Feminist and LGBTQ+ Studies

Abstract

This presentation is an overview of Sexuality Educator Antiracist Training (SEAT), a newly-developed experiential program aimed at empowering Sex/ual/ity Educators with skills to confront, interrupt, de-construct, and challenge racism and white supremacy culture in education and sexuality attitudes.

Sex/ual/ity Educators navigate and manage partnerships with institutions and organizations where racism is perpetuated, and quite possibly already affecting learners. Furthermore, they themselves are not immune to the effects of racism, and can unknowingly further harm learners during classroom, workshop, or training facilitation. Striving towards establishing an antiracist ethic throughout our educational practice can reduce harm and increase effectiveness of the sexual health education delivered.

Grounded in Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, and Sociocultural Learning Theory frameworks, SEAT helps educators of all racial identities model, engage, and use critical analysis to question, shift, and deliver education content. Sexuality Educators are able to describe effective response strategies when a student or learning participant has been hurt or wronged by bias. SEAT challenges educators to interrogate how their self-identified fears uphold, perpetuate, and maintain racism, while acknowledging and proactively working to mitigate the impact of bias on their learners’ sexual health and multiple, intersecting identities. SEAT also implements trauma responsiveness as a core component to navigate moments where racialized conflict can be triggering, and identify where more educational, emotional, or peer support is needed. Our vision for SEAT is that this program influences generations of sex educators to rewrite the way we address and challenge harmful sexual health rhetoric on individual and systemic levels.

Biography

Crystal Ellis was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Her graduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis' Brown School of Social Work and Public Health focused on improving community access to whole foods in food deserts, such as Ferguson, Missouri, as well as comprehensive sexuality education. Crystal is an AASECT Certified Sex Educator, founder of Crystallized Sexuality, LLC, and Sexual Health Training Coordinator at Planned Parenthood Great Rivers. As an advocate for people impacted by HIV/AIDS, she incorporates the "pleasure activist" philosophy into sexuality education for all ages, including older adults, BDSM practitioners, and pregnant and parenting teenagers.