The final chapter of Reflector’s tour of LGBTQ activism examines some of the controversies currently roiling society—starting with a look at one of the most contentious subjects in American history: sex education. With interviews with some of the minds behind the National Sex Education Standards, reporter Ben Kawaller offers a rare look into the philosophical underpinnings of the new ideas about sex and gender that have taken root throughout American society, what they reveal about the tensions between “gay” and “queer,” and what they might spell for the future of the movement—and for America.

THIS EPISODE FEATURES:
Dr. Eva Goldfarb – Professor of Public Health at Montclair State University.
Madelaine Adelman – Justice Studies professor at Arizona State University and former GLSEN board member.
Alison Macklin – Policy and advocacy director at Sex Ed for Social Change (SIECUS).
Jennifer Finney Boylan – Transgender author, former president of PEN America and former contributing opinion writer for the New York Times.
Ben Appel – Journalist and author of Cis White Gay: The Making of a Gender Heretic.
Dana Beyer – Early transgender advocate.
Herndon Graddick – Former president of GLAAD.
Lorri Jean – Former CEO of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.

LINKS:
Too Hot to Handle: A Global History of Sex Ed by Jonathan Zimmerman

The National Sex Education Standards

Rights, Respect, Responsibility: A K–12 Sex Education Curriculum

CREDITS:
This episode of Reflector was reported and produced by Andy Mills, Matthew Boll, Ben Kawaller, Simon Adler, Ethan Mannello, and Seth Temple Andrews.

Music for this episode was composed by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Cobey Bienert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Peter Lalish⁠⁠⁠

Reflector artwork by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jacob Boll⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with assistance from ChatGPT

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