Approve Referendum 90: Access to Comprehensive Sex Education
This election, Washington State voters will consider Referendum 90, a statewide ballot initiative to approve a medically accurate, age appropriate, comprehensive sex education curriculum in our public schools.
A vote for Referendum 90 is a vote to ensure young people in Washington state have vital, evidence-based, and inclusive information on sexual and reproductive health, consent, and healthy relationships, consistent with ACOG’s clinical guidance and recommendations.
Voting begins on October 16, 2020, and all registered voters will receive a ballot in the mail. The Washington Section of ACOG urges you to make our specialty heard and APPROVE Referendum 90!
Background on Referendum 90
Earlier this year, with ACOG’s strong support, the Washington Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, legislation requiring public schools to provide comprehensive sexual education that is evidence based, scientifically accurate, age-appropriate and inclusive for all students.
However, opponents of the bill collected signatures to put the new law on the ballot. Now it is up to the voters to use our voices and our ballots approve Referendum 90 so this important law can be implemented and the young people in our state have sex education that:
- Encourages healthy relationships based on mutual respect
- Teaches to identify and respond to behaviors that contribute to sexual violence
- Emphasizes the importance of affirmative consent before sexual activity
- Is age-appropriate, inclusive, and evidence-based
Additional information
- Washington is one of 27 states that does not require sex ed for K-12 and we have no guarantee or requirement for any sex ed to be provided by the school districts
- An overwhelming majority of democrats and republicans want young people to have guaranteed comprehensive sex education in the schools
- There are clear guidelines in each grade to keep the information age appropriate and school districts can select recommended curriculum that works best in their community
- Parents can select to opt their children out of instruction
- The curriculum should be inclusive for all students regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation
- Comprehensive sex education includes birth control, healthy relationships, abstinence, sexually transmitted infection information and sexual orientation
The bottom line: Support teaching medically accurate, age appropriate, comprehensive sex education and approve Referendum 90