Resolution In Support of R-90

Whereas age appropriate, comprehensive, and inclusive sex education is critical to the health and safety of Washington’s youth.

Whereas LGBTQ young people need sex education that addresses their identities and experiences and provides young people with opportunities to understand sexual orientation and gender identity in open, non-stigmatizing ways.

Whereas young people need access to information and resources that include consent and healthy relationships — starting well before college and well before they become sexually active — to help them understand how to ask for consent, respect personal boundaries, and learn how to say  and receive a “no.”

Whereas the Washington State Health and Physical Education K-12 Learning Standards provide clear guidelines for what is taught in each grade. The legislation doesn’t change this.

Whereas a strong majority of Washingtonians support requiring schools to offer medically accurate, age appropriate, comprehensive sex education – 86% support, 70% strongly support. Source: Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest 

Whereas Senate bill 5395 passed the state legislature and was signed into law by Governor Inslee in March, with the support of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

 Whereas deceitful tactics and misinformation were used to gather signatures to put R-90 on the ballot.

Whereas even before SB 5395 passed, Washington State law required sex education programs be age-appropriate when offered. Opt-out provisions were strengthened under SB 5395 to specify that all parents’ requests must be honored. SB 5395 brings much-needed updates and expansions to Washington’s existing sex education laws. School districts are no longer permitted to avoid offering instruction, so a young person’s access to information is no longer dependent upon their zip code.

Therefore, be it resolved, the 21st District Democrats hereby support the approval of R-90 to retain age appropriate, comprehensive, and inclusive sex education for all students in Washington.