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Queer sex ed for all | Christopher Culp | TEDxBuffalo


so let’s talk about sex actually let’s

so let’s talk about sex actually let’s talk about sex education which is just

talk about sex education which is just

talk about sex education which is just as fun if I think about one of my

as fun if I think about one of my

as fun if I think about one of my earliest memories about sex education it

earliest memories about sex education it

earliest memories about sex education it was in the 5th grade the teachers are

was in the 5th grade the teachers are

was in the 5th grade the teachers are really nervous they broke us up into

really nervous they broke us up into

really nervous they broke us up into boys and girls and as boy I was put in

boys and girls and as boy I was put in

boys and girls and as boy I was put in one room we watched a really poorly

one room we watched a really poorly

one room we watched a really poorly animated video about puberty and wet

animated video about puberty and wet

animated video about puberty and wet dreams and then we got a travel-size

dreams and then we got a travel-size

dreams and then we got a travel-size deodorant and were sent back to class

all I remember is being jealous why was

all I remember is being jealous why was i jealous because the girls got a paper

i jealous because the girls got a paper

i jealous because the girls got a paper bag of goodies now I had no idea what

bag of goodies now I had no idea what

bag of goodies now I had no idea what they had turns out it was deodorant a

they had turns out it was deodorant a

they had turns out it was deodorant a pad and a tampon I didn’t know what

pad and a tampon I didn’t know what

pad and a tampon I didn’t know what those were for cuz we didn’t learn but I

those were for cuz we didn’t learn but I

those were for cuz we didn’t learn but I was just jealous and confused and then

was just jealous and confused and then

was just jealous and confused and then just went back to class as a sex health

just went back to class as a sex health

just went back to class as a sex health educator now this is an experience I

educator now this is an experience I

educator now this is an experience I keep with me of what not to do that

keep with me of what not to do that

keep with me of what not to do that lesson that introduction to sex

lesson that introduction to sex

lesson that introduction to sex education was not inclusive at all they

education was not inclusive at all they

education was not inclusive at all they broke us up into binary genders we

broke us up into binary genders we

broke us up into binary genders we didn’t learn anything about other

didn’t learn anything about other

didn’t learn anything about other genders or other sexes and then there

genders or other sexes and then there

genders or other sexes and then there was no follow up we’ve got do during man

was no follow up we’ve got do during man

was no follow up we’ve got do during man and that’s something that I strive for I

and that’s something that I strive for I

and that’s something that I strive for I strive for inclusive queer inclusive

strive for inclusive queer inclusive

strive for inclusive queer inclusive trans inclusive sex education in my work

trans inclusive sex education in my work

trans inclusive sex education in my work one of the reasons that sex education is

