Just Say Yes

This project is an effort to empower students and break silences around sex and sexuality using a positive, rather than negative ("just say no!"), tone. It is based on the conviction that "a young person's decision to be abstinent must be supported and validated, but so must her or his decision to be sexual. To do otherwise is not simply to omit information: it is to enforce an ideology that discriminates against young people -- particularly any young person who is sexually active, and all young lesbians and gay men." In short, this project's strategy is developed in response to the observation that young people not only deserve to make their own reproductive and sexual health decisions, but that they already are doing so - and those who are making the choice to have sex (with members of the opposite or same sex) deserve complete and honest information about sex. The approach, that is, involves not only teaching safe sex, but delivering messages of inclusion and respect to all young people and by resisting "the homophobia, misogyny, and racism that teenagers face every day at school."

Motivated by these beliefs, organisers collectively wrote and produced a booklet for teens on sexuality and safe sex entitled "Just Say Yes". CPS explains the choice of this particular medium as follows: "While we certainly considered the advantages of traditional lobbying (of the Department of Health, the School Board, and Local School Councils)...we felt that the health crisis among Chicago young people mandated the most expedient response possible." This response, in the form of a printed pamphlet, includes information on having healthy and enjoyable sex. It uses everyday language to address issues of AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), birth control, pregnancy, and abortion, providing explicit directions (e.g., for using condoms and dental dams). "Just Say Yes covers everything from resources for victims of violence to information on HIV testing to suggestions of hot, safe, sexy things to do with a partner or alone." The pamphlet also seeks to validate young people's choices: "Just Say Yes is predicated on respect: self-respect and respect for others. It is pro-safe sex, pro-teen, pro-choice, pro-queer, and pro-woman."

In this context, youth participation in the process of developing "Just Say Yes" was central. High school students helped write both the English and Spanish-language versions of the booklet ("¡Di Que Sí!" was published in 1995). In addition, high school students were asked to provide feedback about both booklets through single-sex focus groups, which CPS says it held at every stage of composing both books. To continue the conversation with youth, every Thursday morning approximately 30 minutes before classes began, CPS visited a different Chicago public high school, distributing condoms and copies of "Just Say Yes" to students. By doing so, CPS hoped to open the door to discussion or questions about anything included in the pamphlet.

To enable continued exchanges, the interactive Just Say Yes website provides frank information about sex and sexuality - in English and Spanish - through information and resource sections, as well as a teen forum and a question-and-answer system in which "sexperts" respond to teen questions via email. A gallery of the posters produced as part of this project is also available for viewing on this website by clicking here.

Youth, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

CPS is a grassroots, direct-action volunteer group formed in the spring of 1992 by high school students and members of the AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP), Queer Nation (QN), Emergency Clinic Defense Coalition (ECDC), and No More Nice Girls. They were motivated by the belief that "The Chicago Department of Health and the Chicago Public Schools fail to teach students about sexuality and safe sex because of bad educational policies, a general silence around sexuality and sexual practices, and systematic discrimination against people on the basis of race, class, gender, sexuality, and age." CPS points to "disproportionate suicides among young gay men and lesbians", noting that at least 10% of Chicago public school students are lesbian and gay.

According to CPS, nationwide, 86% of teenage men and 75% of teenage women are sexually active. Surveys conducted by the Roper Organization indicate that 96% of adolescents believe they should receive HIV/AIDS instruction in school, and 64% of adults believe that this education should be explicit about condoms and dental dams, and other safe intercourse and oral sex practices.

CPS visited all 67 Chicago public high schools and has distributed approximately 29,000 booklets in Chicago and nationwide. To order a copy of the booklet (US$3 donation for adults, free for teenagers, volume discounts on request), email cps-order@positive.org or click here.