.gay Community Spotlight on The Center for Positive Sexuality

On this week's edition of our .gay Community Spotlight, we chatted with The Center for Positive Sexuality, which provides education and outreach while supporting positive sexuality research.

Discover their incredible work and learn more in our interview below. 

How would you describe your organization’s mission?

Our mission is to address social issues through sex positive research and education.

Tell us about how that mission is brought to life through your work?

We provide education and outreach and support positive sexuality research. From education and outreach, we offer presentations on a variety of topics ranging from gender spectrum, consent and communication, to BDSM, polyamory, and sex work. (There are so many others!) These are offered to colleges and universities as well as professionals like therapists, clinicians, and healthcare workers. Professionals of all kinds can also take advantage of our Sex Positive Professional Certification Program. We also work with local community outreach, providing speakers and information. We also support positive sexuality research through private donations, research assistants, and our Journal of Positive Sexuality. Our internship program helps to support what we do while also providing education and real work experience to those who want to work in sex education, research, and community organizing.

What would happen if your organization suddenly did not exist?

We would be very sad, of course. This is the only nonprofit organization in the U.S., maybe world-wide, dedicated to supporting all marginalized sexual and gender identities through education and research. Although our main “office” is located in Los Angeles, we have over 80 volunteers worldwide and more people applying all the time. Our hope is that using and promoting a positive sexuality lens we can help eradicate prejudice and discrimination of marginalized identities through research and education.

What can people do to get involved and help make sure that never happens?

Our website lists volunteer opportunities and internship opportunities and we always need donations to keep things running.

Why does LGBTQIA+ visibility matter to you?

We are all human beings and one’s sexual and gender identity is a core part of who we are as individuals. Our ability to see ourselves represented in a positive way in media and legislation is necessary. This is why education and research are so important.

In your own words, what does “LGBTQIA+ safety and support” mean specifically?

Providing resources, as well as physical and legal spaces, where people can live and love without fear.

Who are some of your LGBTQIA+ heroes?

For me personally, I think of people like Susie Bright, Margaret Cho, and Wanda Sykes, as well as Michel Foucault and Judith Butler.

If you could give LGBTQIA+ youth one message, what would it be?

You are the future and your voice and votes matter.

Tell us about a time when you felt like the work you do at your organization really mattered or made a difference for the communities you serve?

Every time I ask someone how they came to find us and they tell me they were looking for “positive sexuality”, found our website, and realized after a quick look that they were in the right place and wanted to be a part of what we do. I also love when I see that “aha” moment on someone’s face when we are teaching about a topic and they realize that, although they may have come in with misconceptions about the issue, they now have a better understanding of what it means to truly humanize and support others that are not necessarily the same as they are.

Anything else you would like to share with the .gay audience?

Get involved in the ways that work for you, whether with this organization or another. Read about of Positive Sexuality Framework and think about how you could apply it to what you do and your interactions with others.