SAN FRANCISCO—Andy Duran, education director for Good Vibrations and Babeland, will present a workshop on sex positivity at Sex Down South 2018, taking place Sept. 6-8 in Atlanta.
“I believe that many people have missed the mark on what sex positivity really is, which can become quite problematic, especially when looking to cultivate an in-depth embrace of diversity to our activism work,” said Duran.
A sexuality conference created by and centering around people of color, Sex Down South was designed to be accessible and relevant to the widest possible range of attendees. His second time speaking at the annual conference, in his talk, “Sex Positivity: What it is, and what it’s not,” Andy will delve deep into the history of sex positivity, debunk any misconceptions of the concept, and explore how it can be used as a tool to support educators, organizers in the sex industry, and anyone wanting to espouse the concept of sex positivity in their own lives.
The 2018 Sex Down South theme is “REBEL!: Sexual Politics in a New Era,” and Andy is hoping that his take on sex-positive thinking and activism will make it a useful tool for sex educators and members of the resistance alike. While most people familiar with the term today seem to think sex-positivity means “enthusiasm about sex,” the origins of the phrase were not focused on how sexually adventurous a person is, but more about addressing a sex-negative culture. Good Vibration’s sex guide The Sex & Pleasure Book: Good Vibrations Guide to Great Sex for Everyone also includes an in-depth discussion of sex-positivity.
“Sex Positivity: What it is, and what it’s not” with Andy Duran will take place on Saturday, Sept. 8, at 9 a.m. EDT in room 302. Having presented at Sex Down South before, Andy is a huge advocate of the conference and hopes that awareness of Sex Down South continues to spread, especially to people who don’t typically see themselves represented in many spaces.
“Supporting Sex Down South is immensely important to both myself personally as well as Good Vibrations and Babeland,” Duran said. “As a fat, trans, queer sex educator of color, I know what it’s like to walk into a space and feel like only part of you belongs. I know what it’s like to not see others that look like you at the table. And I also know what it’s like when society’s standard of beauty means that only those deemed as ‘mainstream attractive’ get a platform to discuss sexuality. Sex Down South is one of the few places where I don’t have to feel this way, and I am forever grateful and honored to be a part of this event. It’s more than a conference; it’s a little taste of how things should be.”
Andy Duran is the education director for Good Vibrations and Babeland. With nearly 20 years of experience working in the sex industry, he’s a huge proponent of providing accurate and accessible sex information with hopes to arouse curiosity and spread truth.
For more, visit GoodVibes.com.
