PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Quadira Coles, Director of Gender Policy at Girls for Gender Equity, on behalf of Naila Petitfreer
2:24:36
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138 sec
Quadira Coles, representing Girls for Gender Equity, read testimony on behalf of Naila Petitfreer in support of Resolution 94, which calls for comprehensive sexuality education in schools. The testimony emphasized the importance of sex education in preventing mistakes, teaching consent, and fostering healthy relationships.
- Highlighted the potential of comprehensive sex education to lower rates of STIs and unintended pregnancies among teenagers.
- Noted that the state bill number for the sex education bill will change in the upcoming year.
- Stressed that supporting this bill is crucial for protecting young people and ensuring their safety.
Quadira Coles
2:24:36
Good afternoon.
2:24:36
My name is Cordira Coles.
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I'm the director of policy at Girls For Gender Equity.
2:24:40
I'm gonna read a testimony on behalf of a youth fellow who cannot be here today.
2:24:44
Good evening.
2:24:45
My name is Naila Petitfreer.
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Thank you all for having me to to testify today.
2:24:51
I'm the policy and advocacy fellow at Girls For Gender Equity.
2:24:56
As a black girl growing up in schools that did not offer any access to comprehensive sexuality education, I strongly support resolution 0094 and due to the impact of the absence of this education.
2:25:10
Sexual education is imperative to our schools and should not be neglected due to the failure of our institutions to provide comprehensive comprehension, guidance, and support for our students.
2:25:21
If passed and enacted, the state bill that this resolution supports will not enforce a system that pushes students to be sexually active, but rather, it will provide an opportunity to prevent students from making mistakes by providing them with age appropriate education and teaching the importance of consent in their bodily rights.
2:25:40
Not addressing such topics in schools allows students to normalize the violation of boundaries while also preparing students to know how to voice their feelings when in regards to consent.
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Supporting the sex ed bill will create an educational system that shapes students' overall environments through how they interact with one another at school and in their households.
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Comprehensive sex education will empower young people to make informed decisions and introduce healthy relationship dynamics, which is crucial for fostering a culture of mutual respect and understanding.
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Additionally, research shows that comprehensive sex education can lead to lower rates of sexual transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies among teenagers by promoting safe practices.
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Signing on to this bill is not simply doing us a favor.
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It is to create a better world to protect our young people and to do everything within our power to ensure they are safe to provide them and to provide them with every single resource that is necessary.
2:26:38
Thank you.
2:26:39
And I also wanna note, you guys probably already know that this year, we're gonna get new introductions to the bill.
2:26:45
So the bill number the state bill number for the sex ed bill will change.
2:26:49
So that should be reflected in the new language if this bill passed.
2:26:53
Thank
