LGBTQQ Experiences Have Been Erased from Sex Education in Schools, New Report Shows

Research from It's On Us Finds that College-Aged LGBTQQ Men Use Online Resources to Bridge the Gap in their Sex Education

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, It's On Us released new research, "Erased in School, Educated Online: LGBTQQ Men and the Sex Ed Gap," a mixed-methods study focused on young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQQ) men's experiences with sex education in educational settings before college and how it aligns with their beliefs.

This study is the first report in ongoing research focused on how college men's exposure to sex education informs their views on sexual and dating violence. "Erased in School, Educated Online" examines sex education as a prevention tool, building on previous research from It's On Us highlighting the importance of engaging young men as part of the solution to campus sexual assault and how current sexual violence trainings are ineffective. This previous research conducted by It's On Us also found that LGBTQQ men were more likely to correctly distinguish healthy and unhealthy relationships and felt more comfortable discussing sexual violence than a broader sample of men.

"At a moment when diversity, equity, and inclusion programming faces unprecedented and destructive attacks, we must invest more into supporting LGBTQQ students, not less," said Tracey Vitchers, Executive Director of It's On Us. "The responsibility to find accurate sex education that is representative of their identities should not fall on LGBTQQ students when existing systems ignore them. This data is evidence our schools are failing these students, and this research helps us better understand how to create a culture of sexual assault prevention on college campuses that includes all students, not just some."

Key findings from the report include:

1. Young LGBTQQ men who received sex education in school were more likely to report also turning to online settings than cisgender straight men, with the internet serving as a resource to address any stigma or gaps in knowledge they may have been taught in school.
2. When looking for information online, young LGBTQQ men were more likely to report turning to reputable sexual health and medical websites, whereas cisgender straight men were more likely to conduct a general internet search. 
3. Online settings were perceived as more affirming, sex positive and comprehensive, while school settings were more likely to promote an abstinence-only, fear-based education.

The current state of sex education does not have to be a permanent one. Communities in the United States need federal, state and local funding for inclusive sex education. The report also makes recommendations for students, schools and local communities to invest in programming and education that supports LGBTQQ health, safety and well-being:

• Student Activists: Collaborate with national and local sexual health organizations — like It's On Us — to implement LGBTQQ-inclusive programming.
• Educators: Teach LGBTQQ students media literacy and online safety techniques to help them find trustworthy online sources.
• Institutions: Support LGBTQQ students by auditing preexisting curriculum, pursuing partnerships with local nonprofits and peer educators or providing access to reliable online resources.

The full report can be found here. It's On Us used QualtricsXM to distribute survey questions to college-aged men across the country, including 512 who identified as LGBTQQ and 494 who identified as straight and cisgender. The next report in this series will be published in 2026, and the findings will help develop It's On Us' prevention training and further research.

ABOUT It's On Us:
It's On Us is building the movement to combat campus sexual assault by engaging all students, including young men, through grassroots organizing, prevention education programs, and large-scale culture change campaigns. Founded as an initiative of the Obama-Biden White House, It's On Us has grown into the nation's largest student organizing program dedicated to college sexual assault prevention, activating students on hundreds of campuses through awareness and education programs. It's On Us is committed to shifting the culture around campus sexual assault through partnerships with media and brands that engage with millions of college students every day. It's On Us is an initiative of Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Learn more here.

ABOUT Civic Nation:
Civic Nation is a nonprofit ecosystem for high-impact organizing and education initiatives working to build a more inclusive and equitable America. Civic Nation shifts culture, systems, and policy by bringing together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders, and influencers to tackle some of our nation's most pressing social challenges. Civic Nation is home to five national initiatives: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, It's On Us, We The Action, and When We All Vote. Learn more here.

SOURCE It’s On Us