What Does Sex Positivity Mean?
Wikipedia defines Sex Positivity as: a social movement and philosophical movement that promotes and embraces sexuality and sexual expression, with an emphasis on safe and consensual sex. Sex-positivity is "an attitude towards human sexuality that regards all consensual sexual activities as fundamentally healthy and pleasurable, encouraging sexual pleasure and experimentation". The sex-positive movement advocates these attitudes. The sex-positive movement also advocates sex education and safer sex as part of its campaign".[1] Part of its original use was in an effort to get rid of the frightening connotation that the term 'positive' had during the height of the AIDS epidemic.[2] The movement generally makes no moral distinctions among types of sexual activities, regarding these choices as matters of personal preference.
Visit the Wikipedia Sex Positvity page to read more.
Sex Positivity is the idea that all sexual expression, as long as it is consensual and healthy, is positive and deserves acceptance. Healthcare providers have a responsibility to provide important information, about topics such as STD testing, birth control, and other sexual health issues, without judgement. Counselors have a duty to accept client's identity
Sex Positive Washington Principles
First, all clients and patients have a right non-judgmental treatment.
Second, clients and patients should be able to talk about their sexuality concerns with their healthcare providers, and get clear and unbiased treatment.
Third, Healthcare providers listed on sexpositivewashington.com will have an understanding and potentially training in sex positivity, and knowledge and openness to working with non-monogamous and kinky clients and patients.
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Organizational Leadership
President and FOunder
Kate L Stewart, MA LMHC
Psychotherapist and Owner, Modern Therapy Seattle, Seattle, WA
Kate Stewart has been dedicated to supporting the Sex Positive community for almost a decade. Through publications, teaching, working with the community in her clinical practice, and training as a sex therapist, she has developed expertise in sexual expression.
Education
Antioch University Seattle
MA, Psychology, 2008
The Evergreen State College
BA, Liberal Arts, 2001
Activities & Affiliations
• University of Washington, the Experimental College. Taught Flirting 101, Flirting 201, and Everything You Need to Know About Sex.
• Veterans Training Support Center, Seattle, WA. Taught How to Talk to Your Clients About Sex, and PTSD and Sex.
• Member and trainee, the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists
Publications
• The Open Relationship Handbook, 2013
Vice President
Dr. Serena McKenzie
Dr. Serena McKenzie has been working in healthcare since 1995. She is an evidence based holistic physician and obtained her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in 2004 and completed a Family Medicine Residency at Bastyr Center for Natural Health. Her background is in primary care with an emphasis on the integration between conventional and science supported complementary approaches. She is a sexual medicine expert, and a nationally certified Sex Counselor through the American Association of Sex Educators and Therapists (AASECT) as well as being a certified ISSWSH Fellow (IF) through International Society for Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH). Dr. Serena is Medical Director of the Northwest Institute for Healthy Sexuality which addresses a wide variety of sexual concerns for all people in a multi-disciplinary clinic and which works in fluid collaboration with a multitude of providers at Washington Urology and Urogynecology, PLLC in the Seattle area. She is sex positive writer and blogs for Huffington Post and frequently lectures to medical professionals as well as the general population on sexuality topics.
Education
BASTYR UNIVERSITY
2004
MEDICAL Outreach OFFICER
Dr. Kanishka Garvin
Dr. Garvin is a clinician at the Puget Sound VA Medical Center. He supervises the medical students, residents, and infectious disease fellows who rotate through the VA on the General Medicine wards and the Infectious Diseases consult service. He is involved with clinical medical education and frequently lectures at medical resident conferences, chief of medicine conferences, and ID fellow board reviews. In addition, he is the current chair of the Infection Control Committee for the Puget Sound VA Healthcare system. His interests are focused on the reduction of healthcare-associated infections and improvements in healthcare quality & patient safety.
Education
MEDICAL SCHOOL
UNDERGRADUATE
Activities & Affiliations
Publications