Pre-Conference Sessions
Liberatory Consent: The Next Generation Consent Framework of Embodied Boundaries, Mutual Attunement, and Co-Created Decisions
Enthusiastic Consent is no longer the gold standard. Liberatory Consent, a new embodied, social-emotional framework, outlines a set of progressive skills. It empowers students to better notice and communicate their limits and desires, create safety for their partners to do the same, and continuously co-create decisions about shared activities.
In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the Liberatory Consent framework and its paradigm shift about consent, boundaries, and self-advocacy in relationships. Participants will be invited into experiential learning through embodiment exercises and role-playing activities. Finally, participants will consider ways to integrate this pedagogical approach into their sex ed curriculum.
It’s a Guy Thing: Men + Vulnerability
Oronde Cruger, BA (he/him/they/them)
Over time, “it’s a guy thing” has become one of many shorthands that reinforce unhelpful stereotypes of how we all are “supposed” to perform gender. Many men/ masculine folks learn that in order to be one of the guys, one must forego basic pieces of the human experience, like vulnerability, sensitivity, gentleness, and more. In this presentation, we will take some time to look at how folks of all gender identities learn to perform gender, and both intentionality and vulnerability can help avoid some unhelpful traps.
Keynote Speakers
Birds, Bees, and Porn?!: Navigating Conversations with Youth About Online Sexual Content
Jess Melendez, B.S., CHES® (she/her)
This keynote will introduce an interactive porn literacy session for educators, parents, and anyone who works with young people. This session allows participants to visit their own personal values and biases towards sex and sexuality. It gives the tools to effectively have conversations with youth about pornography, including the who, the what, and the why. This session provides activities to enhance young people’s critical thinking skills and helps them identify trusted adults in their lives.
Pleasure is the Measure
Emily Nagoski, PhD (she/her)
In this talk, sex educator Emily Nagoski will describe a transformative approach to “low desire.” Based on the most current science, this talk offers three actionable ideas for helping clients sustain (or rebuild!) sexual connections in long-term relationships by shifting focus from desire to pleasure and strategies to co-create it.
“Representation in Sex Education”
Dr. Tanya M. Bass (she/her)
This keynote will address integrating principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) into sex education. During this discussion, participants will review recommendations from a national survey of sex educators and discover strategies and practical tools outlined in the new publication Representation in Sex Education. Expert guidance from sex education colleagues will be reviewed to effectively navigate and implement applicable tips to cultivate inclusive learning environments. All participants will receive a free copy of Representation in Sex Education.