With the new president delivering progressive executive orders, this sexologist thinks about three progressive executive orders she’d love to see. I’ll keep them short and to the point. p.s. I peppered this with cool links for deeper reading.
1. There should be broad-based, inclusive, mandatory science-based sex ed for students from age 8 to age 21, with continuing educational materials provided for every stage of adult-life, from 21+ to 80. By the age of 8, most children are aware of their gender and are entering puberty, when their curiosity grows along with their physical development. Pubertal youngsters (usually 8-14) should receive the facts they need about good v. bad touch, must learn about sexual consent, and receive age-appropriate information about reproduction, pubertal body changes, along with basics about heterosexuality, LGBTQI, and transitioning. Teenagers deal with body changes and psychological changes which combine to present significant social challenges. Adolescents deserve supportive, affirmative help to make good choices. Young adults should be prepared for adult realities, including intimacy issues, forming non-abusive permanent relationships, parenting, and the moral responsibilities of having children. Mid-life sex presents its own unique challenges and deserves its own curriculum, as do elder sex and disabled sex. Every American, regardless of age, deserves clinical guidance and education on maintaining good sexual health.
2. Hospitals and doctors must place a new emphasis on the rise of sexually-transmittable infections and halt this looming immunological disaster. Every annual physical should include STI testing and reproductive health checks. Doctors should routinely screen for vaginal, penile, ovarian, prostate, cervical, throat, breast, and colorectal cancers. Early detection saves lives! There should be mandatory HPV vaccines for teens to prevent future cancers, and access to free or low-cost birth control and menstrual products. All legal-age adults should have free or low-cost access to PREP, postnatal maternity care, and abortions.
3. Sex work and consensual adult porn should be decriminalized. How long are we going to go back and forth on what is and is not illegal in the United States? We need a national, rational, progressive yet practical policy that accommodates how adult Americans live, and not how American religious leaders think we should live. Stick a national age of consent on it and allow legal-aged consumers to patronize the sex workers or porn sites of their choice without worrying that they are criminals for enjoying one of life’s greatest and most normal comforts. All adult sex-workers, porn entertainers, and other adult industry workers who file taxes deserve full economic rights, including unemployment insurance, stimulus checks, and Social Security rights.
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