Portland Sex Worker Activist Wins World Sexual Health Day Writing Award

This year's winner of the World Sexual Health Day Writing Competition, with its theme of "Sexual Health for a Fairer Society," is Elle Stanger, a Portland-based stripper, sex work activist and author. The winning piece, "Sex Work, Civilian Life, and Harassment", was intended to raise awareness for Portland's SlutWalk, which will take place at 1:00 pm on Sunday, September 20th, 2015.

This year's Portland SlutWalk is being organized by a small group of people, including Elle, and she and I had decided to collaborate on a piece of writing to support the event. But when we got together and I read what Elle had already written, I found I had little to add. With her permission, I submitted the piece to the World Sexual Health Day Writing Competition and it won. Today, it brings me great joy to share her writing with you.

You can read the entry on the WSHD website, and check out Elle's other work at her website, http://eroticmusepdx.com.

I couldn't be more thrilled for Elle. I'm even more excited about this year's World Sexual Health Day celebration, on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015. In affiliation with the World Association for Sexual Health and the United Nations Populations Fund, sexuality activists from more than thirty countries will gather to affirm the need for developing sexology and supporting sexual rights for all.

Designed to attract and appeal to community leaders, activists and humanitarians who inform the public about physical, emotional, psychological and social aspects of sexuality, WSHD North America '15 will be informative, thought-provoking, inspiring, entertaining and celebratory. It will recognize talent in this too-often-underpublicized field, while making history in a global context.

North America's celebration, at the headquarters of the Salvation Army in New York City, will feature a panel discussion of experts in the field of sexual health and sexuality:

•Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh, PhD, is a world-renowned social psychologist, sex and relationship specialist, award-winning author, and host of the BBC World Service show on sexuality and relationship issues.

•Bill Taverner, M.A., C.S.E., is executive director of The Center for Sex Education and editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Sexuality Education. Taverner has co-edited many sex ed teaching resources, including Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Human Sexuality and AASECT Book Award winner Teaching Safer Sex.

•Antón Castellanos Usigli is the chair of the Youth Initiative Committee of the World Association for Sexual Health, blogs about sexual diversity, sexual health and sexual rights for Radio Netherlands Worldwide, and just received his Masters of Public Health from Columbia University.

•Reverend Jes Kast-Keat, a progressive minister in New York City at West End Collegiate Church, works with various LGBTQ religious organizations to advocate for and celebrate full inclusion in faith communities, in pursuit of sexual and spiritual well-being.

The panel will be moderated by nationally recognized health and sexuality writer, radio personality, and Girl Boner® creator August McLaughlin.

The past two years of World Sexual Health Day have been a tremendous success, drawing attendees from all over the world while showcasing the work and talents of community supporters, bestselling authors, renowned sexuality experts, celebrity entertainers, celebrity advocates and more.

Limited seats may still be available at www.worldsexualhealthday.com. For those outside the New York area or otherwise unable to obtain tickets, live streaming is also available by signing up at the website.