HIV/AIDS and TB > LGBTI Persons and HIV/AIDS > Sexuality Education at School and HIV/AIDS
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Sexuality Education at School and HIV/AIDS

Sexuality education ignores, avoids or misrepresents same-sex practices or relationships. Most of the HIV/AIDS prevention materials aimed at school students and youth do not discuss same-sex relations. They are silent about the needs of young people who are not heterosexual, and often young people cannot get access to any information about same-sex practices.

Most of the safer sex tools – like condoms – that are available in South Africa, are not suitable for lesbian or gay safer sex. Lesbian safer sex tools like dental dams and rubber gloves are not distributed widely by the health department. Some of the condoms available in South Africa are not suitable for anal sex, and do not come with lubricants such as KY jelly.

The Constitution prohibits unfair discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. LGBTI students and youth have a right to get suitable information, sexuality education or life skills training on how to protect themselves.