Illinois Senate Votes in Favor of Comprehensive Sex Education

We are thrilled to announce that the Sexual Health Education bill (HB 2675) just passed in the Illinois Senate! The final vote resulted in 37 voting in favor and 21 voting against. This is wonderful news for Illinois youth!

HB 2675 creates a standard for existing sexual health education courses taught in grades 6-12. It provides medically accurate, age-appropriate, complete information on reducing STIs and unintended pregnancies including information on abstinence, contraception, healthy relationships and boundary setting.

“The goal of any top quality sexual health education program should be to help young people make responsible, healthy decisions. Today we are pleased that the Illinois Senate voted to ensure that teens in Illinois have access to medically accurate, age appropriate, comprehensive sex education,” said Carole Brite, Planned Parenthood of Illinois President and CEO. “Studies show that sex education that covers contraception and disease prevention results in teens who are more likely to delay sexual activity and use protection when sexual activity does occur. More than 30,000 teens in Illinois become pregnant each year, and adolescents account for the majority of reported sexually transmitted infections in the state. This bill is a huge step forward in advancing the health and safety of young people in Illinois—while they are teenagers and throughout their adult lives.”

Thank you to all of our supporters who took action by contacting their elected officials, writing letters to the editor and sharing this campaign with friends and family! This is a victory of which we can all be proud! Stay tuned for more information as the bill gets sent to the Governor's office for signature.
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This post was created by Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL). PPIL provides comprehensive reproductive healthcare services and education to more than 60,000 Illinoisans each year. Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of PPIL.

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