The Ohio State University says the purpose of Sex Week is "to explore the sides of sexual health that (students) never really learned." | Adobe Stock
The Ohio State University says the purpose of Sex Week is "to explore the sides of sexual health that (students) never really learned." | Adobe Stock
The Ohio State University (OSU) is holding a “Sex Week” this week, and right-wing activists, media figures and Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci are up in arms about the event.
Renacci released a statement about the OSU event, referencing a Fox News report that said the Student Advocates for Sexual Health Awareness is hosting the event. He criticized Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) for letting this happen at a state institution.
"This is sick," Renacci said, according to his website. "Ohio conservatives should be outraged that DeWine would allow taxpayer dollars to support this at any state school, let alone OSU. I have made it clear that life is precious and abortion is murder, with long-term mental health consequences. As governor, I will fight to ensure not a single penny of taxpayer dollars goes towards supporting pro-abortion propaganda like this.”
Jim Renacci
| Wikimedia Commons
OSU's website for Sex Week notes that since the Student Advocates for Sexual Health is a student organization, it is able to apply for funding through the Council on Student Affairs (CSA). Funds received from CSA are sourced from the student activity fee. Other funding comes from private sponsors and donations.
“Although Sex Week is more informative and inclusive than the typical Ohio high school sex ed, we do not get any taxpayer money,” the Sex Week website said. “Let me repeat — your tax dollars are not going to Sex Week.”
Sex Week has a mission to educate the school community about sexual health in all forms. It points out that the state of Ohio doesn’t have regulated sex education. Sex Week partners with Planned Parenthood but not pregnancy crisis centers, with the website calling them “unethical, misleading, inaccurate and a threat to public health.”
“We believe that realistic sexual health is interdisciplinary and includes nontraditional topics like LGBTQ sex ed, healthy masculinity, gender equality and reproductive rights,” the website states. “We aim to connect to our peers through dynamic, comprehensive activities that are geared towards the needs of our community.”
Fox News reported that one of the events is called “Valentines for Abortion Providers,” where students are encouraged to thank abortion providers.
On Fox News’ “Ingraham Angle,” correspondent Raymond Arroyo said, "It's outrageous that they’re violating our kids’ innocence with this stuff. They’re training them basically to be sex workers or degenerates.” This comment was in reference to parts of the week that focus on things like sex toys and bondage.
Renacci’s choice for lieutenant governor, Joe Knopp, is the producer of the pro-life movie called “UnPlanned.” Knopp also called out DeWine.
“High-quality education is vital for the future of Ohio. Shame on DeWine for allowing liberals to pollute our state university with an evil celebration of legalized murder,” Knopp said, according to Renacci's website.
In 2020 there were 20,605 abortions performed in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
Renacci, a former businessman and U.S. representative, is running against incumbent DeWine in the GOP primary on May 3. DeWine has been governor since 2019 and in elected office for 41 years. That includes his time in the Ohio State Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate and as Ohio attorney general and Ohio lieutenant governor.
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