THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MARCH 8, 2024 Page 7 Everett voters cast their ballots on Primary Day V By Tara Vocino oters cast their ballots at the polls on Tuesday for the Presidential Primary and state committees. James Colameta looked over what he called “slim pickings,” with the line behind him. He said he wouldn’t vote for Trump or Biden. Poll workers Douglas Soule, at left, and George Spencer helped voters at their polling location. Laura and Tom Upton voted during Tuesday’s Presidential Primary at the Recreation Center. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Linda Botta voted for President Donald Trump. Shown from left to right: Tuan Tran, Cang Tran and Tuyen Nguyen voted for Donald Trump for President. BILL | FROM PAGE 5 “Today’s vote affirms what we already know – a strong majority of people in Massachusetts, including most parents, want young people to receive sex and relationship education at school,” said Healthy Youth Coalition Co-Chair Jamie Klufts. “We are deeply grateful to the entire Senate, including Senate President Spilka, Senate Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues, and Assistant Majority Leader DiDomenico, for believing in the Healthy Youth Act once again. We look forward to working with the House to pass the Healthy Youth Act this session so that the state’s exciting new Health and Physical Education Framework can reach its full potential and do the most to support our students and teachers.” “Ensuring that Massachusetts schools are places where all students feel safe and supported––no exceptions––has never been so urgent,” said EducateUS Executive Director/ Healthy Youth Coalition CoChair Jaclyn Friedman. “The type of sex and relationship education provided for by the Healthy Youth Act is proven to protect young people against bullying, abuse, and feelings of isolation. We applaud the Senate’s steadfast and timely commitment to young people across Massachusetts.” “We are excited to learn that, once again, the Healthy Youth Act has passed the Senate,” said Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ+ Youth Executive Director Shaplaie Brooks. “This tells us that the number one priority for the Senate is comprehensive, intersectional, and medically-accurate health education for students in the Commonwealth. With this win, we believe that the Senate has weighed the pros and cons of this life-saving legislation, and ultimately centered the importance of cultivating a safe environment for students to engage a modern curriculum that refl ects the issues they face every day and answers their questions about healthy relationships––rooted in consent. The Commission believes that the House understands the same, and urges it to take up this bill immediately. We are at a pivotal moment in our Commonwealth’s history where we have a chance for all youth including LGBTQ youth to receive critical information that can equip them with the tools to keep themselves safe, be a safe person in their relationships, understand the risks and red fl ags specifi c to their communities, and have the autonomy to make informed decisions based on the power of knowledge and not fear.”
8 Publizr Home