Target: Alexis McGill Johnson, Acting President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Goal: Praise the development of a program that educates teens on sex and their bodies.
A recently developed program is offering comprehensive sex education to teens and young adults. This chatbot, developed by Planned Parenthood, has answered more than three million questions about birth control and safe sex posed by young people with nowhere else to turn. Praise this innovative response to Trump’s push for abstinence-only sex education.
“They want validation that they’re normal. ‘Is this specific change normal?’ ‘Is my body normal?’” stated Ambreen Molitor, senior director of the digital products lab at Planned Parenthood. A chatbot program, known as Roo, is the organization’s answer to the outpour of funding for abstinence-only sex education programs, as detailed in this ForceChange petition. Since its launch in January, it has answered questions regarding menstruation, birth control, establishing sexual boundaries, and has even navigated LGBTQ+ issues in a sensitive and nonjudgmental way using artificial intelligence and natural language processing.
Roo is available for free through Planned Parenthood’s website, making it easily accessible for teens and young adults. Sign below and thank those who are fighting to provide effective and accessible education to the nation’s youth.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Acting President McGill Johnson,
Planned Parenthood’s introduction of Roo, the sex education chatbot, has made a resounding difference for teens and young adults across the nation. With over three million questions answered regarding birth control, sexual boundaries, bodily development, and LGBTQ+ issues, this single program has itself curtailed some of the damage done by heavily funded abstinence-only sex education programs.
One of the most important aspects of Roo is its easy accessibility for teens and young adults who are otherwise exposed to ineffective or outdated information. With Roo, they can remain anonymous and ask the important questions without fear of reprimand or judgment. As comprehensive sex education programs continue to face a funding crisis, Roo is a necessary addition to the Planned Parenthood team.
Thank you for taking on this important cause and giving teens and young adults a place to find truth and comfort.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: janeb13
Abstinence should be a part of sex education, but not be the only option taught or advocated. Abstinence only education won’t accomplish anything but almost guarantee a generation of young people with families by the time they graduate high school.