one of the reasons that sex education is

one of the reasons that sex education is not inclusive though is an idea that I

not inclusive though is an idea that I

not inclusive though is an idea that I like to call compulsory Reaper sexuality

like to call compulsory Reaper sexuality

like to call compulsory Reaper sexuality that’s a big theory term but break it

that’s a big theory term but break it

that’s a big theory term but break it down for you compulsive is mandatory and

down for you compulsive is mandatory and

down for you compulsive is mandatory and Reaper sexuality reproduction basically

Reaper sexuality reproduction basically

Reaper sexuality reproduction basically it’s a cultural notion that we’re all

it’s a cultural notion that we’re all

it’s a cultural notion that we’re all expected to and or it’s the norm to

expected to and or it’s the norm to

expected to and or it’s the norm to reproduce so we all know this as a

reproduce so we all know this as a

reproduce so we all know this as a really common nursery rhyme

really common nursery rhyme

really common nursery rhyme first comes love then comes marriage

first comes love then comes marriage

first comes love then comes marriage then comes baby in the baby carriage

then comes baby in the baby carriage

then comes baby in the baby carriage that line of thought and that narrative

that line of thought and that narrative

that line of thought and that narrative is something that’s often used against

is something that’s often used against

is something that’s often used against people or to discipline people as

people or to discipline people as

people or to discipline people as somebody myself who doesn’t want to

somebody myself who doesn’t want to

somebody myself who doesn’t want to reproduce because I have lots of kids

reproduce because I have lots of kids

reproduce because I have lots of kids because I teach and I like to go home

because I teach and I like to go home

because I teach and I like to go home alone I often get from students and

alone I often get from students and

alone I often get from students and other adults you don’t want to have kids

other adults you don’t want to have kids

other adults you don’t want to have kids it’s like no I’m fine but there’s a bit

it’s like no I’m fine but there’s a bit

it’s like no I’m fine but there’s a bit of a judgment there and when people say

of a judgment there and when people say

of a judgment there and when people say oh I don’t want to have children you

oh I don’t want to have children you

oh I don’t want to have children you know that could ruin a would be

know that could ruin a would be

know that could ruin a would be grandmothers day or mother-in-law going

grandmothers day or mother-in-law going

grandmothers day or mother-in-law going hey where are my grandkids or father

hey where are my grandkids or father

hey where are my grandkids or father going where am I gonna have a grandkid

going where am I gonna have a grandkid

going where am I gonna have a grandkid to have some fun with when it comes to

to have some fun with when it comes to

to have some fun with when it comes to sex education though this infiltrates in

sex education though this infiltrates in

sex education though this infiltrates in a lot of really problematic ways for

a lot of really problematic ways for

a lot of really problematic ways for inclusion because we think of sex

inclusion because we think of sex

inclusion because we think of sex education like this that model doesn’t

education like this that model doesn’t

education like this that model doesn’t fit everybody now how that fits in the

fit everybody now how that fits in the

fit everybody now how that fits in the sex education is that we often talk

sex education is that we often talk

sex education is that we often talk about sex education and my job is funded

about sex education and my job is funded

about sex education and my job is funded by a grant for teen pregnancy prevention

