No April fools here today.  IU’s Campus Coalition for Sexual Literacy pulled off its first major event today: Sexual Literacy Fair.  With 50 or so attendees and 15 on- and off-campus groups represented, I’d say the day was quite a success.  Attendees had a chance to find out more about CCSL and the sexual literacy movement, as well as about information on sexuality research, education, advocacy, and resources and services at Indiana University, as well as in the city of Bloomington.  A number of attendees were students who attended for extra credit in one of their courses, many who had questions about the paths they should follow to realize their dream of making a difference in the world and/or individuals’ lives with respect to sexuality.

And, without skipping a beat, we’re now turning our attention to our April 27th regional training: Transcending Boundaries in Sexuality Research: Bridging Disciplines & Communities - http://nsrc.sfsu.edu/article/nsrc_regional_training  I recall a certain post back in January that is filled with pessimism.  Now, we’ve really gained momentum! Up until today, I’ve been concerned about the sustainability of the group, but I discovered today a number of...

I am alive and well in Rio de Janeiro (after a few setbacks) and haven't forgot to continue my previous conversation about the case of the 9 year old girl that was raped, impregnated with twins and was able to obtain an abortion in lieu of the Catholic Church, principally the Archbishop of Recife/Olinda, trying to stop the process.

Whew, my friends, that is a mouthful and the case continues to be seen that way in Brazil, and I imagine, the world around.

I hate even saying this, but if there is one thing that has come from this tragedy it is that this one hit home for a lot of Brazilians...including my "brazilian mom" who is against abortion in most circumstances, and the very nice Frei, a Catholic priest at her church. For those against abortion...they...just...can't...grapple...with this one. How could a 9 year old girl, who barely weighs 80 pounds carry this pregnancy to term? Like my "brazilian dad," who has been an OB/GYN doctor for more than 20 years in Brazil, said, it just wouldn't have been possible.

So when I asked the Frei about abortion he told me that he is in the position to always favor life. In this case, the 9 year old girl could have very well died and so he agreed that in this case an abortion was necessary. "But what about the other lives at stake?" I asked, thinking about what "life" in the abortion debate in America means. To the Frei (and my "brazilian mom" sitting beside him shaking her head in agreement), the health and...

This is a response to an article posted on Washington Post.com.

Pope Benedict XVI, during today's visit to Africa, announced that condoms are not the answer for containing the global HIV/AIDS crisis, particularly in Africa, and they actually make the situation worse.  It is assumed that his suggestion is similar to that of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II; to avoid risk of HIV/AIDS transmission, abstinence is offered as the best solution: “the pope said a responsible and moral attitude toward sex would help fight the disease.”

This position is not new – it is simply a reiteration of the abstinence stance and now an explicit opposition to condoms as a strategy to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.  I must say, I am not surprised by this position, but I’m aggravated that religious dogma that has devastating effects is still being pushed around the world, particularly in areas where few alternative messages are pushed.  Beyond the rigidity of the Church’s position on condom use, I see a number of very problematic flaws with its stance.

Condoms make the situation worse:  The rationale for this statement is the assumption that condoms give a false sense of security and that they are ineffective against the transmission of...

Yesterday my "brazilian mom" called me into the living room and told me watch the news with her. "You know what's happening?" she asked, her eyes heavily focused on me. "No what?" I mumbled to her in portuguese. "A nine year-old girl in [the state of] Pernambuco was raped by her step-father and impregnated with twins. She was granted an abortion yesterday and now the archbishop of Recife Olinda has called for the ex-communication of her, her family and the doctors that performed the abortion."

I am currently in Rio de Janeiro on a Fulbright scholarship studying development and it's relationship to reproductive and sexual health and rights in Brazil. I was an exchange student here 10 years ago and had no idea I'd be back hanging out with my host family for awhile before I begin my project. I must say that I really hate the fact that this is my first blog post on this journey.  This is the kind of story that makes you feel like you have a big black hole where your heart used to be, which automatically gives you indigestion. I really wanted my first post to be about my struggle hating and loving the rigid gender roles here in Brazil. (Yes, I admit it. I love getting my nails done evey week and buying shoes like they just might be the last pair on earth. However, I'm not sure I can handle the braziian bikini (who knew I had all those stretch marks stripped across my ass?) or the brazilian bikini wax, and I can't believe I actually thought about getting botox...

The Institute for Welcoming Resources (IWR), a program of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, recently released transACTION: A Transgender Curriculum for Churches and Religious Institutions. This is the very first curriculum of its kind aimed at helping inclusive religious institutions to arm their congregants and members with training on how to welcome, understand and recognize the contributions of transgender persons within their faith settings. 

According to Reverend Rebecca Voelkel, IWR's Faith Work Director, "Of the 3100 or so welcoming congregations we list on our website, somewhere between 75% and 90% are welcoming of lesbian, gay and bisexual (lgb) people but haven't done anything on transgender work. This is true in non-Christian settings too. So, both for the intra-religious world and for any hopes to help religious folks advocate for a trans inclusive ENDA, this curriculum in crucial." 

Barbara Satin, a transgender Christian and IWR Faith Work Associate has had first hand knowledge for decades with regard to the lack of congregational resources addressing transgender inclusion. Barbara is the author of the curriculum and is now working with pro-lgbt religious organizations, particularly Christian ones, to get...

The Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing released a new study today called: Sex and the Seminary: Preparing Ministers for Sexual Health and Justice. This comprehensive survey data provides even further and compelling proof that we are living in a national state of emergency when it comes to the lack of connection being made between sexuality and religion. The bad news is that even the most progressive of the seminaries surveyed are not adequately providing sexuality education and training. The good news is that despite this unholy disconnect, there are many organizations and religious denominations nation-wide working to turn this deadly trend around.

NSRC began training clergy in 2001 at our first annual Summer Institute on Sexuality, Society and Health. In 2003, we held our first Religion, Spirituality and Sexuality Interfaith Roundtable Discussion—much to the dismay of many of our colleagues in sexual health who frown on religion (many if not most of whom have endured religious persecution based on sexuality in one way or another).  Over the years, in our...