{"id":223620,"date":"2023-03-23T11:48:06","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T15:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=223620"},"modified":"2024-02-22T12:39:57","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T17:39:57","slug":"new-cdc-data-highlights-the-importance-of-passing-the-healthy-youth-act-in-massachusetts","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2023\/new-cdc-data-highlights-the-importance-of-passing-the-healthy-youth-act-in-massachusetts\/","title":{"rendered":"New CDC Data Highlights the Importance of Passing the Healthy Youth Act in Massachusetts"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin sphnews-block-editorial-leadin is-style-text-over-image has-media has-box has-media-focus-right-bottom has-text-position-x-right has-text-position-y-top has-light-theme\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1920\" height=\"946\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2021\/07\/homepage-massachusetts-state-house-dome.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2021\/07\/homepage-massachusetts-state-house-dome.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2021\/07\/homepage-massachusetts-state-house-dome-636x313.png 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2021\/07\/homepage-massachusetts-state-house-dome-1024x505.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2021\/07\/homepage-massachusetts-state-house-dome-768x378.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2021\/07\/homepage-massachusetts-state-house-dome-1536x757.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2021\/07\/homepage-massachusetts-state-house-dome-755x372.png 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2021\/07\/homepage-massachusetts-state-house-dome-1628x802.png 1628w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2021\/07\/homepage-massachusetts-state-house-dome-900x443.png 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2021\/07\/homepage-massachusetts-state-house-dome-1200x591.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner has-opacity-30\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-prepress-tag\">Viewpoint<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>New CDC Data Highlights the Importance of Passing the Healthy Youth Act in Massachusetts<\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar sphnews-prepress-layout-metabar wp-prepress-component-metabar-hide\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">March 23, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/authors\/jamie-klufts\/\">Jamie Klufts<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"&amp;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/authors\/brittany-charlton\/\">Brittany Charlton<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"&amp;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/authors\/julia-raifman\/\">Julia Raifman<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p><em>Viewpoint by Jamie Klufts (<em>SAR&#8217;14<\/em><\/em>, <em>SPH&#8217;15), Brittany Charlton, and Julia Raifman<\/em>. <em>Viewpoint articles are written by members of the SPH community from a wide diversity of perspectives. The views expressed are solely those of the author and are not intended to represent the views of Boston University or the School of Public Health. We aspire to a culture where\u00a0all can express views in a context of civility and respect. Our guidance on the values that guide our commitment can be found at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2024\/revisiting-the-principles-of-free-and-inclusive-academic-speech\/\">Revisiting the Principles of Free and Inclusive Academic Speech<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A new&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/healthyyouth\/data\/yrbs\/pdf\/YRBS_Data-Summary-Trends_Report2023_508.pdf\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report<\/a>&nbsp;on adolescent health reveals an alarming fact: more young women than ever before\u2013nearly 1 in 5\u2013report being sexually assaulted. The report also documents other concerning public health trends. Barely half of youth report using condoms the last time they had sex, down from almost two-thirds a decade before. Testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections also significantly decreased. In addition to experiencing some of the highest rates of sexual violence, lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are nearly four times more likely to report suicide attempts than their heterosexual peers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>State legislators can help. The data in the CDC report and the fact that our state health education&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.doe.mass.edu\/frameworks\/health\/1999\/1099.pdf\">guidelines<\/a>&nbsp;have not been updated since 1999 speak to the importance of passing the Healthy Youth Act in Massachusetts. This bill would ensure that more young people in our state have access to quality sex and relationship education in school.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jahonline.org\/article\/S1054-139X(20)30456-0\/fulltext\">Decades of research<\/a>&nbsp;indicate that sex education grounded in science is associated with reduced sexual violence while increasing condom use and HIV\/sexually transmitted infection testing. Sex education that is inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people is especially important for reducing the toll of HIV, given that&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/hiv\/library\/reports\/hiv-surveillance\/vol-33\/index.html\">68 percent<\/a>&nbsp;of new HIV infections are among men who have sex with men.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Massachusetts has already demonstrated its commitment to preventing sexual violence, but there is more work to be done. Landmark legislation intended to prevent sexual violence on college campuses was signed in 2021.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.schoolhealtheducation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/National_Health_Education_Standards_Guide-10.02.2022.pdf\">Quality sex and relationship education<\/a>&nbsp;in our schools would further this commitment by enhancing students\u2019 interpersonal skills before they get to college. These skills are critical for helping young people understand personal boundaries, give and receive consent, and develop healthy relationships throughout their lives.