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Sign On Letter to Governor Murphy
Dear Governor Murphy,
We are a coalition of people from New Jersey who have dedicated our lives to the education and safety of children. We are parents, teachers, advocates, neighbors, and friends — and we can all agree that every student in New Jersey deserves to receive an education in a safe environment, free from discrimination, harassment and abuse. Studies repeatedly show that quality sex education can reduce bullying and harassment, prevent abuse, and make it easier for young people to report if someone does try to harm them. We know how vulnerable young kids can be to bullying, abuse, and adult predators. That’s exactly why we support New Jersey’s Student Learning Standards, which the state created to promote the health and well-being of all students. Thank you for your statement earlier this week affirming the importance of sex education and strength of the NJ Student Learning Standards.
Like you acknowledge, attempts to create controversy here in New Jersey are just the most recent example of a national effort by a few well-funded extremist organizations to confuse and frighten parents about the content of sex education without providing the medical research that backs a strong sexual health education curriculum. These organizations rely on fear and confusion among voters in order to grab political power — and they don’t seem to care that they are making children vulnerable in order to do it.
Sex education is education. It teaches critical skills like healthy communication, boundary setting, and emotional literacy. It gives young people developmentally appropriate, medically accurate information and provides answers to their questions about their bodies and their relationships, without shaming or judging them for their experiences or feelings.
Sexual health education is already voluntary in New Jersey— any parent can opt their child out for any reason. The vast majority of parents recognize the importance of sex ed and support it being taught in schools. But these outside actors want to take that choice away from parents. They want to make sure that no child in New Jersey is given a safe place in a school setting to ask questions and learn medically accurate and age-appropriate information.
This is what the NJ Student Learning Standards say in the Personal Growth and Development section approved by the NJ State Board of Education in June 2020 for implementation to start this September: “By 2nd grade, students will discuss the range of ways people express their gender and how gender-role stereotypes may limit behavior.” In 5th grade, “students will demonstrate ways to promote dignity and respect for all people (e.g. sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, differing ability, immigration status, family configuration).” By 8th grade, “students should be able to differentiate between gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.”
These conversations help students understand that the messages they get on television, and increasingly on the internet, don’t tell the whole rich story of what their lives can be. Boys can cry, and show emotion, and still be boys. Girls can be tough, they can be leaders, and still be girls. Your best friends can have identities that you don’t share at all — and you can still be best friends. We will not compromise when it comes to protecting our students and their identities. Not just because it’s the humane and compassionate thing to do, but because all of our children will graduate into a rapidly changing global world that demands the ability to work across differences in order to be successful.
Research shows that kids understand gender at a very early age. The Mayo Clinic and the American Academy of Pediatrics among many leading medical organizations say that most children have a sense of their gender identity by age four. In every classroom there are students who have questions about gender and gender identity. Teaching about gender identity doesn’t change young people’s gender or cause harm to their well being. In fact, teaching that trans kids and their families exist and are worthy of respect helps protect all students’ mental health. Studies have repeatedly shown that in schools where LGBTQ students are acknowledged and supported, bullying goes down for all children.
The need for sexual health education in our schools isn’t just about reducing teen pregnancy and STI rates, although research shows that quality sex education provides those benefits. Thirty years of public health research also shows that when students have access to comprehensive sexual health education, they are less vulnerable to adult predators trying to exploit their youth and insecurity. They are less vulnerable to intimate partner violence (and less likely to perpetrate it) if they understand the concepts of boundaries and respect. They are less likely to experience depression or to attempt suicide. They are safer, period, full stop.
We thank you, Governor Murphy, for considering the science, the medical research, and the mental and physical health of our children, and for standing in strong support of the SLS-CHPE that were adopted by the State Board of Education in 2020. We also thank your Department of Education for reconfirming to school districts that the standards are age- and developmentally appropriate and will have a positive impact on our state's young people. We know you will stand strong with the organizations and advocates listed below to ensure the standards remain as approved, just as we will stand with you and support school districts in implementing the standards in their communities For the sake of New Jersey’s students and families, do not cave to these outside groups peddling disinformation to scare New Jersey parents. Our kids need comprehensive sexual health education, and they need you to be their champion.
Thank you!
American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ)
Advocates for Youth
American Journal of Sexuality Education
Answer
Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice
Catholics for Choice
Center for Supportive Schools
Cherry Hill Women's Center
EducateUS: SIECUS In Action
Healthy Teen Network
HiTOPS
Latino Action Network Foundation
Montclair State University, Department of Public Health
National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section
National Institute for Reproductive Health
New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault
New Jersey Family Planning League
New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
NJ 11th For Change
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey
Sex Ed Solutions
Sexual Health for Muslims
SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change
Speaking of Birth
Start Out Fresh Intervention Advocates (SOFIA)
The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT)
The Masakhane Center
UN|HUSHED
Unitarian Universalist Association
UU FaithAction New Jersey
Women for Progress
We are a coalition of people from New Jersey who have dedicated our lives to the education and safety of children. We are parents, teachers, advocates, neighbors, and friends — and we can all agree that every student in New Jersey deserves to receive an education in a safe environment, free from discrimination, harassment and abuse. Studies repeatedly show that quality sex education can reduce bullying and harassment, prevent abuse, and make it easier for young people to report if someone does try to harm them. We know how vulnerable young kids can be to bullying, abuse, and adult predators. That’s exactly why we support New Jersey’s Student Learning Standards, which the state created to promote the health and well-being of all students. Thank you for your statement earlier this week affirming the importance of sex education and strength of the NJ Student Learning Standards.
