October is Sex Ed Month!

Dear [fname],

People across the country are organizing for sexual health education during the month of October. We have a tremendous opportunity right now to pass public policies in support of evidence-based, medically-accurate, inclusive sexual health education in schools and communities.

President Obama zeroed out all funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in his 2010 budget. The Senate Finance Committee recently approved an amendment, introduced by Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), to the Baucus health care reform bill allocating $75 million to states for The Personal Responsibility Education for Adulthood Training, a comprehensive sexual health education funding stream. Moreover, the Responsible Education About Life Act was re-introduced in March 2009 by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA). The bill would provide funding for states to implement comprehensive approaches to sexual health education.

But the Senate Finance Committee also voted in favor of an amendment, proposed by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), to reinstate $50 million per year to the failed Title V program, a funding stream for rigid and ineffective abstinence-only programs. The Baucus health reform bill just passed out of committee today and will be voted on by the full Senate later this month. We now must urge the Senate to remove the Hatch Amendment from the final bill to keep abstinence-only dollars out and establish new funding streams for sexual health education through the REAL Act.

Meanwhile, at the state level, the Reproductive Health and Access Act has been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly by lead sponsor State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-25) for the last two years. This bill would require all Illinois public schools to teach comprehensive sexual health education that includes information about abstinence, contraception, and HIV/AIDS.

Individuals have the right to education that promotes lifelong responsibility, and we know that informed youth make healthy decisions. This month, we're joining our national partners at Advocates for Youth, Choice USA, Planned Parenthood, and elsewhere to tell our federal and state legislators that young people and adult allies in Illinois support responsible sexual health education.

Please join us in supporting sex education month:

• Sign an online petition in support of the Responsible Education About Life Act.
  

• Contact your Congressional representatives to tell them to co-sponsor and help pass the Responsible Education About Life Act.

• Urge your state representative to co-sponsor and support the Reproductive Health and Access Act during the next legislative session in Illinois.

• Attend a film screening and discussion of The Education of Shelby Knox, featured at the Sundance Film Festival, on Wednesday, October 14.
  

• Participate in Reproductive Justice 101, a workshop introducing the core principles of the reproductive justice movement and the human rights framework, on Friday, October 30.
  

• Tweet about sex education. We're partnering with @2gov to send Twitter social activism messages to our federal legislators. Simply enter your zip code at www.2gov.org and post the following update to your Facebook and Twitter: October is Sex Ed Month. Support the Responsible Education About Life Act to create sex ed funding! http://bit.ly/7P4Oy #ilsexed @2gov

• Forward this email to your network of friends, family, and co-workers!

Last Wednesday, October 7, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance, sponsored by Alderman Vi Daley (D-43), establishing a buffer zone outside all medical facilities to prohibit harassment and obstruction.

The ordinance creates a 50-foot zone outside the entrance health clinics and hospitals, an area in which all individuals would need permission to come within 8 feet of another person. Violations would result in a fine of up to $500. The City Council voted 28-13 in favor of the ordinance. Find out how your alderman voted on the measure. Mayor Richard Daley has now agreed to sign the new ordinance into law. Thank you for taking the time to email and call your aldermen to help protect the rights of all people, including youth, to gain safe access to health care!

Read more:

Daley to sign abortion protest restrictions, CBS News

Free speech rights are still safe under Chicago's 'bubble' ordinance, Chicago Tribune

Chicago OK's 'bubble' around abortion providers, Chicago Sun-Times

Zahra Alabanza, systems change manager at ICAH, was interviewed for the October 1-8 issue of TimeOut Chicago magazine, where she talks about the field of adolescent sexual health. Check out the article.

In honor of Sex Ed Month, ICAH is hosting a screening of The Education of Shelby Knox followed by a discussion on the current state of sexual health education. The film was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival 2005. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Event is free, open to all ages, and wheelchair accessible. Read more about the film and RSVP online.

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Co-sponsored by Alternatives Inc. Girl World and the Chicago Girls' Coalition Sisters Empowering Sisters, the goal of the resource fair is to provide a safe space where unaffiliated young women (ages 13 to 19) can collect information on after-school programs, youth-friendly health care services, pre-vocational information, and other supportive services.

Event is free and wheelchair accessible. Spanish and sign-language translators will be provided. No RSVPs required. Wanna get involved? The organizers are still looking for partner organizations to join the 35 other girl-serving groups in connecting with girls all over the city. Please contact Nikki or Keisha for more information.

Reproductive Justice 101 will provide an introduction to the reproductive justice movement using a human rights framework. Facilitated by ICAH staff members Sunyata Altenor and Mayadet Patitucci-Cruz, the workshop will address the differences between gender and sex, the core principles of reproductive justice and human rights, and the intersectionality of the reproductive justice movement with other social justice issues.

Event is free, open to all ages, and wheelchair accessible. Space is limited. Learn more and RSVP online by Thursday, October 29.

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Advancing Reproductive Justice

Thursday, November 12 // 6-8 pm
Three Peas Art Lounge
75 E 16th Street, Chicago

Help us advance reproductive justice for all Illinois youth.

acoustic performance by somilia rabee

cocktails + hors d'oeuvres + silent auction

price:
$40 general admission
$20 < 30 years old

Event is open to all ages and wheelchair accessible. Cash bar for 21+. Please RSVP online by Friday, November 6.

The Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, in partnership with youth, advocates sound policies and practices that promote a positive approach to adolescent sexual health and parenting.

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Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health
226 S Wabash Ave, Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312.427.4460
Fax: 312.427.0757
www.icah.org