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Education – How much do we educate about sex? ?

01/10/2016 By ACOMSDave Leave a Comment

 

Education
Boy Boy and Girl Girl – equally need education
Sex Education via the chalkboard
National Geographic Header

Sec Education
Sex education word cloud concept
Sex Education - any questions

This year National Geographic has launched a new TV series on the world “Original Sin: How Sex Changed The World”; I am catching up with this series, but I can tell you it is interesting in how much sex education we still don’t educate our youth about.

How did I pick this up, well of course our local newspapers who used it to republish about Robiinson & McCambley (a story past its sell by date), with a few added twists about the TV series, but also used it to republish photographs of Mrs Robinson and Mr McCambley; but then I put the article down in my tray and left it, because in itself it was the TV series that was of interest not the replay of Robiinson & McCambley, who by now have moved on with their lives.  The reason why I am now writing is the story of Republican Mike Yenn, “the President of Jefferson Parish and happily married with one daughter”.  While Yenni doesn’t appear to have much of a record when it comes to being for or against LGBTQ rights, he is a member of the political party that, in its most recently adopted platform, officially defines marriage as “between one man and one woman,” calls pornography harmful “especially on children,” and wants to police which restrooms trans people use in an effort to protect women and children from sexual predators

Now going back to Robinson & McCambley, the story was news at the time, it is not now, what is news now is the abysmal level of sex education in our schools, and the impact it is having on society. It is not enough, as the USA have since found, to preach abstinence. We need to to be honest with our youth, and education them properly about sex and relationships, in all its forms, we can no longer hide behind various texts in the belief that they will protect them.

But sex education is a hot potato, …sex education is political because it is a good way to get elected… particularly if you take a purely conservative point of view and support the vociferous minority who don’t want it taught in school as it is a parents right to do so – well I would argue that our history indicates that we don’t do it well at home or at school. I am not saying we shouldn’t do it at home, what I am saying is that we need to start teaching about sex and relationships properly in school to augment what is taught at home.

We cannot allow … political agendas to stand in a students right to know…

By all means watch the National Geographic program for its titillation when the various high profile people hit the screen, but don’t forget that statistically most new cases of sexually transmitted infections occur in youth and young adults! Sex education must be considered  is a failure, when it is considered right that drinking bleach is a good birth control.

We owe it to our youth, both the current and those to come, to provide a balanced and well funded and taught sex education system that is without bias – not only will this enable our youth to make considered decisions about their lives, but it will also help us as a country who is trying to reconcile its various budgets, including the NHS. Spending on education is not a hit and miss, if we get it right we save money in other areas, and we have a richer, better educated society.

Further reading:

  • Sexual Health of Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States

  • The Irish Times – Iris Robinson to feature in US documentary on sex scandals
  • The Belfast Telegraph – Iris Robinson’s toyboy Kirk McCambley affair to be retold for National Geographic documentary ‘Original Sin’
  • Queerty – Married Conservative Politician Outed For Sexting Teen Boy, Kissing Him In Mall Bathroom
  • Queerty – Teen’s Story About Hooking Up With Married Politician Sounds Awfully Like Mike Yenni

 

Filed Under: Editor to ACOMSDave Tagged With: disease, education, sex, TV series, youth

Tom Daley’s fiancé Dustin Lance Black gets the green light from ABC for his new gay rights period drama When We Rise

23/12/2015 By ACOMSDave Leave a Comment

Mail Online Logo

By JJ NATTRASS FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 14:09, 22 December 2015

 

Dustin Lance Black’s mini series, When We Rise, has officially been officially picked up by ABC after two years in development.

The eight hour mini-series focusing on the gay rights struggle in America, in the 20th Century, penned by the 41-year-old Oscar-winner is set to be put into production in 2016 by the channel.

According to Variety the confirmation of When We Rise will see Tom Daley’s fiancé reunited with director Gus Van Sant – who worked on Milk alongside Lance.

