The Mexican Federal Government has recently banned and discarded the immediate possibility to publish and distribute nationally a sexuality book, as proposed by the Mexico City Major, Marcelo Ebrard.

The book, called “Tu Futuro en Libertad” (”Your Future in Freedom”) was supposed to be given for free to every student of public midschool institutions in Mexico City. It was also being planned to distribute it nationally.

According to the Public Education Secretariat (SEP), the book hasn’t yet been reviewed. Therefore the book can’t be included nor used by teachers, and with less than a week for the official school period to start, it seems impossible for it to be checked by the Secretariat workers.

Perhaps the most relevant part of the book consisted in 13 pages dedicated specially to protection methods, with a special section for the emergency pill. Since the Federal Government is mostly composed by members of the National Action Party -openly related to ultra-conservative catholic groups-, it doesn’t surprise that the book hasn’t passed.

In a quick response, the local Mexico City government said that they will give the book freely among the free uniforms and school material that are gifted to most of the public institution students. However SEP replied that any teacher that uses the book will be administratively punished.

According to my mother-in-law (Maths teacher) this is not possible, since every teacher has the right to recommend and even ask for specific books, even less when the book is given for free. However the federal government heads (including president Calderon) are well known for their relationship with the “Yunque”, a not-so-secret society of puritans and catholic radicals.

It’s still to be seen if the book will actually be published, and how many teachers will adopt it as an open-minded but respectful and cautious way to educate teenagers about responsible sexuality.

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