PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Elizabeth Zimmerman, Community Organizer from National Council of Jewish Women New York
3:20:23
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3 min
Elizabeth Zimmerman from the National Council of Jewish Women New York advocates for comprehensive sex education in New York state schools. She supports Resolution 94, which calls for passing Assembly Bill 4604 to ensure medically accurate, age-appropriate, and inclusive sex education for all New York youth.
- Highlights the current patchwork system of sex education in New York, leading to inequities in information and skills taught to youth
- Criticizes abstinence-only programs, emphasizing their ineffectiveness and potential harm
- Argues for comprehensive sex education, citing its benefits in delaying sexual activity and promoting safer practices
- Addresses the religious aspect, countering the perception that conservative views represent all people of faith
Elizabeth Zimmerman
3:20:23
Good afternoon.
3:20:25
My name is Elizabeth Zimmerman, and I'm a community organizer for the National Council of Jewish Women New York.
3:20:31
Thank you for holding this hearing and giving NCJW New York and these other organizations an opportunity to speak about the need for comprehensive sex ed in New York state.
3:20:40
We're proud to join Girls For Gender Equity in support of, resolution 94 a calling upon the state assembly to pass the assembly bill 4604, ensuring that all New York youth have access to medically accurate, age appropriate, and inclusive sex education.
3:20:55
As previously stated, New York state has no sex education in schools.
3:20:58
Therefore, there's a patchwork system where students are taught what they're taught, if anything, depends on where they live.
3:21:10
When offered, the curriculum is often incomplete, inaccurate, or biased.
3:21:14
This is inherently unfair and leads to inequities in the information and skills that youth learn.
3:21:20
Currently, many programs stress abstinence, and instruction about consent is not required.
3:21:26
There's no evidence that abstinence only programs are effective in convincing students to delay sexual activity, and students in these programs are less likely than their peers to use protection when they do become sexually active.
3:21:38
Comprehensive sex ed has been shown to delay the onset of sexual activity.
3:21:42
And when teens do become sexually active, students who've been taught using have been taught comprehensive sex ed use birth control more consistently and have a reduced risk of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
3:21:55
Abstinence only education is historically tied to conservative religious convictions and represents that particular religious viewpoint about sexuality.
3:22:05
Part because of government support they receive, religious conservatives have come to dominate the public discourse on faith and sexuality.
3:22:13
Many abstinence only programs rely on shame, negative stereotypes about women, and inaccurate statistics meant to scare or mislead students.
3:22:23
They ignore issues of sexual orientation, healthy relationships, sexual abuse, and stigmatize sexually active students.
3:22:31
Because there's no universal curriculum throughout the state, many students may only receive information consistent with this conservative religious viewpoint.
3:22:40
Instead of medically accurate and comprehensive facts about contraception, abortion, and sexuality, students may receive false or exaggerated information about contraceptive failure and little to no information about abortion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
3:22:56
We must counter this perception that the religious right speaks for all people of faith.
3:23:02
In contrast, many religions believe that it's imperative that our youth approach decisions about sexual behavior equipped with both accurate information about sexual health, including objective facts about reproduction, abortion, STIs, contraception, and sexual orientation, as well as an understanding of
Despina Zaharakis
3:23:19
sexuality in the context of healthy, committed relationships.
Elizabeth Zimmerman
3:23:20
A comprehensive sex ed curriculum curriculum addresses all of these issues.
3:23:28
As with the narrative around abortion, birth control, and recently IVF, this conservative religious approach to sex ed ignores the fact that other religions favor more progressive, comprehensive sex education for everyone.
3:23:39
All young people deserve to have the information and skills to protect their health and be free from stigma and shame.
3:23:45
Thank you.
