated to addressing sexual and domestic violence. We aim to support survivors and end violence by promoting gender equity, racial justice, and safety for everyone. JDI’s mission is to complement and support the expertise and leadership of our 60 community-based member organizations with a statewide strategy involving public and private partners to tackle systemic issues that foster and perpetuate violence, to create policies and explore innovative solutions that improve the lives of survivors, and to prevent gender-based violence. To learn more visit https://janedoe.org.