Like you acknowledge, attempts to create controversy here in New Jersey are just the most recent example of a national effort by a few well-funded extremist organizations to confuse and frighten parents about the content of sex education without providing the medical research that backs a strong sexual health education curriculum. These organizations rely on fear and confusion among voters in order to grab political power — and they don’t seem to care that they are making children vulnerable in order to do it.
Sex education is education. It teaches critical skills like healthy communication, boundary setting, and emotional literacy. It gives young people developmentally appropriate, medically accurate information and provides answers to their questions about their bodies and their relationships, without shaming or judging them for their experiences or feelings.
Sexual health education is already voluntary in New Jersey— any parent can opt their child out for any reason. The vast majority of parents recognize the importance of sex ed and support it being taught in schools. But these outside actors want to take that choice away from parents. They want to make sure that no child in New Jersey is given a safe place in a school setting to ask questions and learn medically accurate and age-appropriate information.
This is what the NJ Student Learning Standards say in the Personal Growth and Development section approved by the NJ State Board of Education in June 2020 for implementation to start this September: “By 2nd grade, students will discuss the range of ways people express their gender and how gender-role stereotypes may limit behavior.” In 5th grade, “students will demonstrate ways to promote dignity and respect for all people (e.g. sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, differing ability, immigration status, family configuration).” By 8th grade, “students should be able to differentiate between gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.”
These conversations help students understand that the messages they get on television, and increasingly on the internet, don’t tell the whole rich story of what their lives can be. Boys can cry, and show emotion, and still be boys. Girls can be tough, they can be leaders, and still be girls. Your best friends can have identities that you don’t share at all — and you can still be best friends. We will not compromise when it comes to protecting our students and their identities. Not just because it’s the humane and compassionate thing to do, but because all of our children will graduate into a rapidly changing global world that demands the ability to work across differences in order to be successful.
Research shows that kids understand gender at a very early age. The Mayo Clinic and the American Academy of Pediatrics among many leading medical organizations say that most children have a sense of their gender identity by age four. In every classroom there are students who have questions about gender and gender identity. Teaching about gender identity doesn’t change young people’s gender or cause harm to their well being. In fact, teaching that trans kids and their families exist and are worthy of respect helps protect all students’ mental health. Studies have repeatedly shown that in schools where LGBTQ students are acknowledged and supported, bullying goes down for all children.
The need for sexual health education in our schools isn’t just about reducing teen pregnancy and STI rates, although research shows that quality sex education provides those benefits. Thirty years of public health research also shows that when students have access to comprehensive sexual health education, they are less vulnerable to adult predators trying to exploit their youth and insecurity. They are less vulnerable to intimate partner violence (and less likely to perpetrate it) if they understand the concepts of boundaries and respect. They are less likely to experience depression or to attempt suicide. They are safer, period, full stop.
We thank you, Governor Murphy, for considering the science, the medical research, and the mental and physical health of our children, and for standing in strong support of the SLS-CHPE that were adopted by the State Board of Education in 2020. We also thank your Department of Education for reconfirming to school districts that the standards are age- and developmentally appropriate and will have a positive impact on our state's young people. We know you will stand strong with the organizations and advocates listed below to ensure the standards remain as approved, just as we will stand with you and support school districts in implementing the standards in their communities For the sake of New Jersey’s students and families, do not cave to these outside groups peddling disinformation to scare New Jersey parents. Our kids need comprehensive sexual health education, and they need you to be their champion.
Thank you!
American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ)
Advocates for Youth
American Journal of Sexuality Education
Answer
Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice
Catholics for Choice
Center for Supportive Schools
Cherry Hill Women's Center
EducateUS: SIECUS In Action
Healthy Teen Network
HiTOPS
Latino Action Network Foundation
Montclair State University, Department of Public Health
National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County Section
National Institute for Reproductive Health
New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault
New Jersey Family Planning League
New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
NJ 11th For Change
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey
Sex Ed Solutions
Sexual Health for Muslims
SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change
Speaking of Birth
Start Out Fresh Intervention Advocates (SOFIA)
The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT)
The Masakhane Center
UN|HUSHED
Unitarian Universalist Association
UU FaithAction New Jersey
Women for Progress
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For more information, please contact us at info@sexednj.org
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