PAWTUCKET, RI—The Center for Sexual Pleasure & Health has issued a public statement in the wake of Boston Public Radio hosts Margery Eagan and Jim Braude’s shaming of the sex lives of baby boomers on their June 26 show. The two radio show hosts chatted with Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam regarding a recent article by fellow contributor Alyssa Giacobbe, “The Complicated Sex Life of Baby Boomers.”
In the segment, Braude and Eagan proceeded to share their negative opinions of seniors' sexual health. Braude referred to it as an “always creepy subject,” and described centers such as the CSPH as “crazy institutes… you couldn’t even imagine existing.” Not one to shirk from issuing additional shaming commentary, Eagan quipped, “Can you imagine the people going into… [places such as the CSPH]? Do you put a bag over your head? Do you dye your hair?”
Despite Beam’s repeated attempts to maintain the professionalism of institutes such as the CSPH, which was founded in February of 2010, Braude and Eagan continued to not only shame and ridicule the CSPH as well as adult products store Good Vibrations, but also baby boomers who had shared their stories with Giacobbe for the Boston Globe piece, using terms such as, “icky,” “uninteresting,” “foul,” and “creepy.” Eagan went as far as even to dismiss the name of the CSPH, saying, “…whatever it is,” when Beam tried to correct her, with Braude laughing at Beam’s attempt to keep information accurate.
The relevant BPR segment can be found here, beginning at 1:09:01. The Boston Globe article was factual and anecdotal in tone, and not shaming of baby boomers and their sex lives.
“We are used to pushback and ridicule when doing the work we do, because we live in a society where many still don't understand the importance of honestly talking about sexuality across the lifespan,” said the CSPH’s Training and Development Coordinator Aida Manduley. “It's the very reason we exist: to educate people and provide spaces where this dialogue can take place."
“In 2009, our founder, Megan Andelloux, dreamed of a place where people could set aside their fears and learn about sexuality and health,” continued Manduley. “It is still hard to believe the CSPH exists in a culture where discussing sex in frank ways is seen as taboo. People who come into the CSPH and seek out our resources should be commended for taking positive steps towards their health and sexual wellness.”
The CSPH’s public statement can be read in full here.
Added Manduley, "We extend a warm invitation to Beam, Braude, and Eagan to come by our space in Pawtucket. We understand many of the misguided comments from the show were just coming from a place of fear and discomfort, and we're experts in dealing with those issues."
The CSPH’s mission is of reducing sexual shame, by thwarting efforts aimed at hindering the dissemination of information about sexuality to their communities. For more information about the CSPH, click here.
