My name is Mae and I am working on my Girl Scout Gold Award Project called End Rape Culture.  One of the ways we can put an end to rape culture is by creating a culture of consent.  Please support my petition to bring affirmative consent training to Danville Public Schools.

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We demand that affirmative consent, yes means yes, training be included in the family life curriculum.

 While the passage of HB 659, approved March 11, 2016, was enacted to make the following changes to family life education curriculum in Virginia, it does not go far enough.  This bill states:
A. Any family life education curriculum offered by a local school division shall require the Standards of Learning objectives related to dating violence and the characteristics of abusive relationships to be taught at least once in middle school and at least twice in high school, as described in the Board of Education's family life education guidelines.
B. Any high school family life education curriculum offered by a local school division shall incorporate age-appropriate elements of effective and evidence-based programs on the prevention of dating violence, domestic abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual violence.

We live in a culture where rape and sexual assault are pervasive and accepted as normal. We must change societal attitudes and we believe affirmative consent training is a great place to start. Yes means yes puts the burden on the person wanting to go further by requiring they gain a yes response to continue. Additionally, where there is not a response, there is no consent. To expect the unwilling participant to be responsible is wrong and furthers the perpetuation of Rape Culture philosophy. Unfortunately, we have seen the effects of young people in the college environment who lack this understanding. We want to make affirmative consent education clear and concise at the Middle & High School levels in an attempt to end this problem.

Please like my facebook page:  www.facebook.com/endrapecultureandvictimblaming