Sex Positive Art, Thursday, February 11, 7pm.

One of the new elements that Sex Positive Week 2010 has included is Sex Positive Art. It will be a casual display and discussion featuring local artists with work surrounding themes of gender, sexuality, and Sex Positivity.

The Sex Positive Art portion is coordinated in part by Jaguar Press (http://jaguarpress.wordpress.com/), and will feature work from Katie Reinman and Kelly Hamilton's Group Show, "Inflection Points," a multimedia show exploring the metaphysics of the human body and its various states of suspended communication. Kelly Hamilton is presenting a selection of provacative photos from a few series that she has been working on since the original Jaguar Press "Women by Women" photo project. Katie Reinman has taken the same concept of exposing the self through a physical medium and applied it to resin effervescing with definition and fine colors. The artists both utilize fabric as an interpretation of personal/public expression, an attempt to visualize the elusive barrier between full self-awareness and the public gaze.

The Art portion will also feature photography by Elizabeth Bicher, Mariana Velazquez, and Qallective (queer art collective). It will begin with a walk-around display of artwork followed by artist and attendee comments. The event will take place on Thursday, February 11, at 7pm in the Soroptimist House.

The Pleasure Chest, Wednesday, February 10, 12pm and 2pm

Since opening its doors in 1971, The Pleasure Chest has gained national notoriety for its boutique atmosphere and knowledgeable staff. The Pleasure Chest has always offered top-notch support, advice, and information to all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender expression, and A-List status. The Los Angeles location provides educational courses to help implement new ideas, techniques and products into your sex life.

"The Ultimate O: How to reach and expand your orgasm" will provide information and tips to do just that. It will take place at 12pm in the Soroptimist House.

The "Queering Your Sex" workshop is geared toward all gender-variant, gender curious folks, or anyone looking to incorporate some type of gender or non-traditional power play into their sex. The class covers communication and negotiation, anatomy (including trans bodies), strapping it on, blowjobs on non-bio cocks, role-playing, and tips, tricks, and toys for hot queer sex. It will take place at 2pm in the Soroptimist House.

Daryl Wein's "Sex Positive," Tuesday, February 9, 7pm

Sex Positive

a film by Daryl Wein

Film screening

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 7:00pm

Daryl Wein (www.darylwein.com) is a New York based actor/writer/director/producer. His feature length documentary, Sex Positive, which he produced and directed received Official Selection in competition at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival and BFI Times London Film Festival, in addition to 20 other film festivals around the world.

SEX POSITIVE explores the life of Richard Berkowitz, a revolutionary gay S&M- hustler-turned-AIDS activist in the 1980s, whose incomparable contribution to the invention of safe sex has never been aptly credited. Berkowitz emerged from the epicenter of the epidemic as a community leader, demanding a solution to the problem before anyone else would pay attention. However, it was not Berkowitz' voice alone that sparked contention. SEX POSITIVE explores the explicit bravery of this unrecognized triumvirate, and their dire quest to save lives in the midst of unwavering dissent. Now destitute and alone, Mr. Berkowitz tells his story to a world who never wanted to listen. Through the eyes of Mr. Berkowitz, the audience is made witness to a graphic testimony of sex, death, and betrayal, while placing the invention of ‘safe sex’ in a fresh and compelling context.(sexpositivethemovie.com)

Hot and Bothered: Feminist Pornography, a film by Becky Goldberg: Wednesday, February 10

Hot and Bothered: Feminist Pornography

a film by Becky Goldberg

Film Screening

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 7:00pm in the Women's Resource Center, LA3-105

For years, the world of pornography has been the domain of men, both as consumers and purveyors — and women were simply objects to be exploited. In recent years, however, more women have taken a greater role in this multi-billion dollar industry, claiming a stake in pornography by “infiltrating the misogynist, old boy network.”

Hot and Bothered: Feminist Pornography profiles several women who are committed to making and supporting pornography, while maintaining their feminist values — as they take on the entire industry, fight sexism, and challenge stereotypes.

This candid, provocative and enlightening film features interviews with feminists who have made names for themselves through all aspects of the business — from former performers, who now work behind the camera as directors and producers, to magazine editors and a retail operator, whose million dollar business sells high quality sex items with an eye towards women. Their collective goal is to produce and distribute products that don’t degrade, objectify, or humiliate women.

Hot and Bothered: Feminist Pornography takes a rare and empowering look into the pornography industry and feminist community to see how they intertwine within the politics and poetics of female sexuality. This film shows how feminist pornography demands to be recognized by the male dominated porn industry, its consumers, and the public, because it allows women to talk about sex publicly and explicitly.

The Center for Positive Sexuality: Tuesday and Thursday, February 9 & 11

The Center for Positive Sexuality was founded in 2007 by Emily Prior and a core group of educators who share the belief that sex education of all sorts should be easily available, friendly, and accurate.

The Center for Positive Sexuality was developed with the idea that people not only need to be educated about sex and sexuality, but that everyone needs to be able to see these topics portrayed from a positive, healthy perspective. Sex and sexuality are normal, natural parts of being human and should be explored as a part of everyone's development.

BDSM is a topic that many are ill informed about. No wonder, considering most of our knowledge about this sensitive topic tends to come from outlandish media portrayals of "the lifestyle."

