Janelle Monáe explains sex in new Netflix series because sex education in schools is seriously lacking
Janelle Monae came out as queer in 2018. (Ingram/Getty Images for Belvedere Vodka)
Janelle Monáe has narrated a new Netflix docuseries explaining a wide range of sex-related issues, filling some of the gaps left by inadequate sex education in schools.
Sex, Explained is a five-part series by Netflix, in collaboration with Vox, which will cover many sex-related topics “from the biology of attraction to the history of birth control”. The first episode looks at sexual fantasies, and how and why they are formed.
The episodes are short and informative, with colourful animations and wide-ranging interviews, and, of course, Monáe’s soothing voice narrating throughout.
Monáe came out as queer in 2018, and the ‘Dirty Computer’ singer told Rolling Stone: “Being a queer black woman in America, someone who has been in relationships with both men and women – I consider myself to be a free-ass motherf**ker.”
The star explained that she had identified as bisexual at first, “but then later I read about pansexuality and was like: ‘Oh, these are things that I identify with too.'”
She added: “I’m open to learning more about who I am.”
Janelle Monáe will explain sex to people because schools aren’t
In September 2020, new regulations for teaching relationships and sex education in the UK will come into force, meaning that primary school children will be able to learn about different kinds of families, including LGBT+ ones.
But, at the same time, protests outside primary schools in Birmingham over inclusive education saw some protestors accusing schools of teaching anal sex, paedophilia and “transgenderism”, proving there is still a long way to go before inclusive sex education is universally accepted.
In America, the law around sex education in schools is inconsistent and confusing.
According to Planned Parenthood, only 29 states require schools to teach sex education, and just 15 require that these lessons be medically accurate.
Only nine states require discussion of LGBT+ identities, and seven Southern states ban the discussion of LGBT+ issues, or even answering questions about it. Some even require schools to “frame LGBTQ identities and relationships negatively”.
Sex, Explained is streaming now on Netflix.
