Past Events: 2015
Sexual Health for a Fairer Society
Co-Hosted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Speakers
Sara Nasserzadeh, PhD DipPST
Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh, PhD is a world-renowned Social Psychologist and Sex and Relationship specialist. She is an award-winning author and host of the BBC World Service show on sexuality and relationship issues. With her unique combination of background and extensive international experience Dr. Nasserzadeh is a sought after keynote speaker and media commentator and has been hosted by governments and organizations across 29 countries. Her international works in the area of professional development and sexuality education has been granted the World Association for Sexual Health award for Excellence and Innovation. She serves at the Board of various professional organizations including the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS), chair of the Middle East Sexual Health Committee and the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT).
Bill Taverner, M.A., C.S.E
Bill Taverner is the executive director of The Center for Sex Education and is the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Sexuality Education. He has co-edited many sex ed teaching resources, including eight editions of Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Human Sexuality, and the third edition of Teaching Safer Sex, which received the AASECT Book Award. A trainer of thousands throughout the United States who has twice advocated for sexuality education at U.S. Congressional briefings, Bill has received other national awards recognizing his leadership in sexuality education: Planned Parenthood’s “Golden Apple Award” for leadership in education; a Sexual Intelligence award naming him named “one of the country’s pre-eminent sex educators, trainers, and sex education theorists,” the “Golden Brick Award” for “encouraging the growth of sex ed professionals”; AASECT’s first “Schiller Prize” for best workshop using interactive strategies; and the 2015 AASECT “Sexuality Educator” Award.
Antón Castellanos Usigli just received his Masters of Public Health at Columbia University. He started promoting sex education in Cuernavaca, Mexico, where he organized the first sex education conference having only 19 years old. In 2011, he established the Youth Initiative Committee (YIC) of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS). As the Chair of this Committee, he has led youth activities for different international sexual health conferences. In 2014, he represented Mexico in the “Stand by me” campaign, which gave visibility to LGBT activists from countries where it is difficult or impossible to talk about sexual diversity. The campaign developed during Amsterdam’s Gay Pride 2014. Since 2012 he has been an invited blogger for Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW), writing about issues of sexual diversity, sexual health and sexual rights.
Jes Kast-Keat
Reverend Jes Kast-Keat is a progressive minister in New York City at West End Collegiate Church. She works with various LGBTQ religious organizations to advocate for and celebrate the full inclusion in faith communities. Sexual well-being and spiritual well-being are closely connected to her. You can follow her on Twitter @jeskastkeat where she talks about the intersection of theology, love, justice, and pop culture.
Live Stream Moderator
August McLaughlin
August McLaughlin is a nationally recognized health and sexuality writer, radio personality and creator of the empowering brand Girl Boner®, with articles appearing in DAME Magazine, the Huffington Post and more. Her first novel, In Her Shadow, called “an engaging story with an inventive structure and an intriguing focus on body-image issues” by Kirkus Reviews, was a 2013 Indies for Excellence finalist, and in 2014 she was named one of BlogHer’s Voices of the Year. Each week on Girl Boner® Radio, she interviews relationship experts, celebs and more, exploring women’s lives and sexuality “like no one else.” Known for melding personal passion, artistry and activism, August uses her skills as a public speaker and journalist to inspire other women to embrace their bodies and selves, making way for fuller, more authentic lives. www.augustmclaughlin.com
Performance Activist
Océane Hooks- Camilleri
My mission as a performer is to take your breath away and give it back to you again. I want to share with you the sheer exhilaration, spirit and pain of being alive that I experience when exploring the world through dance and theatre. I am a Brooklyn based dancer, actor and creator. I seek to explore the breadth of human expression. In my time at Connecticut College I studied Art and Activism, as well as American Studies with a focus on Comparative Race and Ethnicity, and was a member of the Holleran Centers’ certificate program for Public Policy and Community Action (PICA), where my focus was HIV/AIDS prevention. My work in HIV/AIDS advocacy has led me to an interest in sexual education, which I now explore in much of my artistic work. Sexual education appeals to me because it is about communication, pleasure, safety, love, and trust among other things. It has been my pleasure to create the piece commissioned for today’s World Sexual Health Day celebration. I look forward to creating more such commissioned pieces. I especially enjoy collaborating with students, and academics to explore sexual education through movement. If you have continued interest in my work please take a look my website oceanehc.com and follow me on instagram @houseoftenacity.