SB209 – Abstinence-Only Sex Education Bill

Background: SB209 would require any sex education or human reproductive curriculum in public K-12 schools to exclusively teach “sexual risk avoidance” and encourage abstinence from all sexual activity. The bill would require instruction to include information about the financial cost of pregnancy/childcare and parenting responsibilities. It would prohibit curricula from providing abortion referrals or information about obtaining an abortion, prohibit demonstrations of contraceptives, and prohibit medically-accurate education about anatomy. SB209 further restricts local boards from using materials created by individuals or organizations that do not endorse sexual risk avoidance or that advocate for or perform abortions.

Position: We oppose SB209. Young people deserve access to age-appropriate, medically accurate health information. Schools need the flexibility to provide education that actually reflects students’ real lives and real risks. SB209 pushes an abstinence-only framework while censoring information about contraception and abortion, which can leave students less prepared to make safe, informed decisions. The bill also invites political interference into local education decisions and risks preventing educators and providers from offering honest public-health education. Alabama’s students are best served by comprehensive, evidence-based instruction, not mandates that restrict what schools can teach.