On Saturday, June 19th, we invite you to stand up with us for inclusive sex health education in Ontario and reproductive justice at home and abroad. We’re coming together with Planned Parenthood, Oxfam, The Native Youth Sexual Health Network , The Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics, Canadians for Choice and GAPP to demand the following:

-The support and implementation for the changes to Ontario’s sex education curriculum
-Full funding for family planning and safe abortion in Canada’s G8 Maternal/Child Health Initiative
-Action on all women’s health inequalities and injustices faced globally

The Youth Line believes firmly in reproductive justice. This means we respect the right of people to make real choices about their sexual and reproductive health and we demand that everyone have access to the information, resources and safety to make decisions are right for them. We’re rallying to defend these rights in light of recent changes that affect all of us locally and internationally and we want you to join us!

As many of you have probably heard about, sex health education in Ontario recently went through some changes. The changes would have meant that queer and trans issues, healthy relationships and other important information that goes beyond just body parts would have been included in elementary and secondary health classrooms. These changes would, among other things, mean that queer and trans folks would finally hear information relevant to their bodies and sexualities in their classrooms across the province. Also, important topics like consent, abuse, assault and what healthy relationships look like would be covered- which is hugely useful and vital information. So, all of us were thrilled when we heard that the new curriculum was moving in a more sex-positive, queer and trans positive direction. And then…(cue scary music) right wing groups protested against the changes and the Ontario government backpedaled and decided to ’shelve’ the sex health part of the curriculum until ‘parents and community groups’ could be consulted. The right wing has been really vocal about why they don’t want the changes to go through- now we need to be just as vocal to show our support of the new curriculum and demand that it gets put into classrooms, as is! So come on out and show that you believe that youth should have access to sex positive, queer and trans positive, relevant sexual health information!

Canada’s  has recently proposed the G8 Maternal/Child Health Initiative. This initiative is calling on all G8 countries to fund a set of health and social programs for  pregnant women and mothers and their children in developing nations. What’s glaringly lacking in this initiative is provision of safe, accessible abortions. Despite huge backlash from women’s groups about this lack, the government is moving forward with this plan. This will have major affects for women around the world.  Not only does it only provide services for cis-gender women who are pregnant and/or already mothers, it denies their right to make active choices about family planning and their own health. We call on you to join us as we stand up for a woman’s right to choose!

If you want to walk with us, or want more information, please email outreach@youthline.ca

Rally Details!

Rally at 1pm at Pitman Hall, Ryerson University 160 Mutual Street.
March to Ministry of Health/Education 900 Bay Street.

Featuring a spoken word performance by RED SLAM and speakers from:
The Native Youth Sexual Health Network
Oxfam
Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics
Planned Parenthood Toronto
LGBT Youthline

Sponsored by:
Canadians for Choice – Toronto Action Committee
Gendering Adolescent AIDS Prevention (GAAP)
LGBT Youthline
Native Youth Sexual Health Network
Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics
Oxfam
Planned Parenthood Toronto
Sam Gindin Chair