Raising sexual health issues

I often get asked by workers. "How do you bring up sexual health issues with young people?"
Its a funny question to me. Its a bit like asking how do you bring up car issues with car enthusiasts, or cooking issues with food enthusiasts, or any other issue with any other enthusiast.
Most people it seems are sexuality enthusiasts. Many people have something to say on the subject. Most of the time all it takes is you giving permission for people to discuss sex, sexuality and sexual health. Instead of shutting a young person down by stifling the conversation how about finding ways to open up the conversation - find ways to give permission. Ahhhhh so how do you give permission?
Often its as easy as asking what someone thinks about something. Maybe something like HHmm I saw on Luds blog that there is a group for gay surfers. What do you thnk about that?
or it could be something like " "I have had other people in your situation talk about thier medication and how it effects thier enjoyment of sex - what do you reckon?
I'm sure you can think of many permission giving statements. Its not so much what is said, but more that something is being said.
Beginning to talk about sexuality is much like beginning to talk about any other subject. The more you talk the more you learn. The more you learn the more you are able to pass on what you know.
Sexuality doesnt belong in the dark. I for one am going to shine a bright light on sexual health and begin the conversations. Wish me luck!

homophobia loses out.

Tuesday night, Apple dumped Exodus International's "gay cure" iPhone app after more than 150,000 people joined Truth Wins Out and Change.org in calling for its removal. The app was pulled by Apple, as they apparently recognized that Exodus demonizes LGBT people, calling them perverse and saying that homosexuality will "make your heart sick."

To make this moment possible, Truth Wins Out applied tremendous pressure in the form of a sustained, two-week-long multimedia campaign that caught the attention of media outlets around the world, from CNN and MSNBC to the Wall Street Journal and Guardian UK.

This major victory for the Truth Wins Out community means that Exodus has one less platform through which to expose LGBT youth to their dangerous, hateful, and scientifically bankrupt

Gay Surfers

As a surfer I see the sport of surfing as one of the bastians of homophobia. Therefore its nice to see a specific support network for GLBTIQS surfers: Go here to have a look. Thanks to Dinesh for this link.

Generation M2

A really good exploration of Media in the lives of 8 to 18 year olds. This is the 3rd in a series of studies which started in 1999, so you get a progessive look at the changes in media use as they have occured. For instance according to this study 8 to 18 year olds spend almost 11 hours a day with various forms of media ( latest data from 2009). This is up 3 hours and 15 minutes from 1999.

what does this mean???? Go here to find the study and presentations:

SIN open day

Great opprtunity to find out about the Sex Industry Network: A really cool organisation and cool people.

FRIDAY 11TH MARCH

12pm - 4pm SIN Open Day
Ever wanted to find out more about the South Australian Sex Industry Network, what we are about, what services we provide, meet our staff, check out our Safe Sex Shoppe and our sex workers safe space. Now is your chance, pop in, have a look around, pick our brains, load up on resources and get yourself familiar with South Australia's ONLY peer based health promotion project for sex workers. All welcome!!

4pm - 6pm Official Office Opening Party

Officially opened by Hon Steph Key, light nibbles and refreshments provided. SIN is thrilled to be welcoming Nurse Jessie Abraham back into the fold to perform her own unique brand of sex worker activism mixed with comedy and performance. All Welcome!!

6pm till 10pm Sex worker only celebrations
Sex workers please stay on (or come this bit only) and join us for a light BBq, fun and frivolity and office warming celebrations!!



276 Henley Beach Road Underdale

Ph 83517626 to RSVP


Ari Reid

83517626

0407725783

Manager

S.A. Sex Industry Network (SIN)

276 Henley Beach road, Underdale.

Promoting the health rights and wellbeing of sex workers.

A Project Of the AIDS Council of SA