August 29 is Wear It Purple Day for LGBTQIA+ Youth
We asked Ella about School Sex Ed. Here is what she said.
In high school, sex education was awkward. Not because of the topic—we were teenagers; we knew how to joke our way through anything—but because of what wasn’t said. If you were queer, you had to read between the lines. And often, there were no lines to read.
We learned the basics: condoms, consent and reproduction. Heterosexuality was the default. Queer sex? Not mentioned. If anyone asked, teachers either didn’t know or brushed it off with a vague “there’s probably something out there.”
I remember sitting there thinking, okay, but where?
Now that I’m in college, it’s not much better. We’ve had some sessions on relationships and consent—which are important, sure—but nothing about queer sex or safe practices. And when no one brings it up, it starts to feel like it doesn’t exist. Like we don’t exist.
That’s why I think it’s time we did things differently. Bring in external queer educators—people who aren’t awkward or unsure, people who know what they’re talking about because they’ve lived it. When someone like that walks into the room, it changes the whole energy. It’s not uncomfortable compared to asking your teacher, who then has to teach you maths. Suddenly it’s okay to ask questions because it’s from someone who wants to be there.
Queer sex ed isn’t just about information. It’s about visibility, safety, and dignity. It’s about making sure no one leaves school thinking they have to figure it all out alone. Because we deserve better than silence. We deserve answers.
Link to the interview with Ella.
https://redthread.org.au/sex-education/
