Mary S. Calderone, who lived from 1904 to 2006, was a physician and public health advocate and was one of the 20th century’s most influential figures in sex education. Initially a medical director for Planned Parenthood, she recognized a critical gap in accurate, unbiased sexual information, leading her to co-found the Sex Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS) in 1964. Calderone championed the radical idea that comprehensive sex education was essential for human dignity and health, not a threat to moral values.
She spent her career battling taboos and political opposition, arguing passionately that open communication about sexuality was key to preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Her dedication transformed how American society approached sex education, paving the way for more informed and honest dialogue. This prominent Quaker activist and writer used Quaker theological principles to advocate for progressive views on sexuality and sex education, arguing that because sexuality is an innate part of the human being, “there must surely be that of God in human sexuality.”
