Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Planned Parenthood launches youth-led campaign about birth control, sexual health
From a press release
2018-02-08

This article shared 1164 times since Thu Feb 8, 2018
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


( Chicago ) - Planned Parenthood of Illinois ( PPIL ) has launched My Body. My Story.- a youth-led campaign designed to increase sexual health education and access to birth control for 13-19 year olds in Illinois.

My Body. My Story. aims to educate youth about all of Planned Parenthood's services with a focus on birth control options through:

- Workshops for both youth and adults via community organizations and school presentations

- Social media platforms ( Instagram and Facebook ), which creatively engage youth in learning about birth control and sexual health

- Outreach activities that engage youth and adult allies one-on-one

PPIL's Youth Advisory Board helped develop the campaign's core principles, materials, and strategies for reaching their peers across the state. The group consists students ages 15-18 from Chicagoland high schools including; Lane Tech College Prep, New Trier High School, Oak Park and River Forest High School, Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Lindblom Math and Science Academy, and Garner Comer College Prep.

"I became involved because I believe that every person should have the choice to the type of care they need," said Sydney Pauta, Youth Advisory Board member and Lane Tech College Prep student. "Whether it is [general] health care or access to birth control, no one but yourself should be able to decide what's best for you. I think this is important for everyone, especially for teens."

The political climate and attacks on access to health care has created a wave of engagement at all ages, "After the election, birth control was and is threatened by our president, " said Raina Bailey, Youth Advisory Board member and student at Homewood-Flossmoor High School student. "It truly made me realize how important it is to people all over the country, and I wanted to educate myself and others on it [through the campaign]. Awareness and support of Planned Parenthood is a huge step towards ensuring its future."

Libby Shafer, Campaign Coordinator, has been working closely with the Youth Advisory Board throughout the campaign development, providing them the opportunity to exercise their leadership skills, contribute essential insights, and foster a sense of ownership around the campaign. "When it comes to birth control, many youth learn from and trust their friend's and family's stories. Too often youth don't receive comprehensive, medically accurate sexual health education," Shafer explained. "The Youth Advisory Board helped design the campaign to serve as an inclusive space for youth to feel empowered by sharing their own stories about birth control and sexual health. The members of the Youth Advisory Board want to break the taboos about sex and sexual health, encourage youth to discuss these issues, learn from the facts and each other, and take advantage of the affordable and confidential services Planned Parenthood provides."

Some Youth Advisory Board members receive sexual health at school, but the information isn't geared toward their age group. Alexee Aitken, Youth Advisory Board member and Lindblom Math and Science Academy student explains, "My school's sex-ed program has good information but tries very hard to appeal to me and my peers. The campaign is to appeal people like me through things I want to see and hear."

As the campaign proceeds, the youth will continue to help create educational materials, promote the campaign in their schools and organizations, and form partnerships with various youth boards across the state.

"By providing in-person education for youth and adults we seek to decrease barriers for young people accessing birth control and sexual health services," said Jennifer Welch, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Illinois. "My Body. My Story. also validates youth voices through storytelling, to educate and inspire other teens."

My Body. My Story creates a platform where young people can share their stories to help dismantle negative stigmas surrounding birth control and sexual health, learn realistic information, and empower other youth to access the birth control method that may be right for them.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois ( PPIL ) provides affordably priced high-quality reproductive health care services throughout Illinois. Through health care services, educational programs and advocacy efforts, PPIL works to ensure and protect the reproductive health and rights of each individual. For more information, visit www.ppil.org .


This article shared 1164 times since Thu Feb 8, 2018
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Nex Benedict's autopsy report released
2024-03-27
The full autopsy report for Nex Benedict (he/they)—a 16-year-old transgender and Indigenous student from Oklahoma's Owasso High School who died in February a day after a school fight—has been released. The Oklahoma Office of the Chie ...


