In 2019, a handful of sex education organizations decided to move the month previously focused on teen pregnancy prevention to May. sex ed all month long, which has been recognized annually by other organizations in the state and some members of government. This week, we at Scarleteen join the folks at EducateUS to reflect on, among other things:queer “Sex Ed For All” is a mission, slogan and rallying cry that started with us in 2017.
We support wider access to comprehensive sex education and are no strangers to the fact that getting the most basic, basic, accurate sex education in certain places can be incredibly difficult. But here we are not only talking about sex education for all. queer Sex Ed for everyone.
Before 'Sex Ed For All' came along, founders Heather and artist-in-residence (and fundraising event coordinator extraordinaire) Isabella Rotman were fundraising. Queer sex education for everyone Scarleteen's Sex Education felt like one of the simplest explanations for how we think and act.
What does Queer Sex Ed For All mean?
That means a lot! This means that everything we do here is informed by queer frameworks of sex, sexuality, relationships and identity, rather than the cis-heteronorms or competitism that underlies almost all sex education in the West. Even today, much sex education, especially school-based sex education, is still limited.
It's pretty easy to do it this way because we've founded queer and led queer from the beginning. We are not trying to create inclusivity from the outside in. Here it starts from the inside. Queer Sex Ed For All refers to sex education created primarily by, and always at least for, queer people. A quick look at queer history shows that this is no accident.
So the way we think about all things sex and sexuality is queer, the way we think about education is queer, and our queerness deepens our understanding of the world in which we work. This is exactly the service we provide at Scarleteen. Everyone You can benefit from it.
Queer Sex Ed For All means that instead of putting one orientation (since heterosexuality is just one orientation among many) at the center of everything, or basically starting and maintaining the idea that human sexuality, bodies, and relationships don't matter . There are no defaults or universal norms; there is tremendous diversity. We feel and have always felt that this starting point is a beneficial one. every We provide information and services to our users, readers, and others without regard to their identities. This includes cisgender and heterosexual people. They benefit from information and ways of thinking about sex, relationships and their bodies that allow them more freedom to explore rather than being told something or being given limited, rigid options or boxes.
What does queerness at the center of sex education and related support services actually look like?
The framework of queer sexuality is, for the most part, very broad, inclusive, and community-oriented, and that's certainly what we've always aimed to do in almost 25 years of doing this work. Here are some ways to implement QSE4A in the services we provide:
- Talking about sex, sexuality, and relationships as a place or means of pleasure, intimacy, personal expression, and community rather than as a route to reproduction or a single type of “acceptable” relationship (usually marriage).
- We are inclusive and expansive in our approach to all areas that impact our lives and the lives of our communities: race and culture, disability and diverse embodiment, relationship roles, economics, family structures, trauma, and more. This ensures that sex education and information is accessible and useful to as many people as possible.
- Cis-heteronormative, heterosexual, or patriarchal roles, frameworks, and ideas are taught outside of, and sometimes against.
- Teach young people that sex is more than genital intercourse, sometimes nothing at all, and that love and intimacy can happen beyond marriage, sex, and romance.
- It exposes the dangers and biggest pitfalls of sexism, competition, and white supremacy, including the normalization of sexual or domestic violence, lack of actual consent, and pushing simple milestones as the only way to validate a relationship.
- Lastly, it's about encouraging curiosity and exploration rather than treating sex as a taboo topic that you should only think about when you absolutely have to. Because human sexuality is a vast, diverse, and fascinating category. Learning more about that diversity not only helps people better understand their own identities and needs, but also equips them with the knowledge that other people with completely different identities, experiences, and needs are nothing to fear. This is something we have to accept.
I could go on, but this is a blog post, it's not. Queer Sex Ed: A Novel So, let me send you an invitation. This week we'll be sharing some old and new content that highlights how 'Queer Sex Ed For All' can help. every, and how you can embrace and implement it in your life and community. We hope you will participate.
Queer Sex Ed For All logo designed by Isabella Rotman and Heather Corinna.