Hello and welcome to the July issue of Boston's Sex-Positive Newsletter. This month's newsletter includes a list of virtual sexuality-related events in July, opportunities for action, and free local resources (plus some art and other stuff at the bottom). If you're looking to buy sex toys or other sexy stuff, here's a list of Black-owned sexy shops to buy from.
Black-owned sexy stuff to support:
Feelmore Sex Toys
Bedroom Kandi Sex Toys
Icandi Sex Toys
Organic Loven Eco-friendly Sex Toys
Nika Cherrelle’s Gun-shaped Dildos
B Condoms Condoms
Afrosexology Sexual Liberation Workbook & Clothing
On The Green Couch Sex Talk Cards
(See this list as an Instagram graphic for easy sharing.)
Also, want to learn about how racism looks in the sex education field? Here's a webinar about it! Unpacking the Heteronormative and White Supremacist Culture in Sex Ed by Stephanie Zapata.
With a desire for a better world,
Nicole Mazzeo
pleasurepie.org
P.S. As always, you can give feedback here.
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Sexuality-Related Virtual Events
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Wed. 7/8: EDUCATION: Sex Ed Strategy Share
6:00 pm / Free!
This is a space for sex educators to share great ideas with each other, learn each other's adaptations and other tips and techniques. Bring your favorite activities and lesson plans!
Wed. 7/8: PLEASURE: Masturbation as Self-Love & Self-Care
8:30 pm (PST listed) / $15-25
A workshop on self-pleasure! What would it look like if we treated ourselves like our most cherished partner? Touch can release oxytocin, reduce stress, and calm our nervous system — and yes, self-touch can do those things too. Registration required.
Thurs. 7/9: CAUSE: Sex Education as Healthcare
6:00 pm / Free!
A webinar discussing the current state of sex ed in Massachusetts, the efforts in place to change it, and how comprehensive sex ed can help eliminate sexual violence.
Thurs. 7/9: LGBTQ: QPOC & Partners Virtual Meetup
7:00 pm / Free?
A facilitated peer support space for LGBTQ+ parents of color and their partners to connect and share both frustrations and victories.
Thurs. 7/9: PLEASURE: Sex & Sensuality for the Super-Sensitive
8:30 pm (PST listed) / $15-25
This class will help you understand your needs and desires while having a highly sensitive nervous system — so your pleasure and turn-on is more easily accessed, shared, and enjoyed. Registration required.
Fri. 7/10: KIDS: Drag Queen Storytime
1:00 pm / Free!
An afternoon of stories & sing-a-longs with CircuitMOM and friends.
Sat. 7/11: TRANS: Werqing from Home: Celebrating Greater Boston’s Trans Artists
7:00 pm / Free!
An evening of local art and performances from some amazing trans artists! Hosted by Fenway Health. RSVP encouraged.
Sun. 7/12: MEN: BMEN July Community Meetup
5:00 pm / Free!
An honest conversation for Black men working through issues surrounding masculinity, identity, sexuality, sexual harassment, sexual assault, mentorship, and Black culture.
Tues. 7/14: YOUTH: Semillas: A Dialogue Group for Latinx Queer and Trans Youth
5:00 pm / Free!
A weekly Latinx dialogue group for queer and trans youth of color, ages 13-25. This will be a space to connect around living at the intersection of queer/trans and Latinx. Hosted by Boston GLASS.
Wed. 7/15: CAREER: Benefits of Professional Development for Sexuality Professionals: An Educator's Perspective
6:00 pm / $25-30 (need-based discount here)
A talk examining the pros and cons of professional development such as conferences and webinars for sex educators. AASECT CEs available.
Thurs. 7/16: PLEASURE: The Ultimate Orgasm: Building Sexual Energy with Edging
8:30 pm (PST listed) / $15-25
A class on edging, a technique to build increased sexual energy and heightened pleasure. Registration required.
Fri. 7/17: PLEASURE: Spank Therapy
8:00 pm / $10-20
Learn the art of spanking and how it can help heal from past trauma. Featuring a self-spanking lesson and consent scenario practice.
Sat. 7/18: TRANS: TWERK FEST
6:00 pm / Donation
A twerking contest to raise fundds for Trans Resistance 2021 Pride Fund.
Sat. 7/18: PLEASURE: Blowjobs 101: They Don't Call it a Job for Nothing!
7:00 pm / $10-20
This class will cover blowjob topics including hands or no hands, deep throating, rhythmic breathing, and ball play. BYO dildo for practice.