by a grant for teen pregnancy prevention

by a grant for teen pregnancy prevention so the idea of preventing teen

so the idea of preventing teen

so the idea of preventing teen pregnancies is itself also a problem

pregnancies is itself also a problem

pregnancies is itself also a problem because teens and youth have the right

because teens and youth have the right

because teens and youth have the right to make decisions about their own

to make decisions about their own

to make decisions about their own reproductive health so what we’re

reproductive health so what we’re

reproductive health so what we’re actually doing is trying to educate for

actually doing is trying to educate for

actually doing is trying to educate for unintended pregnancies pregnancies that

unintended pregnancies pregnancies that

unintended pregnancies pregnancies that are mistimed or not wanted like ah I

are mistimed or not wanted like ah I

are mistimed or not wanted like ah I didn’t know that was gonna happen but in

didn’t know that was gonna happen but in

didn’t know that was gonna happen but in the meantime when we do these programs

the meantime when we do these programs

the meantime when we do these programs many of these programs are given to us

many of these programs are given to us

many of these programs are given to us from different places they focus on

from different places they focus on

from different places they focus on heterosexual penis and vagina real

heterosexual penis and vagina real

heterosexual penis and vagina real leading to reproduction sex that’s

leading to reproduction sex that’s

leading to reproduction sex that’s considered the norm so if that’s

considered the norm so if that’s

considered the norm so if that’s considered the norm we don’t get to talk

considered the norm we don’t get to talk

considered the norm we don’t get to talk about a whole lot of other sexual acts

about a whole lot of other sexual acts

about a whole lot of other sexual acts the whole spectrum so I do say I do a

the whole spectrum so I do say I do a

the whole spectrum so I do say I do a program and this has happened to me I

program and this has happened to me I

program and this has happened to me I tend to have really outspoken youth

tend to have really outspoken youth

tend to have really outspoken youth which is great and I’ll have a youth

which is great and I’ll have a youth

which is great and I’ll have a youth who’s a self-identified lesbian go hey

who’s a self-identified lesbian go hey

who’s a self-identified lesbian go hey this doesn’t matter to me I’m a lesbian

this doesn’t matter to me I’m a lesbian

this doesn’t matter to me I’m a lesbian I don’t picture myself having sex with

I don’t picture myself having sex with

I don’t picture myself having sex with somebody with a penis ever and that’s

somebody with a penis ever and that’s

somebody with a penis ever and that’s their worldview that’s their identity

their worldview that’s their identity

their worldview that’s their identity and so yeah if I’m talking about

and so yeah if I’m talking about

and so yeah if I’m talking about external condoms and birth control

external condoms and birth control

external condoms and birth control this isn’t relating to them and you may

this isn’t relating to them and you may

this isn’t relating to them and you may think well maybe she has a point she’s

think well maybe she has a point she’s

think well maybe she has a point she’s not necessarily thinking about having

not necessarily thinking about having

not necessarily thinking about having sex that could lead to reproduction so

sex that could lead to reproduction so

sex that could lead to reproduction so why does she need to learn it maybe she

why does she need to learn it maybe she

why does she need to learn it maybe she should have some other kind of sex

should have some other kind of sex

should have some other kind of sex education that brings up some issues for

education that brings up some issues for

education that brings up some issues for me about separate vehicle we’ll put that

me about separate vehicle we’ll put that

me about separate vehicle we’ll put that aside because that’s problem instead we

aside because that’s problem instead we

aside because that’s problem instead we also have to admit that queer youth do

also have to admit that queer youth do

also have to admit that queer youth do have unintended pregnancies and you may

have unintended pregnancies and you may

have unintended pregnancies and you may go really but there are many instances

go really but there are many instances

go really but there are many instances where queer youth might have sex that

where queer youth might have sex that

where queer youth might have sex that results in a pregnancy

results in a pregnancy

results in a pregnancy for example if somebody’s dealing with

for example if somebody’s dealing with

for example if somebody’s dealing with internalized homophobia they may act and

internalized homophobia they may act and

internalized homophobia they may act and do certain things we may have certain

do certain things we may have certain

do certain things we may have certain kinds of sex that they don’t want but to

kinds of sex that they don’t want but to

kinds of sex that they don’t want but to be perceived as heterosexual or to be

be perceived as heterosexual or to be

be perceived as heterosexual or to be perceived as themselves as heterosexual

perceived as themselves as heterosexual

perceived as themselves as heterosexual so all it takes is at one time somebody

so all it takes is at one time somebody

so all it takes is at one time somebody a gay man perhaps takes a girl out for

a gay man perhaps takes a girl out for

a gay man perhaps takes a girl out for prom does some stereotypical acts just

prom does some stereotypical acts just

prom does some stereotypical acts just that one time you have an unintended

that one time you have an unintended

that one time you have an unintended pregnancy there are also times when

pregnancy there are also times when

pregnancy there are also times when people just feel forced socially into

people just feel forced socially into

people just feel forced socially into that we also have to admit that queer

that we also have to admit that queer

that we also have to admit that queer youth are often the subject of different

youth are often the subject of different

youth are often the subject of different oppressions and disparities so they may

oppressions and disparities so they may

oppressions and disparities so they may have to result or go into sex sex work

have to result or go into sex sex work

have to result or go into sex sex work trading sex for money or survival sex

trading sex for money or survival sex

trading sex for money or survival sex trading sex for some sort of shelter or

trading sex for some sort of shelter or

trading sex for some sort of shelter or some sort of food protection and queer

some sort of food protection and queer

some sort of food protection and queer youth especially transgender women and

youth especially transgender women and

youth especially transgender women and transgender women of color are often

transgender women of color are often

transgender women of color are often targeted for sexual assault and rape

targeted for sexual assault and rape

targeted for sexual assault and rape these are all potential acts that could

these are all potential acts that could

these are all potential acts that could lead to pregnancy but definitely not on

lead to pregnancy but definitely not on

lead to pregnancy but definitely not on the radar of somebody who might

the radar of somebody who might

the radar of somebody who might self-identify as gay or lesbian

self-identify as gay or lesbian

self-identify as gay or lesbian and definitely not something that maybe

and definitely not something that maybe

and definitely not something that maybe people even want to happen so in these

people even want to happen so in these

people even want to happen so in these cases what do what should we do well for

cases what do what should we do well for

cases what do what should we do well for the self-identified lesbian in the class

