Ask our Docs: Prostate Play and Pleasure
January 25, 7-8 pm, Free
Good Vibrations Valencia St., 603 Valencia St. (at 17th), San Francisco
The prostate is one of the most overlooked sexual organs, but it can bring you amazing pleasure. With a little know-how, you can have lots of prostate fun, on your own or with a partner. Charlie Glickman, Ph.D will tell you everything you need to know to get started, what toys work best for prostate play, tips for making it easier, and more. Whether you or your partner are new to prostate fun or you’re looking for some new ideas, come get your questions answered and discover how amazing it can be!

Film Screening & Reception to benefit Advocates for Informed Choice
January 26, 6-9 pm
Suggested donation: $50
Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, 290 Dolores Street, San Francisco
Please join us for a 10th anniversary retrospective of the award-winning documentary, “XXXY”. Q&A will follow with filmmaker Porter Gale and Anne Tamar-Mattis, Executive Director of AIC.

Filmmaker Magazine calls “XXXY” “essential filmmaking” as it “concisely and powerfully conveys horror, injustice and tremendous personal fortitude.” This 13-minute documentary features two adults, Howard and Kristi, who were subjected to extensive nonconsensual cosmetic genital surgery as infants and teenagers because they were born with intersex conditions.

Founded in 2006, Advocates for Informed Choice is the only organization in the U.S. to undertake a coordinated strategy of legal advocacy for the rights of children with intersex conditions or DSDs (differences of sex development).

Garage parking is available at Hoff Street Garage (16th/Mission). Also, MUNI underground and the 16th St. BART station are very good transportation options.

Sex Positive Discussion Panel- Let’s Talk Consent!
January 27, 7-10 pm, $7.50 in advance, $10 at the door
The Mills College Community Health Resource Center is proud to present our second annual Sex Positive Discussion Panel! This year, our speakers are:

Carol Queen
Jiz Lee
Charlie Glickman
Krista Smith
Dossie Easton
Shilo Mccabe
with more to come

This year’s theme is consent. How do we give and get consent? What does this mean in terms of BDSM? How do we enact consent when dealing with sexual assault? How can consent be eroticized?

Mills students get in free, with current ID at the door. Tickets for non-Mills community members are $7.50 if purchased before the date and $10 at the door. Coffee and cookies will be for sale in the lobby afterward.

Good Vibrations New Store Grand Opening Party!
January 28, 6-9 pm, Free
Good Vibrations Oakland, 3219 Lakeshore Ave.
Join us as we celebrate the launch of our 6th store on Lakeshore Avenue in Oakland, California. Plus, meet very special guest Kandi Burruss, Grammy-winning songwriter, singer, producer, and Real Housewife of Atlanta, presenting her new intimate luxury line “Bedroom Kandi!” Enjoy free sexy prizes from the Wheel of Pleasure, including several Burguss’ own Bedroom Kandi line from OhMiBod, along with tasty treats, and keepsake photos from the Good Vibrations custom photo booth.

Prostate Play with Charlie Glickman & Aislinn Emirzian!
The Looking Glass, Oakland, CA
January 29, 2-4 pm, $20 or $35/pair
Purchase tickets and find location info here
The prostate is one of the most overlooked sources of sexual pleasure but with a little know-how, you can tap into its amazing sexual potential. Sex educators Charlie Glickman and Aislinn Emirzian will make sure you have all the tools you need to make your prostate play as fun as it can be. They’ll talk about the three most important ingredients for anal play, the physiology of the prostate and how it affects pleasure, tips for prostate massage, using toys, incorporating prostate play into other sexual activities, and male multiple orgasm. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have all the tools you need to have plenty of prostate fun!

(Note- if you’re wondering what the difference is between this workshop and the free one on 1/25, this one goes much longer, gives you a lot more info, and has plenty of time for Q&A. The 1 hour version at Good Vibrations is a lot faster and has less time for discussion.)