All stations go: Dustin Lance Black's mini-series, When We Rise, has officially been officially picked up by ABC after two years in development

All stations go: Dustin Lance Black’s mini-series, When We Rise, has officially been officially picked up by ABC after two years in development

Following in the vein of Milk, which told the story of California’s first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, the show focuses on the political struggles of the LGBT community in the late 20th Century.

Chronicling the tale of a diverse family of activists in the 1960s and 70’s, When We Rise will focus on the groups pioneering work to conquer one of the last legs of the U.S. Civil Rights movement.

Tom Daley and Lance Black

The wait is over: The eight hour mini series focusing on the gay rights struggle in America penned by the 41-year-old Oscar-winner (pictured with faince Tom Daley) is set to be put into production in 2016

Lance, who is now engaged to British Olympic diver Tom, 21, has worked tirelessly as for marriage equality and gay rights.

Clearly excited by the news, Lance took to his Instagram last week and shared a snap of himself alongside Milk producer Bruce Cohen and civil rights campaigners Roma Guy, Ken Jones and Cleve Jones.

Pictured in San Francisco, the screen writer and director can be seen beaming in the picture – clearly delighted with the news from ABC.

He captioned: ‘Thanks for a great trip #SanFrancisco! With Producer Bruce Cohen and #SocialJustice heroes Roma Guy, Ken Jones and Cleve Jones. #WhenWeRise prep begins!’

Earlier this year, in October, Lance and Tom announced their engagement in The Times newspaper after dating for two years.

Lance Bruce Cohen and Roma Guy Ken Jones and Cleve Jones

Delighted: Clearly excited by the news, Lance took to his Instagram last week and shared a snap of himself alongside Milk producer Bruce Cohen and civil rights campaigners Roma Guy, Ken Jones and Cleve Jones Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3370460/Tom-Daley-s-fianc-Dustin-Lance-Black-gets-green-light-ABC-new-gay-rights-mini-series-Rise.


 

Filed Under: TV programme reviews Tagged With: ABC, gay rights, Lance Black, TV series

'Cucumber' And 'Banana', Queer Dramas, To Air On Logo TV

17/12/2014 By David McFarlane Leave a Comment

The Huffington Post  |  By James Nichols

Posted: 12/16/2014 12:02 pm EST Updated: 12/16/2014 12:59 pm EST
‘Cucumber’ and ‘Banana’ – vegetable or fruit hitting your screens soon

Are you ready for your new favorite queer television shows?
From the writer of the iconic “Queer As Folk” and the much beloved “Dr. Who” comes “Cucumber,” “Banana” and “Tofu,” three interlinked gay dramas that are already receiving buzz for their unapologetic portrayals of queer life. “Cucumber,” “Banana” and “Tofu” will premiere across Channel 4, E4 and 4oD in the UK in 2015.
Logo TV will run “Cucumber” and “Banana” on Logo TV in early 2015 in the U.S. The network has not announced plans regarding “Tofu.”
“Whether he’s reinventing Doctor Who for a whole new generation, or creating riveting gay and lesbian characters on the original ‘Queer as Folk,’ Russell T Davies always pushes television forward,” Stephen Friedman, President of MTV and Logo TV, said in a statement sent to The Huffington Post. “’Cucumber’ and ‘Banana’ are groundbreaking for the way they show intertwined narratives from two generations’ different perspectives. Even more importantly, the shows tell hilarious, incisive and very human stories.”
“It’s an honour and delight to team up with Logo for these brand new dramas,” Davies said in a statement. “It’s 16 years since I created ‘Queer As Folk,’ which means I’ve had 16 years to build up new characters, new stories, and new insights into our lives. Across both series, we explore gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender stories, as well as love beyond labels – this is 50 shades of gay, and beyond!”
Check out the trailer above.

Filed Under: TV programme reviews Tagged With: banana, cucumber, Logo TV, TV series

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