The curriculums take on sex ed, and health class are without a doubt normalizing heterosexual relationships, and cis gendered students, while at the same time alienating students who do not fit into this “norm.” Sex education focuses on the anatomy and precautions of straight sex, but fails to explain the precautionary steps for safe sex for queer couples, or normalize asexual people. The school system talks about condoms in order to protect against pregnancy and STI’s however, even with LGBTQ+ couples, there are still risks around STI’s that are often ignored, which alienates and does not educate students who are not straight. The curriculum also fails to represent bisexual students, which is ignoring the fact that sexuality is a spectrum and not a black or white concept. No person is 100% straight nor 100% gay, and as educators we have to explain to students that it is normal to feel attraction towards both genders, and feel it in different ways. Someone may feel physical attraction towards men, but emotional attraction towards women, and that is normal, and it will change and fluctuate throughout life. Focusing on health class, the curriculum teaches students what to expect during puberty, however it is not inclusive. Health class often focuses on a cis gendered “normal student,” that teaches biological boys about what to expect, and in a separate room teaches biological girls about what to expect. Health class should be an open conversation that teaches everyone the same thing in one classroom; of course this may make it more awkward for the students, however it will create a safe space for honest dialogue. Traditionally when students are separated by gender, it is to teach them only what will apply to them, however transgendered students will be left out of this discussion, as well as anyone who is seen as biologically “different,” such as intersex people, which is very common and often ignored. Every student deserves the right to learn about their body without having to request it, no matter if they are transgender, non-binary, cis-gender, or intersex.

In my classroom I am going to ensure that every student feels that they are included and represented in their education. Education at times will be confusing and not always accepted by everyone, however as society changes, so does education. Society’s understandings have changed since the 1960’s, but sadly education has barely. Every student should feel normalized, sex education needs to educate students around straight sexual health, gay sexual health, asexuality, and any other “taboo topics.” As well as health education needs to educate students about the differences in every body, and normalize non binary, transgender and intersex bodies. We need to ensure that they recognize that gender and sex are two very different things, and how to respect peoples pronouns. These are topics that are very prominent in society, and students have to learn about it at some point, however if these things are taught while students are younger, they will grow up viewing these things as normal. Teachers must provide ALL students with care, rather than ignoring the notion around sexuality. A student should feel free and comfortable to talk about and ask questions about anything, especially regarding sexuality and gender. Students may not be allowed, or feel comfortable to talk about it at home, which is often their only other option for learning the truth around these topics; so if we do not teach it in our classrooms, then I believe that we are truly failing our students.