[SSEX BBOX] Premiere!
January 30, 7:30-11 pm, Free
The Center for Sex & Culture, 1349 Mission Street, San Francisco
[SSEX BBOX] is a social justice web series and documentary that aspires to create sexual awareness worldwide. We believe that sex should be discussed, explored, felt and consciously experienced more “outside of the box”.
[SSEX BBOX] expands consciousness by examining and challenging two dimensional, archaic and obsolete understandings of sexuality and gender. Constructing community, education, & dialogue – dismantling ignorance, isolation & shame…

This event will screen the first and second episodes of the [SSEX BBOX] documentary series.

Explore the world outside of your sex box through thought-provoking interviews with nationally recognized sex educators and sex-perts , such as ; Dossie Easton, MFT (Psychotherapist & Writer), Chris White, PhD, Charlie Glickman, PhD (Sex Educator & Sex-Positive Activist) Jessi Fischer, MA (Writer & Sex Educator) and more…
and conversations that matter!

Meet the director and [SSEX BBOX] crew after the film!

Advocates for Informed Choice, an amazing organization that advocates for the civil rights of children who are born with variations of sex anatomy. It’s estimated that 1 in 2000 children are born with reproductive or sexual anatomy and/or chromosome patterns that don’t fit the usual definitions of male or female. And in most cases, the medical response is to perform surgeries. In fact, many doctors view children born with DSD (differences in sex development) as an emergency that requires an immediate response. This often results in pressuring parents to make quick decisions about things that they might not even have heard of before. Fortunately, AIC is working to change that and there’s been some progress.

On January 26, 2012 in San Francisco, AIC is hosting a benefit and screening of XXXY, a documentary film that takes an “intimate look at the long-term emotional, psychological, and physiological effects of being born “intersex,” or with ambiguous genitalia.” The film focuses on two people who between them have undergone over two dozen surgeries to “correct” their ambiguous sex organs. They speak quite honestly about the ways in which their experiences, including ” a wide array emotional issues, including shame, secrecy, gender identity, depression, intimacy, and the feelings of disempowerment that come from having no role in the decisions made regarding their gender identity.”

Following the screening, there will be Q&A with the filmmakers Porter Gale and Laleh Soomekh, and Anne Tamar-Mattis, Executive Director of AIC. You can purchase tickets here. And here’s the Facebook event page- even if you can’t make it, please help get the word out.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS : FAT-POSITIVE ANTHOLOGY

1500-3000 words

Editor: Virgie Tovar – author, fat activist/lifetime fat girl, and MA, Human Sexuality

Deadline: November 15, 2011

I’m seeking personal essays for a fat positive anthology to be released in 2012. I’m seeking essays that either (1) focus on a specific event/experience that was truly flabulous or (2) tell the story of how you became a fierce fatty. I encourage contributors to hone in on a particular theme—like romance, parenting, family, fatshion, dating, performance—to use as a lens through which to tell your story. Fierce, sassy, thoughtful, authentic, non-fiction, previously unpublished, autobiographical stories from fatties who identify as women are welcome. The vision for this anthology is one of fun, unapologetic fat celebration and love!

Envision the book you would have wanted to read when you started out on your journey to fat positivity. This will be that book for a lot of people. So, share what you know and what you’ve learned, the way you navigate the world, your experiences, and don’t leave out the juicy parts!

Some guiding questions that may help as you’re writing:
-how did you become a fierce fatty?
-how do you create positive spaces in your life?
-what was a pivotal moment or experience that led to fat positivity for you?
-how do you talk to friends/family about being a fatty/fat pos?
-how do you “do” fatshion?
-how does being a fatty impact dating, sexuality and romantic relationships for you?
-has performance (e.g., fat belly dance or fat burlesque) impacted your body love experience?
-what people/communities make you feel fabulous?
-what role does your fierce fatness play into your friendships or family relationships?

Don’t feel limited by this list of suggestions, please!

Please send electronic submissions only. Attach your submission in MS Word (.doc) format to fatposanthology@gmail.com. Please include a short bio and your contact information in the body of the e-mail. Please direct questions to the abovementioned email. Also, if you feel you have a great fat pos tale but maybe don’t feel ready to take on writing your story, I’m doing a limited number of interviews.

