School sex education: Teachers' and young adults' perceptions of relevance for LGBT students

Abstract

LGBT inclusive sex education is one way to address health disparities that exist between students who identify as LGBT and those who identify as heterosexual and cisgender. This study examined the inclusivity of sex education in Montana's high schools and the challenges faced by teachers in providing sex education that is relevant for LGBT youth. Data were collected via electronic questionnaires from 237 young adult alumni of Montana's high schools, about half of whom identified as LGBT, and 64 health enhancement teachers tasked with teaching sex education. Nearly 90% of respondents rated the nine sex education topics listed on the questionnaire as "somewhat or very important." While the importance of sex education was affirmed by most of the young adults and teachers represented in this study, fewer than 30% recalled topics related to LGBT sexual health being "fully covered." Lack of teacher training was the most salient factor related to the paucity of coverage. Meeting the needs of all students in Montana's schools requires professional training and development for teachers that includes a focus on delivering inclusive, comprehensive sex education.

Temàtiques tractades en els treballs de final de grau del grau en Mestre o Mestra d'Educació Infantil de la Universitat Jaume I: una mirada des de l'educació inclusiva

“…Són menys destacats els TFG que tracten la diversitat sexegenèrica (8,98 %), d'estereotips de gènere (4,79 %) i sobre la diversitat familiar (2,40 %). Això es pot donar per l'escassa presència d'aquestes temàtiques en els plans d'estudis destinats a la formació de futurs docents d'educació infantil, primària i secundària (Sánchez, 2021; o que l'estudiant se senti incòmode a l'hora de tractar temes sobre diversitat sexual, de gènere i familiar (DSGF) (Meyer et al, 2015;Sondag et al, 2020).…”

The Impact of Adolescent Sex Education on LGBT Identity

“…A survey conducted by a Montana high school examining 237 young students, in which half of them identify themselves as part of the LGBT group and 64 teachers who are a part of the sexual education program revealed the following results. Although 90% agreed that these sexual education courses are fairly important for adolescents, the current biggest problem is the lack of professional training from teachers to teach this course, mostly because of the deficiency in salaries [5]. Teachers are not getting enough payment for them to continue these courses.…”

Promoting sexual health in transgender and gender diverse adolescents through an online sexuality psychoeducation program for parents: A case study

“…In Hobaica et al (2019), transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) participants reported feeling unprepared for sexual encounters. Sondag and colleagues (2020) examined the inclusivity of school sex education programs in Montana, and less than 30% of participants (young adults and teachers) reported they felt that topics related to sexual and gender minority youth were completely covered. Traditional sexual education programs showed several limitations with regard to their capacity of addressing issues related to gender minorities, and have contents that exclude gender diverse identities and behavior (Pampati et al, 2021).…”