Scrapping sex-ed a leap back

Re Ford promises to repeal Liberals’ sex-ed curriculum, March 13

The new leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party wants to reverse changes to the provincial sexual-education curriculum. This would mean taking a huge leap backwards for health and diversity in this province.

The curriculum had not been updated since 1998 — before this year’s high school graduates were even conceived. The world has changed. Today’s youth are entering puberty at a younger age and face huge media pressure to engage in adult sexual activities.

The elementary curriculum, focuses on building students’ understanding of the rationale for delaying sexual activity, including information on sexually transmitted diseases. This is essential health information that must be openly discussed.

The nature of the family unit has also changed and is reflected in the new curriculum. That is a reality of this world that needs to be accepted in order to build acceptance and battle bullying.

The biggest issue rattling the PCs is the concept of gender diversity. Canadian culture has made admirable progress in understanding that gender identity is a continuum rather than binary. To deny this reality is to put young lives at risk.

We must not let the PCs cause regression. All of our youth have the right to live safe and fulfilling lives. Equipping young people with accurate, open-minded information is essential. Marion Reidel, Guelph