“Let’s talk about sex, baby. Let’s talk about you and me. Let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be, let’s talk about sex.”
If you found yourself singing along to those lyrics by Salt-N-Pepa, you are likely in one of the key demographics for my message today. Yes, you – young adults, adults and older adults – I’d like to invite you to talk about sex and sexuality. We’ll use the same outline and curriculum we use to teach your children, youth and grandchildren in the Our Whole Lives (OWL) human sexuality education curriculum, but we’ll make sure to include facts and scenarios unique to your life experience since you’ve “leveled up.” For example, did you know that while ages 15-24 account for 50 percent of sexually transmitted infections (STIs – wow, clearly we need our messaging to go further), in the last 10 years transmission of gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia among adults over 55 have gone up 164 percent, 120 percent and 86 percent, respectively, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? (The adage that sex slows down as you age doesn’t seem to be holding true in this population, am I right?)
All joking aside, UUCF will offer an OWL class for adults of all ages on the first and third Tuesdays of the month starting Nov. 1 through April or May. You can register here. If you aren’t sure if you need to take adult OWL, let me give you a few scenarios that might help you decide. If you are unsure about why STDs are now called STIs and what contraceptives are currently available to prevent them, sign up to take this class. If you want to reorient yourself with your partner or are entering a new relationship, sign up to take this class. If you want to see what comprehensive and inclusive sexuality education looks like, take this class. If you are unsure of the last time you bought a condom, but found one with an expiration date beginning with 19_ _, throw it away and please take this class!!
Sexuality education, though, isn’t only about sex. It’s also about how you can connect your body and love for yourself and a partner, if you have one, with your spirituality. Sexuality and spirituality, like everything else, evolve as we age. Adult OWL will give you the opportunity to explore both of them in a new way with other UUCF congregants in a safe and brave space. I hope you’ll consider joining longtime youth OWL teachers Don Andress and Becky LoveKing and me as we explore this topic together. (And find out where to get unexpired condoms.)
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