Finding information about safe sex as a member of the LGBTQA community isn’t always easy, which is why the University of Idaho LGBTQA Office is hosting a panel with various “sexperts” to help educate people Wednesday evening.
“Queering Sex Ed is an LGBTQA-inclusive sexual health education panel,” said Julia Keleher, director of the LGBTQA Office. “All of us who are sitting on it identify within the LGBTQA community and provide opportunity for folks to ask questions related to queer and trans sexuality and relationships.”
Julia Keleher
According to Keleher, Family and Consumer Sciences associate professor Erin Chapman will begin the Queering Sex Ed Relationship Panel with an overview of sexual health and education.
“The panel should be fun,” Keleher said. “It’s a great opportunity. You should bring questions if you have them, because a lot of us have different experiences and different levels of expertise.”
After that, the floor will open to the audience to ask questions of the panelists. Keleher said all questions will be asked anonymously over Sli.do, a question-and-answer service used for panels and classes on campus.
“If you’re part of the LGBTQA community or interested in learning about these topics, we really don’t have many programs that focus solely on the community,” Keleher said. “So, that’s what I think people are most excited about, that ability to learn more in an inclusive and safe environment.”
Keleher credited Bekah MillerMacPhee, Office of Violence Against Women project director, with planning and organizing the event.
Keleher said all questions are welcome, and if the panel members do not feel that they can answer sufficiently, they will direct audience member to appropriate resources.
“I always enjoy correcting any misassumptions and misinformation people may have,” Keleher said. “A lot of times when we learn about sexual health and relationships — even outside of the LGBTQA community — a lot of times it’s our own education. My sexual health education in schools was a long time ago, but it was very basic. Just basic anatomy and things like that, so even when it comes to providing information about communication with partners, I think it’s probably my favorite part, because you don’t learn those things besides role-modeling you might see.”
The Queering Sex Ed Relationship Panel starts at 7 p.m. in the Idaho Commons Crest Room, ending around 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit the LGBTQA Office’s Facebook event.