Contributors of accepted submissions will be paid $50 and receive a writing credit in the book.

Please feel free to distribute this call.

www.VirgieTovar.weebly.com

Several years ago, I took the Celebrating the Body Erotic at the Body Electric School and it changed my life. Their experiential classes in erotic energy, breathwork, movement, and conscious sexuality have helped thousands of people discover ways to move past the barriers that restrict and limit their pleasure. I can certainly say that it did for me, as well as lots of other people I’ve spoken with.

Sinclair Sexsmith just let me know about their new class for genderqueer folks, which is super exciting! Lots of tantra and sacred sexuality classes are pretty focused on the gender binary, which can make it hard for lots of people to connect with the practices. I’ve seen some tantra classes for gay men and for lesbians (in fact, Body Electric has been doing things along those lines for years), but this is the first time I’ve seen anything like this for genderqueer people.

Here’s the info taken from their site. Please pass this on to anyone who’d like to go- the best way to make sure that events like this happen is to make them a success so folks can see that there is a demand for them.

Outside the Boxes: Celebrating the Queer Body Erotic

November 11-13, 2011 in San Francisco

Your gender. Your body. Your energy. Your beautiful self.  How often has the world tried to force you into the gender binary, asked you to assure it that your pronouns matched what it saw rather than what you felt, required that your genitals conform to expectations, demanded that you deny the complexity of all that is you?

What if you could come into a community in which all expressions were possible? Where gender, sexuality and expression were aligned according to your truth? Where no one assumed what parts would go where? Welcome to Outside the Boxes: Celebrating the Queer Body Erotic!

Come explore your erotic potential through the mind, the body and the heart using conscious breath, movement, process work and massage.  Awaken the erotic energy that lies within all of us. Through a queer tantra lens, explore archetypal masculine and feminine energies and the myriad ways they can be expressed. Break down silos of gender and sexuality.

This workshop focuses on the entire body and is conducted in a container that is playful, safe and reverential. Using carefully designed experiential embodiment practices participants will:

• explore the innate wisdom of your body
• expand awareness, sensation and pleasure through conscious breath, movement, touch, and communication, where each person’s choices and rhythms are honored
• learn how to more deeply tune in to your body, mind, heart and spirit
• to receive more fully from yourself and others, and to give without losing yourself
• learn to give and receive full-body massage and to focus on the healing potential of sensual/spiritual energy
• learn from your own and others’ unfolding, and feel awed witnessing and supporting our uniqueness and commonalities

Outside the Boxes: Celebrating the Queer Body Erotic is a 2 1/2 day workshop (Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday), often clothing-optional, for those who are ready to vigorously explore new levels of feeling and aliveness, both within themselves and within a community of queers.

NOTE: Couples are welcome to attend Outside the Boxes: Celebrating the Queer Body Erotic and have the option of working together or with the other participants.

Cost: $395-$150, sliding scale. We are committed to finding creative financial solutions so don’t let money be the barrier that keeps your soul’s desire at bay.

SPECIAL OFFERS for Outside the Boxes: Celebrating the Queer Body Erotic

$50 off if PAY IN FULL 7 WEEKS in advance = $345

$30 off if PAY IN FULL 5 WEEKS in advance = $365

OFFERS CANNOT BE COMBINED

CONTACT • Amy Butcher • (415) 377-4107 • Send Email • November 11-13

–REGISTER ONLINE–

Lizz Randall is a gender-queer Body Electric teacher, Sacred Intimate and long-term student of tantra. Her work as an integrative body worker and educator offers a holistic and open-hearted approach to wellness, passion and aliveness in body. She is fiercely dedicated to creating spaces where all bodies can come together and explore their erotic potency. Lizz has been teaching experiential workshops and working in the fields of sexuality, spirituality and health for over 15 years. She also spends her time as a farmer and parent, resides on Vashon Island and has a private practice in Seattle.