Sat. 7/18: FITNESS: RIDEology July 2020
7:00 pm (CDT listed) / $15
An erotic fitness class that covers stretches, positions, tips, and tricks that will help you be on top with confidence, control, and stamina.
Mon. 7/20: READ: Repro Health and Justice Article Club
5:30 pm / Free!
A friendly sexual health and justice discussion on relationship anarchy, Black Lives Matter and dating, and sex with a disability. The discussion will be based on three articles.
Tues. 7/21: CAREER: Guiding Pregnant Clients Where To Go With STAR
12:30 pm
This webinar teaches frontline health and social service providers how to refer clients experiencing unintended pregnancy to the reproductive health care services they need, free from bias or agenda.
Wed. 7/22: CAREER: Factors That Impact College Students’ Perceptions of Sexual Pleasure and Satisfaction
7:00 pm / $25-30 (need-based discount here)
A talk outlining a study about sexual pleasure and satisfaction among college students. AASECT CEs available.
Wed. 7/22: TALK: Communication in the Bedroom: Asking for What You Want
8:30 pm (PST listed) / $15-25
A class on different styles of communication, ways to put yourself and your partner at ease, and specific examples of tools and phrases to try. Registration required.
Fri. 7/24: BDSM: Rope Bondage 101
7:00 pm / $10-20
This introductory rope class will cover safety basics and simple techniques which can be applied immediately or built into more advanced ties.
Sat. 7/25: PLEASURE: There's a Fist Time for Everything
8:00 pm / $10-20
This fisting workshop will cover the consent practices, preparation, safety measures, technique, and aftercare measures that are crucial to safely and passionately fisting your partner.
Wed. 7/29: ABORTION: Meet the Providers
2:00 pm
Learn from abortion providers about why they went into the field, how stigma impacts their professional and personal lives, the safety of abortion care, and what a typical patient visit looks like.
Wed. 7/29: CAREER: Talking Vulva: What Every Sex Educator Should Know
6:00 pm / $25-30 (need-based discount here)
Learn how to use a vulva puppet to demonstrate a pelvic exam, give information about the G spot, and put your audience/students at ease. AASECT CEs available.
Thurs. 7/30: RACE: T.S.O.B. (The Sex Ed of Black Folk)
6:00 pm / $20 suggested donation
A panel discussion on the role and potential of sex education in the pursuit of Black liberation.
Thurs. 7/30: KINKY: Erotic Hypnosis
8:30 pm (PST listed) / $15-25
A class on using consensual erotic hypnosis to enhance your intimacy, explore your wildest fantasies, and intensify your orgasmic pleasure. Registration required.
Fri. 7/31: CONSENT: Tantric Approach to Consent
7:00 pm / $10-20
With a pleasure-focused and consent-based model, this workshop will examine how sexuality has shifted through each major cultural revolution and teach methods for better communicating erotic desires.
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Support: Donate to the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center's COVID fund to support survivors during this time.
Learn: Tools for Anti-Racist Activism virtual workshop on Wednesday, 7/29 at 7:00 pm. $0-20 suggested donation.
Show up: Dismantle Now! BIPOC Solidarity Against White Supremacy: March + Art Action on Wednesday, 7/8 at 3:00 pm. Faneuil Hall in Boston.
Can't make it to a protest? You can always make a sign in support of a cause you care about (e.g. Black Lives Matter, end police brutality, etc.) and just go stand somewhere in public.
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Boston Area Rape Crisis Center offers free counseling for people who have been sexually assaulted (and their loved ones). BARCC is making their services available virtually. Counseling will be done remotely, and their 24/7 hotline is running as usual.
The Network / La Red provides support for people experiencing relationship abuse.
Planned Parenthood's Sexual Health Counseling & Referral hotline is 877-686- 5772, option #3.
Fenway Health offers walk-in STI testing on Wednesdays.
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Harbor Health Services offers free walk-in HIV & Hep C testing on Wednesdays and Thursdays in Dorchester.
The Sexual Freedom Legal Defense and Education Fund helps people with alternative sexual lifestyles.
Here's a list of culturally competent local resources for LGBTQ survivors.
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Cool art: You Can't Tell Me What To Do With My Body - Leslie Jones
by Bloody Girl Gang
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Follow recommendation: Here, Queer & HSV+ is a new Instagram account that talks openly about what it's like to live with genital herpes as a queer person.
Call for submissions: Shag Story pays $50 per accepted smutty story.
Want to support this newsletter? You can make a donation to Pleasure Pie here. Donations start at $1 a month. There are perks!
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