The Guardian
9.10.15 | Anita Chabria
First-in-the-nation measure requires high schools to teach ‘different forms of sexual harassment and violence’ and include lessons on seeking sexual consent
As the “yes means yes” standard of sexual conduct spreads to many US college campuses, California legislators have passed a new measure that will put affirmative consent curriculum into the state’s high schools beginning next year.
The legislation will require high schools that have a health component as a graduation requirement to teach the “different forms of sexual harassment and violence”, and include lessons on seeking explicit, affirmative permission from a partner before moving forward with sexual activity. The bill, SB695, is now awaiting the signature of the governor to become law, expected in the coming days. California would be the first state in the nation to adopt a mandatory education policy on the topic for K-12 students.
“Young people’s attitudes about gender and sexuality start well before high school,” said state senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, the co-author of the bill. “It’s really critical that we start addressing issues of healthy relationships and sex and how to handle one’s sexuality and sexual behaviors at the earliest possible stage because what we are seeing in our culture today is clearly sexual violence that is completely out of control and at epidemic levels.”
California led the way on affirmative consent legislation last year when it became the first in the US to require that all state colleges receiving public funds for financial aid use a “yes means yes” standard when investigating sexual assaults, another bill co-authored by Jackson and senate president pro Tempore Kevin de Leon.
New York followed by adopting a “yes means yes” punitive policy and 12 other states and cities have since considered affirmative consent measures, according to Consent Gamechangers, a Florida-based advocacy organization. Many universities have implemented their own affirmative consent policies regardless of state law, as the affirmative consent mantra has garnered support from feminist celebrities such as Gloria Steinem and Lady Gaga.
“It’s absolutely becoming more mainstream,” said Alison Berke Morano of Consent Gamechangers. “It’s just everywhere.”
California led the way on affirmative consent legislation last year when it became the first in the US to require that all state colleges receiving public funds for financial aid use a “yes means yes” standard when investigating sexual assaults, another bill co-authored by Jackson and senate president pro Tempore Kevin de Leon.
New York followed by adopting a “yes means yes” punitive policy and 12 other states and cities have since considered affirmative consent measures, according to Consent Gamechangers, a Florida-based advocacy organization. Many universities have implemented their own affirmative consent policies regardless of state law, as the affirmative consent mantra has garnered support from feminist celebrities such as Gloria Steinem and Lady Gaga.
“It’s absolutely becoming more mainstream,” said Alison Berke Morano of Consent Gamechangers. “It’s just everywhere.”