the self-identified lesbian in the class

the self-identified lesbian in the class this doesn’t relate to her if I’m just

this doesn’t relate to her if I’m just

this doesn’t relate to her if I’m just talking about a penis and vagina sex

talking about a penis and vagina sex

talking about a penis and vagina sex model it does not relate and if there’s

model it does not relate and if there’s

model it does not relate and if there’s one big education faux pas it’s if you

one big education faux pas it’s if you

one big education faux pas it’s if you don’t teach something that relates to

don’t teach something that relates to

don’t teach something that relates to somebody’s personal experience there is

somebody’s personal experience there is

somebody’s personal experience there is no way for it to be incorporated into

no way for it to be incorporated into

no way for it to be incorporated into their knowledge and so if somebody’s

their knowledge and so if somebody’s

their knowledge and so if somebody’s world view is this is the kind of sex

world view is this is the kind of sex

world view is this is the kind of sex I’m having this is how I am this is my

I’m having this is how I am this is my

I’m having this is how I am this is my Who I am as a person it’s not gonna land

Who I am as a person it’s not gonna land

Who I am as a person it’s not gonna land personal experience starting college I

personal experience starting college I

personal experience starting college I go online because online tells all the

go online because online tells all the

go online because online tells all the answers how to have anal sex safely is

answers how to have anal sex safely is

answers how to have anal sex safely is that something I learned in class is

that something I learned in class is

that something I learned in class is that something I should have learned in

that something I should have learned in

that something I should have learned in class I would say so

class I would say so

class I would say so if I want to be able to have safe sexual

if I want to be able to have safe sexual

if I want to be able to have safe sexual encounters my sex ed program should

encounters my sex ed program should

encounters my sex ed program should provide that information and considering

provide that information and considering

provide that information and considering that I’m was a sponge in school I did

that I’m was a sponge in school I did

that I’m was a sponge in school I did not get that at all so I’m pretty sure

not get that at all so I’m pretty sure

not get that at all so I’m pretty sure it wasn’t there but that also is making

it wasn’t there but that also is making

it wasn’t there but that also is making me like I’m maybe a little bit weird

me like I’m maybe a little bit weird

me like I’m maybe a little bit weird because I’m looking up how to do things

because I’m looking up how to do things

because I’m looking up how to do things safely that’s not on the forefront of

safely that’s not on the forefront of

safely that’s not on the forefront of people’s minds that’s not on the

people’s minds that’s not on the

people’s minds that’s not on the forefront of a youths mind about to

forefront of a youths mind about to

forefront of a youths mind about to gauge in sexual contact or sexual

gauge in sexual contact or sexual

gauge in sexual contact or sexual intercourse and so including a variety

intercourse and so including a variety

intercourse and so including a variety of sex acts including the spectrum of

of sex acts including the spectrum of

of sex acts including the spectrum of sex identity of gender identity is going

sex identity of gender identity is going

sex identity of gender identity is going to be able to include LGBTQ youth but

to be able to include LGBTQ youth but

to be able to include LGBTQ youth but it’s also going to include everybody

it’s also going to include everybody

it’s also going to include everybody else because do heterosexual people just

else because do heterosexual people just

else because do heterosexual people just have penis and vagina sex no some people