There are unfortunately few projects that aim to raise awareness among men around their role in sexual assault. I just found out about the “Don’t Be That Guy” Campaign in Ottawa and I’m really happy to see it. It launched in May and its aim is to help young men change how they view sexual assault. From the Facebook page:

The posters take a refreshing and new approach to tackling sexual violence among youth aged 19 to 25. Instead of placing responsibility for preventing sexual assault in the hands of victims, the posters appeal to potential offenders—speaking directly to them in their language. The posters can be displayed in bars as well as other places where young people gather

Go and like them on Facebook and help get the word out.

This year, the conference is offering workshops for teens, activities for younger children, presentations for parents, and seminars for professionals who work with children, youth, and families around issues of gender. It sounds amazing and takes place July 29 – August 1, 2011 in Berkeley, California. If you can’t make it, you can purchase recordings from last year’s conference from their website, so I assume they’ll make this year’s sessions available, too.

If you’d like more info, take a look at their website for more info, as well as their flyer for teens and the announcement for adults.

That’s why Dr. Ruthie has started the Sex Positive Professional Group. Current and aspiring sex therapists, home toy party providers, sex & relationship coaches, sexologists, writers, bloggers, artists, and anyone else working as a sexuality professional can join in. For $125/month (a portion of which is donated to Scarleteen), you have access to:

• Monthly group calls, which include important continuing educational content, interviews with guest experts, discussion with other members, and the opportunity to seek peer consultations and support for your specific goals.
• For those who are unable to call in, or who want to review the call, every monthly meeting will be available to members as a downloadable or streaming .mp3 file.
• Every member will receive a 30 minute monthly private phone consultation with Dr. Ruthie to make sure that you receive the direct support and information that you need to make prompt progress on your goals.
• Members also receive a discounted rate on additional private sessions, if desired.
• Members-only email group and online community to build your professional circles and collaborate.  Audio recordings of all group calls will be made available here, as well.

For more information, check out Dr. Ruthie’s site.

I’m honored to be teaching my How to Be a Top Presenter class as part of the Institute. Although I’ll be offering a 3-hour version of this one at Good Vibrations in July, the class at the Institute will be 4 sessions, which will give us much more time to discuss practices, explore some of the theories, and build some of the practical skills that sex educators need. There are lots of other amazing teachers and to be honest, I wish I could take the time off work at attend their classes.

If you’re thinking of applying, tell them that I referred you and they’ll waive the application fee (as well as the late fee, if you miss the May 1 deadline). And no, I don’t get a commission.

Feel free to pass this along to any sex educators or students who might like to know about it. And if you plan to attend, drop me a note!

The WP Simple Sex-Positive Glossary will look through your content and turn any of the sexuality terms into links that’ll take readers to the definition of that word on Scarleteen or sexuality.about.com. It’s super easy to install and works great. Here are a few examples: sex, bisexual, safer sex, communication, kegel exercises.

I’m giving it a try- my regular links are in my standard orange color and the new ones look like this. If you want to make similar changes to the style of these links or if you want to make the links open in a new tab, you’ll need to edit the php file, but you certainly don’t need to. Big thanks to Maymay for creating this!

Sex::Tech is put on by ISIS (Internet Sexuality Information Services), an amazing organization that helps develop solutions for getting sex education and information to the people who need it. They do some really interesting work, like training service providers to use the internet and social media better, create internet outreach plans, and design computerized behavioral risk assessment for sexual health and disease prevention.

The conference focuses on media, youth, and sexual health. There will be presentations on conducting web-based research, content management systems, the intersections of gender, disability & social justice, tech for HIV surveillance and a lot more. If you work in sexual health and/or with youth, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

My presentation is going to be about sex-positivity and what sex educators can do to overcome negative beliefs about sex. And while it’s not about tech per se, service provider attitudes are the foundation that everything else rests on, so I’m honored to be part of this event.

If you can’t make it to San Francisco, keep track of the event on twitter, either by following @sextech or by searching for the #sextech hashtag. Attendees will be live tweeting during the presentations, so you can find out about what’s going on.