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Massachusetts also has a tradition of supporting LGBTQ communities. In 2004, Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. In 2018, Massachusetts&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonglobe.com\/metro\/2018\/11\/06\/question-asks-voters-weigh-transgender-rights-public-places\/JgXjOlfcnJgQnHlf87Q0hJ\/story.html\">overwhelmingly supported anti-discrimination<\/a>&nbsp;protections for transgender people. Such policies create fairness and are shown to be associated with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22390442\/\">reduced health care costs<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/hec.4441\">improved mental health<\/a>, especially among LGBTQ&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamapediatrics\/fullarticle\/2604258\">youth<\/a>. Even with this rich history, homophobia and transphobia continue to impact people throughout the Commonwealth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.glsen.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-01\/Massachusetts-Snapshot-2019_1.pdf\">vast majority<\/a>&nbsp;of LGBTQ students in Massachusetts do not see themselves reflected in their school\u2019s curricula. Amidst rising extremism against LGBTQ people, now is not the time to capitulate to people who&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonglobe.com\/2022\/12\/03\/metro\/boston-childrens-faced-months-death-threats-hate-mail-heres-how-staff-are-coping\/\">threaten our pediatricians who care for these young people<\/a>. It is a time to shore up support for LGBTQ-inclusive health education and to provide clear support for our Massachusetts teachers to keep our Commonwealth an inclusive community. Not discussing that these identities exist or safe sex considerations for LGBTQ youth only contributes to stark disparities like those outlined in the CDC\u2019s report.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lgbtmap.org\/policy-and-issue-analysis\/education\">Seven other states<\/a>&nbsp;require health education to be LGBTQ-inclusive. For Massachusetts to remain a leader in health and LGBTQ inclusion, it is an important time to implement the evidence-based, LGBTQ-inclusive standards of the Healthy Youth Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some parents worry that sex education will encourage sexual behavior. Fortunately, research indicates this is not the case. Sex education is associated with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S1054139X11007178\">delayed<\/a>&nbsp;initiation of sex. Teachers are trusted partners in educating our children and help fill the gaps in knowledge when the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.doe.mass.edu\/sfs\/yrbs\/\">majority of Massachusetts students<\/a>&nbsp;are not able to have conversations about sexuality or safer sex practices at home. In order for our students and teachers to thrive, our schools have to be safe and supportive environments for all.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Healthy Youth Act has long had widespread support in the House and Senate, and more than&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.plannedparenthoodaction.org\/uploads\/filer_public\/6d\/d3\/6dd3bdd9-8a72-4395-97e9-8278116a84b3\/polling_memo_sex_ed_july_2018.pdf\">92 percent of Massachusetts voters support<\/a>&nbsp;sex education in school. Despite this overwhelming support, the House has not brought the bill to the floor for a vote since it was first introduced over a decade ago, in 2011. This means that an entire generation of young people has gone through our school system without the assurance of quality sex and relationship education that the Healthy Youth Act would provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CDC report makes clear that students grapple with sexual violence, declining condom use, and a disproportionate burden of mental distress, particularly among LGBTQ youth. Our students deserve better outcomes than the bleak data described in the CDC report. Now is the time for the Massachusetts State House to act and pass the Healthy Youth Act. Bright, healthy futures for all young people in our state are on the line.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uml.edu\/health-sciences\/public-health\/faculty\/klufts-jamie.aspx\">Jamie Klufts<\/a> (SAR&#8217;14, SPH&#8217;15) is a co-chair of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthyyouthact.org\/about.html\">Healthy Youth Act Coalition<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.brittanycharlton.com\/\">Brittany Charlton<\/a> is an <em>a<\/em>ssociate professor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/profile\/julia-raifman\/\">Julia&nbsp;Raifman<\/a>&nbsp;is an adjunct assistant professor at the Boston University School of Public Health<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Viewpoint by Jamie Klufts (SAR&#8217;14, SPH&#8217;15), Brittany Charlton, and Julia Raifman. Viewpoint articles are written by members of the SPH community from a wide diversity of perspectives. The views expressed are solely those of the author and are not intended to represent the views of Boston University or the School of Public Health. We aspire [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7185,"featured_media":223635,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":"Viewpoint"},"tags":[4214,3379,2639,2017,1751],"bu-publication":[3516],"sphnews-article-category":[3545],"sphnews-topic":[],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"profile_tax":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/223620"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7185"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=223620"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/223620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":237286,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/223620\/revisions\/237286"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/223635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=223620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=223620"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=223620"},{"taxonomy":"sphnews-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sphnews-article-category?post=223620"},{"taxonomy":"sphnews-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sphnews-topic?post=223620"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=223620"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=223620"},{"taxonomy":"profile_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/profile_tax?post=223620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}