have penis and vagina sex no some people

have penis and vagina sex no some people do but there’s many other sexual acts

do but there’s many other sexual acts

do but there’s many other sexual acts that people have that maybe there’s

that people have that maybe there’s

that people have that maybe there’s something to learn about safety maybe

something to learn about safety maybe

something to learn about safety maybe there’s something to learn about

there’s something to learn about

there’s something to learn about pleasure maybe there’s something to

pleasure maybe there’s something to

pleasure maybe there’s something to learn about how to do

learn about how to do

learn about how to do better so this idea of queering sex ed

better so this idea of queering sex ed

better so this idea of queering sex ed is gonna be good for everybody because

is gonna be good for everybody because

is gonna be good for everybody because reducing sex to a biological function

reducing sex to a biological function

reducing sex to a biological function removes everything that makes it human

removes everything that makes it human

removes everything that makes it human to us so I have a couple things that I

to us so I have a couple things that I

to us so I have a couple things that I think we can do to try to work on this

think we can do to try to work on this

think we can do to try to work on this problem I’m a sex health educator so I

problem I’m a sex health educator so I

problem I’m a sex health educator so I try to do it on my own

try to do it on my own

try to do it on my own but you need everybody the first is

but you need everybody the first is

but you need everybody the first is thinking about why we don’t talk about

thinking about why we don’t talk about

thinking about why we don’t talk about sex in our culture we have a lot of

sex in our culture we have a lot of

sex in our culture we have a lot of puritanical roots in the United States

puritanical roots in the United States

puritanical roots in the United States culture and those often make sex seem

culture and those often make sex seem

culture and those often make sex seem dirty or immoral and we need to

dirty or immoral and we need to

dirty or immoral and we need to acknowledge that those things could

acknowledge that those things could

acknowledge that those things could cause shame and stigma when people want

cause shame and stigma when people want

cause shame and stigma when people want to talk about sex second we need to talk

to talk about sex second we need to talk

to talk about sex second we need to talk about pleasure if we talk about sex and

about pleasure if we talk about sex and

about pleasure if we talk about sex and we don’t talk about that some people do

we don’t talk about that some people do

we don’t talk about that some people do it for pleasure

it for pleasure

it for pleasure anybody who has that sex for pleasure

anybody who has that sex for pleasure

anybody who has that sex for pleasure it’s not going to relate to it they’re

it’s not going to relate to it they’re

it’s not going to relate to it they’re gonna go what’s this person talking

gonna go what’s this person talking

gonna go what’s this person talking about that’s just functions this is

about that’s just functions this is

about that’s just functions this is something else I’m doing over here so

something else I’m doing over here so

something else I’m doing over here so they’re not going to connect to it

they’re not going to connect to it

they’re not going to connect to it they’re not going to relate to it and

they’re not going to relate to it and

they’re not going to relate to it and third I really encourage everybody to be

third I really encourage everybody to be

third I really encourage everybody to be advocates for sex education as somebody

advocates for sex education as somebody

advocates for sex education as somebody who’s worked with principals

who’s worked with principals

who’s worked with principals administrators and teachers they’re

administrators and teachers they’re

administrators and teachers they’re often very scared about what parents

often very scared about what parents

often very scared about what parents guardians and the community are gonna do

guardians and the community are gonna do

guardians and the community are gonna do you know somebody wants to teach sex

you know somebody wants to teach sex

you know somebody wants to teach sex health in a health class and the first

health in a health class and the first

health in a health class and the first thing is what if the parents gonna think

thing is what if the parents gonna think

thing is what if the parents gonna think are they gonna riah so as parents

are they gonna riah so as parents

are they gonna riah so as parents guardians community members what is

guardians community members what is

guardians community members what is being taught in your schools what is

being taught in your schools what is

being taught in your schools what is being taught to the youth and the people

being taught to the youth and the people

being taught to the youth and the people that are growing up and becoming part of

that are growing up and becoming part of

that are growing up and becoming part of the community around you so those three

the community around you so those three

the community around you so those three things talk about why we don’t talk

things talk about why we don’t talk

things talk about why we don’t talk about it talk about pleasure and talk

about it talk about pleasure and talk

about it talk about pleasure and talk about what is being taught and how can

about what is being taught and how can

about what is being taught and how can you add it had the cake for an inclusive

you add it had the cake for an inclusive

you add it had the cake for an inclusive sex ed and to me that’s a really great

sex ed and to me that’s a really great

sex ed and to me that’s a really great way for having queer sex ed for all

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