Youth Deserve
Youth Deserve
About Youth Deserve
Our youth are under attack whether it is an attempt to censor their learning, silence their voices, or create a hostile learning environment, our America's youth deserve better.
Youth deserve learning spaces that are affirming and values and respects the identities of every student, regardless of race, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, or class.
Youth Deserve was created to help individuals fight back against the attacks our youth are facing in schools.
Ensuring Our Youth Get the
Education They Deserve
Youth Deserve educational spaces that are safe and affirm, value, and respect the identities of every student regardless of race, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, or class.
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Youth Deserve academic curricula that are developmentally appropriate, fact-based, non-denominational, apolitical, and designed to teach fundamental academic skills, as well as supporting the social, emotional, and developmental skills that young people need to succeed in an increasingly diverse and global society.
Youth Deserve honest history, inclusive programs, equal access to bathrooms, school clubs and activities, and safe learning environments free from bullying, harassment, or stigma.
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Fight Back!
It has become all too common to see divisive politics targeting our classrooms. The majority of Americans support a secular public education system, honest history, gender affirming spaces, and medically accurate sex education, As the majority, it is time to stand together and fight back.
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The Youth Deserve collaboration provides individuals with a one-stop location
where they can find information and resources they need to fight back against these different, yet unified attacks against our young people.
The past several years have seen attack after attack. To understand some of the background behind these attacks, refer to the 2022 report, “Exposing Hate: The Truth About Attacks on Our Kids, Schools, and Diversity”.
This report found that:​
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In 2022, there was a 413% increase in “divisive concept” bills - bills that seek to censor inclusive, honest curriculum in public schools from 2021
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Over 65% of the bills introduced in state legislatures across the country in 2023 were restrictive bills seeking to:
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censor school curriculum, inclusive and honest programs, libraries and books;
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assert a narrow conservative religious so-called “parental rights” restrictions on learning
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restrict and eliminate the civil rights of LGBTQIA+ and especially trans young people and their families.
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In 2023, there was a 24% increase in the filing of legislation that would seek to infringe upon the rights of young people, especially LGBTQIA+ youth, youth of color, and other vulnerable communities.
Written by SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change and partners, Advocates for Youth, American Atheists, Equality Federation, Human Rights Campaign, Ipas Partners for Reproductive Justice, and United for Reproductive and Gender Justice (URGE), the report highlights the background behind the coordinated attacks that have forced advocates into silos. In order to effectively fight back, we must recognize that it is only through collective action that we can truly defeat the opposition.
Our Youth Deserve Better!