Recently, California state Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley) introduced Senate Bill 954 (SB 954), the Youth Health Equity + Safety (YHES) Act. The act would require free condoms in all California high schools. Additionally, the Family PACT program would be required to cover HPV vaccinations for ages 12-18.
The bill reads,
In order to prevent and reduce unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, on or before the start of the 2025-26 school year, each public school shall make internal and external condoms available to all pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, free of charge.
The bill continues,
Each public school shall make condoms available by placing condoms in a minimum of two locations on school grounds where the condoms are easily accessible to pupils during school hours without requiring assistance or permission from school staff.
Support for Condom Availability in Schools
According to a survey conducted by Essential Access Health, 75% of teenagers think it is "very important" to have condoms available in schools, while 25% consider it "important." Senator Menjivar highlighted this information.
The CDC reports that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common among young people aged 15-24 years old in California. The majority of chlamydia cases in California occur in this age group, with more than half of the cases being reported among young people. Youth of color account for over 87% of these cases.
According to the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), in 2019, 20% of California high school students were currently active.
Furthermore, 44.6% of those who were currently active admitted that they did not use a condom during their last intercourse.
Pushback and Opposition
Despite receiving support, the bill has faced opposition. Greg Burt, Vice President of the California Family Council, shared his thoughts on SB 954. He believes that providing free condoms to children creates a false sense of safety. He argues that this can lead young people to think that a thin layer of latex is enough to protect them from the consequences of "sexual promiscuity."
Alternative Statistics and Concerns
The California Family Council presents different statistics to support its stance. They claim that condoms only provide limited protection against diseases such as herpes, genital warts, syphilis, and monkeypox, which can spread through skin-to-skin contact. Additionally, they highlight an almost 80% increase in syphilis cases between 2018 and 2022. Lastly, the California Family Council alleges that the bill undermines the authority and influence of parents who wish to instill in their children a respect for the sanctity of marriage as the appropriate context for sexual relations.
Bill Sponsors and their Arguments
The bill, supported by Generation Up, Black Women for Wellness Action Project, Essential Access Health, and URGE, aims to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by promoting the use of condoms. The bill's sponsors have noticed that the use of condoms among sexually active teens has been decreasing over the last ten years. The bill's proponents argue that teens face difficulties obtaining condoms, as they've experienced being kicked out of stores when trying to purchase them, despite no age restriction to buy condoms in California.
What are your opinions on SB 954?
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