Knowledge gap widens as sex-ed shrinks

Sex education is under assault across the U.S. SIECUS, (the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, a nonprofit that advocates for comprehensive sex education) says 25% of the more than 650 bills it tracked in the first six months of 2025 impact young people’s access to quality sex education, adding that actions by the Trump administration restricting abortion access, gender-affirming care and DEI initiatives have trickled down to state and local levels. SIECUS says decades of research prove the benefits of sex education, including lowered rates of partner violence, fewer unplanned pregnancies, better mental health outcomes and increased knowledge on how to access sexual and reproductive health care.