Sex Ed Website Attacked For Getting Too Real

The war on sex ed is still raging. A teen run website might be shut down for “inappropriately speak[ing] to teenagers about sex and abortion.”

Two Massachusetts lawmakers called for Gov. Deval Patrick to shut down the website mariatalks.com yesterday. The website, which was created by 18-year-old Maria and contains contributions by her friends and her aunt Lucia who is an OB/GYN, is maintained by by the AIDS Action Committee, which receives state funding.

The website is faulted for “using graphic language and teaching teenage girls how to avoid parental involvement in the abortion decision while downplaying risks” by Republican Rep. Marc Lombardo and Democrat Rep. Colleen Garry while Maria and co. claim mariatalks helps young people avoid STI and unplanned pregnancies.

With its friendly format, it broaches the subjects of sexual orientation, sexual violence, contraception, STIs, sex and abstinence without judgment and feels like a conversation-starter for teens and their parents. Besides, the lawmakers’ argument that parental involvement is diminished by this website’s content is weak; in Massachusetts, the consent of a judge or a parent is necessary in order to get an abortion if you are under 18.

Maria’s website started because she was overwhelmed by the confusing information she found about birth control on the Internet when she decided she would start having sex and wanted to start taking birth control. It’s time to stop thinking that teenagers do not have sex and realize withholding information is going to do more harm than good.

Isn’t one of the core elements of American philosophy to help yourself and find your own solutions? Aren’t websites like this one just the kind of initiatives we should promote? Politicians, unfortunately, are often hostile women taking charge of their reproductive health, as Republican Rep. Allen West of Florida proved when he accused Planned Parenthood of “neutering American men,” but now is not the time to let them win.

Contact the author here: sedera@morningquickie.com