The BDSM: Fact or Fiction workshop offers information from research studies and panelists, who are members of the BDSM/Leather/Fetish Communities, about the realities of what the BDSM lifestyle is, and is not, and how it works. Questions that are answered include: What is BDSM? Is BDSM abusive? Do people in BDSM relationships have "regular" sex? What does a BDSM relationship look like? Am I normal for having "kinky" fantasies?

--

The word "polyamory" has really only existed in the general lexicon for about 4 years. Many people don't understand what it is or what it can be. In short, polyamory means "many loves."

This presentation offers information from current research and actual people who live a polyamorous lifestyle about the reality of polyamory and how it can work. Questions that are answered include: How does this differ from swinging? How do you deal with jealousy? What does a polyamorous relationship look like? Could I be polyamorous?

--positivesexuality.org

The BDSM: Fact or Fiction presentation will take place on Tuesday, February 9. The Polyamory presentation will take place on Thursday, February 11. Both presentations will take place at 1pm in the USU Ballroom B.

Norma Jean Almodovar, director of C.O.Y.O.T.E. LA and Founder/President of ISWFACE - Thursday, February 11

Norma Jean Almodovar - the author of the best-selling book, Cop to Call Girl - is now the Founder and President of The International Sex Worker Foundation for Art, Culture and Education (ISWFACE). She has been active in prostitutes' rights groups since leaving the Los Angeles Police Department in 1982 and has been interviewed by over 300 radio, print and television outlets (including CBS's 60 MINUTES and ABC's 20/20).

ISWFACE (pronounced "ice face") is a Sex Worker-created/operated/managed non-profit organization. Former Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders heads the Academic Advisory Board. Among the foundation's goals are "to share the many artistic sides of sex workers from around the world and to create an international database (website) of information about prostitution that is available to health service providers, law enforcement officials and to the general community."

ISWFACE houses a collection of art - created by and about sex workers - from the 19th century to the present day. It is a collection that continues to grow in preparation for the first Multi-Media Cultural Exhibit that will open for one month in the Fall of 1999, at the Gershwin Gallery in New York City. The exhibit will travel to major cities around the world, with a projected two exhibits per year.

Born in Binghamton NY, Norma Jean migrated to California at the age of 18 and joined the L.A.P.D. as a civilian traffic officer in 1972. Assigned to "Hollywood Division Night Watch" for most of her career, she became disillusioned by her co-workers "corrupt activities" and, after 10 years on the force, decided to change her profession. She made a strong social statement by becoming a prostitute - a career she calls "far more honest than working for the police department."

On September 17, 1983, Norma Jean's Cop To Call Girl manuscript was confiscated by the L.A.P.D. and she was arrested on a (set-up-by-the-LAPD) felony charge of pandering. She was convicted of the charge and spent the mandatory 3 year sentence as an inmate in the California Institute for Women. (continued on reverse) Norma Jean Almodovar Biography Page Two/Two

In 1984, Norma Jean was named the Executive Director of the Los Angeles division of C.O.Y.O.T.E. (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics), a prostitute's rights organization. In 1986, she received the endorsement of the Libertarian Party for her bid for Lt. Governor of California and, although she didn't win, she made an impressive showing of over 100,000 votes. In 1987, she was given an award by "Outstanding Young Women in America" in recognition of her political activities on behalf of women. In 1993, Cop To Call Girl was published by Simon & Schuster and in 1994, Avon published the paperback version. In 1995, Norma Jean was an official NGO (Non-Government Organization) delegate to the UN Fourth World Women's Conference in Beijing, China. She co- chaired and organized The 1997 International Conference on Prostitution (ICOP) with California State University, Northridge and was a delegate to the 1998 World AIDS Conference in Geneva in June.

Press Release 01/11/10

For information contact:
F.O.R.C.E.
force4change@yahoo.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Jan. 11, 2010 The Feminist Organization Reclaiming Consciousness and Equality (F.O.R.C.E.) presents Sex Positive Week - Tuesday, February 9, to Thursday, February 11, 2010 – at California State University, Long Beach.

In a culture that promotes sexual ignorance, it becomes increasingly important to be Sex Positive. Being Sex Positive means encouraging and normalizing open sexuality, in all its forms, and being receptive to new ideas. The United States has spent over $1.5 billion on abstinence-only sex education in an effort to keep teens from having sex. What this has done, instead, is further perpetuate the sexual ignorance.

Sex Positive Week will be open to the public. Over the course of three days, there will be panel-led discussions about the connections between sexuality, freedom, art, religion, the environment, health, and politics. This will be an opportunity for students and sex positive professionals to have an open discussion free of judgment. There will be three days of documentary screenings, workshops, presentations, and discussions dedicated to delivering a comprehensive, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic and Sex Positive education to CSULB students.

Sex Positive Week was first held in 2008 at CSULB. The event was the first of its kind to be held on campus at Long Beach. Presentations were given by Babeland and The Pleasure Chest on topics relating to female sexuality. Health professionals on- and off-campus gave presentations on health safety in relation to sexual awareness and sex positivity. Film screenings were presented, along with question and answer sessions for students and attendees.