Let's Talk About Sex, Baby - Putting SEXY Back into Sex Education

Sara Spivey, from the Spartan Daily, shares a novel idea with the rest of us, so I found it worthy to pass along – “It's time to put some sexy into sex education.”

It would appear that sex has become ingrained into almost every aspect of our lives and culture, yet, for some mysterious reason, it is absent from the one spot that may truly benefit from its invasion: sex education.

How did that Salt 'N' Pepa song go?

“Yo, I don't think we should talk about this. Come on, why not?
People might misunderstand what we're tryin' to say, you know?
No, but that's a part of life. Come on…
Let's talk about sex, baby… Let's talk about sex.”

Maybe the duo was on to something – at least more so than the current Bush administration (and many Republican presidential hopefuls) who are STILL trying to promote failed abstinence-only policies. Hmmm…wake up call, yep, even with these programs, people are still having sex.

With a new, accurate reporting system, it seems that there are now way more newly infected people with HIV in the US than previously thought – the New York Times just published an article revealing that new estimates may reach almost 50% higher – that equates to about 58,000 to 63,000 newly-infected people in the most recent 12-month period.

I am still trying to figure out why George W. insists on appointing people who are against contraception and STD prevention in charge of government programs that regulate sexual health and family planning. What have these “abstinence-only” crusaders done to help us? Let’s see, higher HIV infection rates, for one.

This unrealistic campaign - of only focusing efforts to keep people from having sex - is ending up with consequences that are becoming too drastic to overlook. As Ms. Spivey says, “There are only benefits to creating a culture where asking for birth control, picking up free condoms at university health centers or buying them in the store are no longer seen as sources of embarrassment because some outdated moral code tells us that having sex is wrong.”

I vote that it is time to put sexy back into sex education. After all, sex can be very sexy when one is properly educated and prepared! I defer to Salt 'N' Pepa,

“Let's talk about sex, baby
Let's talk about you and me
Let's talk about all the good things
And the bad things that may be
Let's talk about sex.”

• If you are now facing an unplanned pregnancy (with no thanks to our Commander-in-Chief), do not panic - Here is some Unplanned Pregnancy Help: Steps to Guide You Through an Unexpected Pregnancy

_{Photo Courtesy of Spencer Platt/Getty Images}