Gay News

Former Chicago Girl Scouts CEO Brooke Wiseman to receive Luminary Award
2024-03-22
Brooke Wiseman, a now-retired nonprofit leader in the Chicago area, spent most of her career creating leadership development opportunities for girls and women—and making sure that hungry children could be fed. While leading Girl Scouts of ...


Gay News

Windy City Times seeks nominations for 30 Under 30 Awards
2024-03-18
--From a press release - CHICAGO—After a four-year hiatus, Windy City Times has revived its 30 Under 30 Awards. Windy City Times is seeking to recognize 30 more outstanding LGBTQ+ individuals (and allies). Nominees should be 30 years or younger as ...


Gay News

One Roof Chicago launches youth-focused workforce development program
2024-03-14
One Roof Chicago (ORC) is set to launch its first training, education and job placement program for LGBTQ+ young adults in late spring. This Community Health Workers and Elder Care program is a part of ORC's ...


Gay News

UPDATE: Nex Benedict's death ruled a suicide; family responds
2024-03-13
A medical examiner's report concluded that the cause of death of Oklahoma student Nex Benedict (he/they) was suicide, media reports confirmed. Benedict—a 16-year-old transgender student—died Feb. 8, a day after ...


Gay News

Longtime LGBTQ+-rights activist David Mixner dies at 77
2024-03-12
On March 11, longtime LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS activist David Mixner—known for working on Bill Clinton's presidential campaign but then splitting from him over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT)—died at age 77, The Advocate reported. ...


Gay News

Center on Halsted hosts 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show
2024-03-03
On the evening of Feb. 29, Center on Halsted held its 6th Annual Intergenerational Talent Show in front of a packed audience at the Hoover-Leppen Theater. The event brought together participants of the Center's youth and senior ...


Gay News

Federal investigation initiated in Nex Benedict case
2024-03-02
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has started an investigation into the Oklahoma school district where Nex Benedict, a transgender 16-year-old sophomore, went to school and was bullied before his death, The Advocate ...


Gay News

Court blocks Texas attorney general's demand for PFLAG data
2024-03-01
From a press release: AUSTIN, Texas—Travis County District Court Judge Maria Cantú Hexel on March 1 blocked the latest effort by the Texas Attorney General's Office to persecute Texas families with transgender youth, temporarily haltin ...


Gay News

NATIONAL School items, HIV/AIDS activist dies, Nex Benedict, inclusive parade
2024-03-01
In a new survey, the Pew Research Center asked public K-12 teachers, teens and the U.S. public about the ongoing scrutiny placed on classroom curricula, mainly regarding race and LGBTQ+ identities, ABC News noted. Among other ...


Gay News

Appeals court allows Ind. ban on gender-affirming care for minors
2024-03-01
On Feb. 27, a federal appeals court in Chicago allowed Indiana's ban on gender-affirming care to go into effect, removing a temporary injunction that U.S. District Court Judge James Patrick Hanlon issued last year, ABC News ...


Gay News

Activists and others urge removal of Oklahoma schools superintendent after Nex Benedict death
2024-02-28
TULSA, OKLAHOMA—Today more than 350 national, state, and local organizations advocating for equality across the U.S., alongside notable public figures, issued an open letter to Oklahoma legislative leadership urging justice ...


Gay News

911 calls, videos show cascade of failures in Nex Benedict's death, GLAAD responds
2024-02-24
"It is haunting to hear Nex Benedict, in their own words, describe how school and state leaders failed, at every level of leadership, to keep them safe from bullying and harm. Less than 24 hours later, ...


Gay News

HIV criminal laws disproportionately impact Black men in Mississippi
2024-02-21
--From a press release - A new report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law finds that at least 43 people in Mississippi were arrested for HIV-related crimes between 2004 and 2021. Half of all arrests in the state ...


Gay News

Oklahoma non-binary student dies after being assaulted
2024-02-21
Officials acknowledged there are unresolved questions about a 16-year-old non-binary Oklahoma student who died one day after a fight in a high school bathroom, NBC News noted. Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.