The Activism of Shelby Knox
In the fall of 2001, 15-year-old Shelby Knox joined the Lubbock Youth Commission and began her life as an activist. Noticing the correlation between the high teen pregnancy rate in
her community and the abstinence-only sex education that was being taught in the Lubbock schools, Shelby began advocating a change to comprehensive sex education and later became
involved with the gay-straight alliance in her school as well.
Her road to activism was captured on film in "The Education of Shelby Knox," which has aired on PBS's P.O.V. series and is shown around the country to student and community
groups. Now enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, Shelby still hasn't stopped her political education and this month Teen Voices acknowledges her years as a
teen activist.
Teen Voices: What got you interested in the issue of sex education in the Texas public schools?
Shelby Knox: When I first joined the Youth Commission in Lubbock, we were looking for an issue that touched
everyone. No one knew anyone who wasn't affected by STDs or pregnancy in some way, so we thought it was an important issue to take up. Our schools taught abstinence-only, and we
felt that needed to be changed. Before, the Youth Commission mainly served as an advisory to the City Council about things like littering.
TV: What did you feel was lacking in the abstinence-only sex education you were getting at school?
Shelby: We had no information about contraception, birth control, condoms, and other ways to protect ourselves
against STDs (sexually transmitted disease) and pregnancy. There was also a lack of medically accurate information. The local pastor who teaches sex education gave outrageous
statistics for condom failure. He insinuated that you can get an STD from shaking someone's hand. In Lubbock, you are taught to respect your pastor. He's supposed to never lead
you astray. People respected him, but also did Bill Clinton impressions because he kind of sounds like him.
TV: What kind of sex education programs do you feel are the most effective for teens?
Shelby: There are a variety of comprehensive sex education programs from Planned Parenthood and Advocates for Youth,
but the only federally organized one is abstinence-only. I think sex education should include how to obtain contraceptives and use them correctly and what to do if you get pregnant.
Abstinence should be stressed as the most important and the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and STDs, but it shouldn't be taught as the only way.
TV: What kind of reactions did you get from people when you started your campaign for change? Did any
reactions surprise you?
Shelby: Our adult adviser for the Lubbock Youth Commission said it was a bad idea when we started to talk
about sex education. Cory Nichols [Youth Commission Mayor] and I were on a subcommittee of the Youth Commission that decided to take up the issue. The students in the schools
were very supportive. Most of them felt something needed to be done about the high rate of pregnancy and STDs in Lubbock. Some teachers would tell me that they supported what
I was doing, but couldn't say so in public. One teacher, who was kind of old, called me a 'baby-killer.' Somehow, she thought that sex education was equal to abortion. My
hall pass was revoked at one point because people said I was 'causing problems' and that would be some sort of punishment. Most of my teachers ignored it, though. My parents
and grandparents are all politically conservative, but they also thought Lubbock needed better sex education in the schools.
TV: Do you think the programs that have teens pledge to not have sex before marriage are effective? Why or
why not? Do you see these programs gaining or losing support?
Shelby: I think that by themselves programs such as 'True Love Waits' are not effective. Studies show that 80
percent of teens break their promise either through anal sex, oral sex, or sexual intercourse and they're actually less likely to use contraception. If that pledge is part of a
good, comprehensive sex education program, it could be more effective. Teens still need information about contraception for after they get married, too.
TV: In the film, your activism grows to include being an ally of GLBT youth issues. Why did you want to get
involved with those issues?
Shelby: I saw the stuff about it on the news, and I knew some of the GLBT teens before. I identified with having
a very public fight about something important to them. I wanted to call attention to the injustice they were experiencing and what a wonderful group they are.
TV: It was a powerful moment when you and your mom joined the counter-protest. How did you feel facing off
with groups such as 'God Hates Fags?'
Shelby: I felt embarrassed that that group considers themselves Christian when nothing they are doing is
Christian or loving in any way. What they say makes no sense and has no basis whatsoever. Everything they say about the Bible is taken out of context. The kids involved who
hold signs for their parents are being taught nothing but hate and their lives will never be fulfilling. 'God Hates Fags' also has sites for God Hates America, Jews, Blacks...everyone.
They even said that the two pilots from Lubbock on the Columbia space shuttle who were killed were like a punishment from God to the community because of our actions.
Continues on Page 2
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Are you a teen activist or do you know any teen activists? Contact
Teen Voices and share your story.
Don't Just Imagine
Marina Tharathattel, 16,
New York
Suppose everything
you dreamed of
came true.
Just suppose
for a split second
that you can have
things your way,
The right way.
Just suppose
you had the power to change
places and
conflicts,
the power to make
a difference.
Now,
don't just suppose
anymore.
Take action!
Teen Source: By Teens, For Teens
It can be difficult to find reliable information on the internet, but this website is affiliated with The California Family Health Council, Inc. It provides articles, links
to other helpful pages, and even educational videos. It also has a built-in dictionary at the top corner of the page. The information is compiled by
health-conscious teens from across the state.
Check it out by visiting www.teensource.org.
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