Yet another new FMF blogger!

My name is Lily Armstrong, and I'm a new intern at the Los Angeles branch of the FMF. I'm probably the youngest on the blog, as I'm not even in college yet. Actually, I'll only be a 10th grader next year, but that doesn't by any means make me unopinionated!

I must first say that in my fourteen years on this good planet, I cannot remember a time when I wasn't a feminist. I was truly raised in it, due to my wonderful parents' involvement with clinic defense. In fact, it was through clinic defense that they met in 1990.

It is difficult for me to note any certain moment when I became a feminist, as I truly feel I have always been one. I've known about feminist issues for many years now, and have always been very involved and interested in them. I consider myself to be an activist, starting when I took part in the 2004 March for Women's Lives in Washington at eight years old.

My interest became more sophisticated in middle school, when two fantastic classes (taught by one fantastic teacher) in 7th and 8th grade allowed me to argue my opinions more freely than ever before. It was in 7th grade that I first attended the FMF Global Women's Rights Awards, which were very inspiring to me. Last summer, I interned at the FMF for about a month, which further developed and reinforced my beliefs. This summer, I hope to develop them even further.

Wherever I end up for college, which for me is still a ways away, I'll probably major in Women's Studies. Most of my other interests at least tangentially involve music, writing, and 1960s culture.

Two Teenagers After My Own Heart

I can't remember the last time I heard teenagers speaking out about anything beyond how much school sucks, classes are "sooo boring" and how their parents are ruining their lives.

So I was delighted to find this article on Cleveland.com. It seems myself and the other interns here at FMF aren't the only ones who believe abstinence-only education is along the lines of sex un-education.

Here, we've got two actual teenager students, Daniel Sparks, 17, and Jelena Loncar, 16, who voiced their dissatisfaction with the abstinence-only education program at Parma High School. The two presented their views to the 150 adults who attended the school board meeting on the night of February 22.

Some of my favorite parts:

Jelena quoted the district's abstinence-only-until-marriage sex education program, Operation Keepsake:

"I personally don't view men as predators or protectors. And I certainly don't view myself as a treasure or a target. I found it insulting and undermining that Operation Keepsake reduced me to a social stereotype."

And the brave Daniel told his audience, "Operation Keepsake has made me question education as a whole, for while they scared us into understanding what could go wrong, they afforded us no information on how things could go right."

He then asked how he, as a homosexual, is supposed to uphold the abstinence until marriage standard if his home state does not even grant him the right to marry. A bit risky, and bringing up a whole different issue. But still bold and beautiful, I say.

Superintendent Sarah Zatik, along with several parents in attendance, congratulated the students after their presentation. Ms. Zatik announced she would be resigning in July, but not before she forms a committee to "start the conversation" for comprehensive sex education.

These teens are truly ahead of the curve. Time to get the rest of their generation on board.

photo credit: msugovdocs at flickr