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Show FEATURE 12 I i ' "X Ns f BLAKE BEKKEN Rendon, a representative from Planned Parenthood, gave a lesson at Westminster College s Condom Fashion Show, an event that aimed to raise awareness for safe sexual practices. Within Utah public schools, discussion of contraception in class is forbidden, according to state law. Paco Sex ED AND MISREPRESENTATIONS PROTECTED BY UTAH Utah residents disclose their trials, fears and torment caused Six ANGIE MERKLEY ASSISTANT EDITOR Taylors thinks that parents are out of town when ifhe can come over to watch Taylor is oblivious and 'come over and watch a movie means over and watching a movie not what would actually happen later that night. As the television screen illuminates the images of Kill Bill,9 Taylor sets herself two feet away from Tim on her patterned couch. At this point, they dont have a relationship status. They are sort-dating, sort-- not. They had gone to third base, but nothingfurther than that. Taylor would laterfind out that Tim had a pregnant girlfriend during the entire time they knew each other. After Tim swaps the DVDs and the Taran- by Utah sex education programs and the conservative culture surrounding them. pressured to say anything. After all, it was she who brought him down to her bedroom. She recognizes that she can ask him to stop at any time. He knows shes a virgin. Ts this really what you want to do? Tim asks as he pulls out a condom. Taylor isnt completely sure when she says yes. coming of of Taylor Warner is 21 years old and grew up in Utah County surrounded by influences of her familys faith The Church Saints (LDS), a of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y religion that values waiting until marriage to have sex. The LDS church is Utahs primary religion, with 62.2 percent of Utah residents identifying as Mormon in the 2012 census. In Utah County, where Taylorwent to school, that population breaches 80 percent. tino sequel begins, he places himself right next to Taylor. She can feel his warmth then. Fifteen Taylors first sex education course was in the eighth grade. She said she learned very minutes before the movie ends, Tim reachesfor her little. face and they begin to kiss deeply. Before Taylor realizes what she is doing she grabs his hand and takes him downstairs to her room. She thinks that it would be disrespectful to do anything on her parents couch. As Tim begins to pull at her clothes, thoughts of panic race through Taylors brain. Her pulse quickens from excitement and utter terror. She had been raised not to have sex before marriage, and she and Tim werent even exclusive. Yet, she feels too I learned how a baby is born and about abstinence how the best way to prevent an STD or pregnancy or anything going awry with your uterus is to not have sex until youre married, she said. The discussions in class made her terrified of sex. I thought that a dirty, gross thing that shouldnt happen, she said. Even if youre married, it sounded like a taboo thing sex was LAWS that youre not supposed to talk about. That was the only sex education course Taylor has taken. In her high school, sex ed wasnt required. However, she said her mother taught her extensively on some areas that were missed in Taylors schools course. The most valuable information she said she learned was about contraception and resources like Planned Parenthood topics that are prohibited for discussion in Utahs and many other states schools. Shes the one who taught me about condoms and birth control, Taylor said. We were in the car driving, and she told me, Just remember, if you ever have sex, make sure he wears a condom. And I was very grateful for that. Up until I was 19. That was when Taylor first had sex. She said she wasnt at all prepared, despite her mothers and schools efforts. I was never told what actually happens, she said. It was this completely foreign thing. No one prepared me earlier because they all thought I would wait until I was getting married to talk about it. Taylor was traumatized by her first sexual experience, and it took her two years before she felt comfortable having sex again. I felt dirty and used, she said. Then I realized, Im not a bad person for doing this. It took me a really long time to do. I wouldnt go back and do it differently, though. I learned so much about myself and about sex and how to now handle myself in that circumstance. Taylor, who wasnt taught the intricacies of sex (another Utah school policy), said not knowing what happens during sex makes the first experience unenjoyable. She was so worried about what would happen that it ruined the moment for her. She boiled it down to her sex education experience in school. Its such a guilt-drivthing, and thats not healthy, she said. We dont want teenagers to feel bad about something that is completely normal. Yet, they feel demonized if they do it. The intricacies of sex, which are prohibited discussions' in public school instruction, include topics of sexual stimulation, erotic behavior and the details of penetration, accordGeneral Provisions in ing to the R277-474Utahs administrative code. The advocacy or en -3 encouragement of contraception is also prohibited. Its unrealistic to think that kids are waiting to have sex, Taylor said. If kids dont know about contraception and they get into the situation where they are having sex, what do you think is going to happen? Theyre going to get pregnant. By not talking about it, we are creating a larger problem. We arent telling them anything, and it isnt safe. |