With just 17 of U.S states requiring sex ed to be medically accurate, it’s safe to say there is still a lot of work to be done in providing young people access to the scientifically accurate information they need in order to make the best decisions for their sexual and reproductive health. 

According to the 2018 CDC School Health Profiles, fewer than half of high schools and less than a fifth of middle schools teach all 20 topics recommended by the CDC as essential components of sex education. This has led to a worryingly large gap between the sex education students need and what they actually get. As a result, many people are left turning to the internet for answers, which can often lead to more confusion, stigmatization, and anxiety around certain topics.  

In today’s episode of the Your Health Unlocked Podcast, we sit down with the guru behind ‘Sex Ed with DB’, Danielle Bezalel to discuss what’s missing today’s sex ed. ‘Sex Ed with DB’ is a feminist podcast and multimedia platform bringing you all of the sex ed you never got through unique and entertaining storytelling, which aims to center LGBTQ+ and BIPOC experts. Danielle strongly believes that everyone deserves to have the knowledge and information to empower themselves to make the right choices for them. 

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • What the systemic gaps are in sex ed in the U.S. 
  • Why students should receive sex ed in formal education 
  • How sex educators should be integrating LGBTQ+ communities 
  • The sex ed facts that everyone should know 

More about Danielle: 

Danielle Bezalel is a UC Berkeley graduate who holds a degree in Film and Media and a minor in Education. She also has a Master of Public Health from Columbia University with expertise in sexual and reproductive health. Danielle is the creator, producer, and host of Sex Ed with DB: an intersectional, feminist podcast that aims to revolutionize the way we talk about sex through unique and entertaining storytelling. When Danielle is not podcasting, she is singing and gigging with her SF based, Folk/Americana band called Happnstance, working on her fitness at the gym, or traveling somewhere new!  

You can listen to the ‘Sex Ed with DB’ podcast here 

To visit her website, go to: https://www.sexedwithdb.com 

Connect with Danielle on social media: 

Resources for Episode 015:

Some Terms and Linked Definitions:  

Heteronormative 

The Guttmacher Institute is a leading research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) worldwide. 

Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) produces practice guidelines for health care professionals and educational materials for patients. The college facilitates programs and initiatives to improve women’s health, and advocates for members and patients. 

Advocates for Youth works alongside thousands of young people in the U.S. and around the globe as they fight for sexual health, rights and justice. 

SIECUS advances sex education through advocacy, policy and coalition building.  

The Trevor Project is a nonprofit organization that provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ young people. 

You can read more about the statistics of people affected by herpes here on Planned Parenthood. 

Find out more about the use of the term "fetal heartbeat," as used in the anti-abortion law in Texas. 

Take a look at how you could save money on some fantastic sexual wellness brands that sponsor Sex Ed With DB by browsing the exclusive Sex Ed With DB discount codes. 

 

Sponsors:

The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and entertain. All views expressed by the persons featured on the Your Health Unlocked podcast are their own and do not reflect the opinions of the NWHN or its affiliates. Information provided in this podcast does not constitute medical advice. Consult your own provider for any medical issues that you may be experiencing.

Your Health Unlocked